Corso di studio in Economia

The course will introduce students to modern theories of economic growth and development economics. Economic growth will focus on modern theories of exogenous and endogenous growth. Development economics will put special emphasis on the impact of credit market imperfections and other types of market failures. As the course progresses, we will review empirical evidence and studies on the impact of inequality, market failures, financial deepening and risk-sharing on long- run growth and development.

By the end of the course, students will be aware of the modern theories of development and the difficulties in sustaining long-run growth. Students will also have acquire good knowledge and command on the most recent empirical methods used by applied development economists 

The course will cover the following topics (though, time permitting, some others may be added).

• Main Theories of Economic Growth
  • Solow Model
  • AK Model and Growth with Human Capital
  • Overlapping-Generations Model
  • Learning-By-Doing and Endogenous Growth
• Theories of Poverty Traps
  • Credit Market Imperfections and Poverty Traps
  • Technological Non-Convexities and Poverty Traps
• Measures of Inequality
• International Parity Purchasing Power
• Empirical Analysis of Financial Development and Growth
• Risk Sharing

Standard classes

There will be two exams. There will also be weekly problem sets to be performed during the year as the material is covered during lectures.