Facoltà di Economia "G. Fuà" - Guida degli insegnamenti (Syllabus)

Program


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Economics of innovation
Alessandro Sterlacchini

Seat Fac. Economia - Sede di Ancona
A.A. A.A. 2015-2016
Credits 6
Hours 44
Period 1^ semestre
Language ENG

Development of the course

The teaching method is mainly based on frontal lectures. In addition to them one or two computer lab classes for data analysis and another one or two for seminars in which students will give short presentations are scheduled.

 



Learning outcomes

1.    Knowledge and understanding
Students will get a comprehensive and updated review of the main determinants of innovation activities and their economic effects across countries, industries and companies.
2.    Applying knowledge and  understanding 
Students should be able to: a) read and understand scientific articles and policy reports; b) use  statistical sources and data bases for assessing, in a comparative perspective, how the economic and productivity growth of different countries, industries and firms is affected by their R&D, patenting and innovation activities; c) write short reports on this topics. 
3.    Judgement, focus  and  communication skills

The acquired competences should increase the students' capability to perform socio-economic analyses in a critical and autonomous way and communicate their findings to a broad public. 



Program

After illustrating the main theoretical approaches to the economic analysis of innovation and technological change, the course examines: a) R&D activities among countries and industries and their impact on productivity growth; b) patenting activities among countries and firms and the enforcement of patent rights. Moreover, innovation policies are discussed. 

1. Introduction: policy and measurement issues 
1.1. The Europe 2020 strategy 
1.2. GDP per capita and productivity: levels and rates of changes 
2. The economic analysis of technological change
2.1. Neoclassical approaches 
2.2. (Neo)Schumpeterian approaches 
3. Innovative activities and innovation policies 
3.1. Research and Development (R&D) 
3.2. Patents and patent oppositions 
3.3. R&D and productivity growth: evidence across industries and countries 
3.4. Science, technology and economic growth: the role of public policies 

 



Development of the examination

1.    Exam 
The final examination consists of a written and an oral exam.
2.    Assessment criteria
The written exam is based upon:
1) an exercise requiring the computation of growth rates of economic variables:  maximum grade 6 (out of 30);
2) an open question (out of two proposed questions) concerned with a specific topic of the course: maximum grade 7;
3) a short essay (out of three proposed titles) on a broad topic of the course: maximum grade 20.
The oral exam is based upon an additional question, asked to check the overall preparation of the student and adjust the final grade. 
3.    Grading scale 
Positive grades: from 18 to 30. Cum laude can be bestowed to outstanding performance
4.    Grading method 
A grade for the written exam higher than 17/30 allows the students to be admitted to the oral exam. The latter could increase the former evaluation with a maximum of 3/30. The exam is passed with a grade higher than 17/30. The maximum grade is 30/30 cum laude. 

 

 



Recommended reading

 Articles, essay and statistical reports concerned with the above topics.



Courses
  • L.M. - International Economics and Commerce curriculum International Economics and Business




Università Politecnica delle Marche
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