CFU: 6

Year: II

Instructor: Piero Bini

The course provides an overview of the main economic theories from Mercantilism (XVI-XVIII

Centuries) and Classical Political Economy (XVIII-XIX Centuries), up to the most recent trends of economic thought. Specific attention will be paid to these economists: F. Quesnay, A. Smith, D. Ricardo. J. S. Mill, K. Marx, W. S. Jevons, C. Menger, L.Walras, A. Marshall, J. A. Schumpeter, J.

M. Keynes, M. Friedman. In particular, as far as the contemporary economic thought is concerned, we will point out theories and methodological stances which deal with money, business cycle and economic growth. We will also examine the institutional context of some political economy arguments. The last part of the course will be dedicated to outline the major scientific contributions by some leading Italian economists, since the unification of Italy in 1861 onward. The course will benefit students who want to have a better understanding of contemporary economic theories by looking at their original formulation.

Landreth, H. and D. C. Colander, 2002, History of Economic Thought, fourth edition, Houghton

Mi­ in, Boston, MA.

A collection of texts in pdf placed at students’ disposal by the instructor.