Corsi di Studio del Dipartimento di Culture, Politica e Società

Today’s economics is characterized by a plurality of approaches both in its mainstream – the dominant approach in economics, having its origins in the neoclassical tradition but without coinciding with the orthodox core of the discipline – and in the schools of thought that compete with it. This fragmentation (of basic principles, methods and contents) raises various questions concerning the nature of the fundamentals of the economic discipline, as well as of the types of reasoning employed, questions which impact also on the design of economic policies.

In line with the general aims of the master's degree program, the course examines how some fundamental notions of orthodox economics are being continuously re-interpreted, modified, and even rejected by alternative approaches.

Moreover, the course deals with the relationship between economic theories and methodologies, special attention being devoted to problems of epistemological nature. Upon completion, students will be able to make autonomus judgments as concerns the methodologies of economic reasoning, to critically evaluate their application in economic models, as well as to identify the theoretical fundamentals upon which economic policies are based.

On completion, students will demonstrate:

- to have acquired knowledge of the main approaches in economic theory, and the ability to identify the fundamental analytical categories upon which they rest (knowledge and understanding);  

- to have acquired the ability to understand theoretical and applied aspects conveyed by the textbook and complementary readings (knowledge and understanding);

- to be able to analyse and use the concepts of economic methodology, as well as to identify the relevant connections that link them one to another, in the awareness of the competition between alternative schools of thought (applying knowledge and understanding);

- to be able to identify the various methodological approaches (even tacitly) implied in the construction of economic theories (applying knowledge and understanding);

- to have acquired autonomy of judgement in identifying the main theoretical assumptions on which applied principles of economic theories and economic policies rest (making judgements); 

- to have acquired the skills required to illustrate in a logically correct and efficient manner the knowledge acquired during the course by using forms of communication that are adequate to different categories of listeners (communication skills).

- to have acquired the competencies and abilities to apply in an original manner methods and tools they have become familiar with during the course to conduct further autonomous researches (learning skills).

The course consists in 54 hours of frontal lectures.

In compliance with the UniTo provisions about teaching activities during the Covid-19 pandemic and specifically for the 2020-21 academic year, this course has activated an Online teaching solution (the link  https://unito.webex.com/meet/stefano.fiori). Online learning occurs through live video streaming events. Registrations will be made available, together with other teaching material, on the Moodle platform page (students are therefore required to register) for this course at https://elearning.unito.it/scuolacle/course/view.php?id=1500.

The teachers will schedule meetings for interacting and discussing the course contents with students both online and, should the circumstances be favourable, in presence. 

Finally, should the Covid-19 pandemic end before the beginning of the course, the usual teaching conditions will plausibly be restored.

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, during the winter exam session, assessment occurs via an online oral examination on Webex, prof. Fiori's virtual room (https://unito.webex.com/meet/stefano.fiori, if not otherwise indicated).

In this course, assessment is through an oral exam on the whole ensemble of topics covered during the course, and presupposes reasoned and careful reading of reference documents indicated here. It serves to verify the acquisition of:

• the ability to understand topics and approaches dealt with during the course and related information;
• the ability to analyse concepts by using the correct terminology (especially when technical in nature)
• competencies in identifying connections between concepts.

To get access to the exam, students must register online by using the Esse3 - System of the University of Turin, and an identification card.

Evaluation is expressed on a 30-point scale (maximum 30/30); to pass the examination, students must reach a score of 18/30.

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, students living outside Piedmont or abroad (and indeed all students will, should the circumstances prevent exams in presence) can opt for an online modality. 

Neoclassical rationality and bounded rationality;

Foundations of behavioral economics and economic psychology;

Foundations of Institutionalism and New Institutionalism;

Methodology of the Austrian School;

Keynes and the post-Keynesian debate;

Milton Friedman’s instrumentalism;

Methodological debates: Popper’s Falsificationism, Kuhn’s scientific revolutions, and Lakatos’ research programs;

Recent perspectives:

• rhetoric, postmodernism and pluralism;
• the "new" mainstream between specialization and fragmentation;
• economics and the other social disciplines.

Paradigms and revolutions in macroeconomics:

• the classical theory,
• Keynes's revolution,
• the counterrevolution of monetarism and the new classical macroeconomics,
• the new consensus, austerity in the times of the crisis and Keynesian criticisms.

The course is based on the following texts (the list is for both attending and non-attending students):

1. Francesco Guala, Filosofia dell'economia, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2006, cap. 5 (Friedman e l’irrealismo delle assunzioni), cap. 7 (L’imperialismo economico), cap. 8 (Il falsificazionismo di Popper), cap. 10 (Il dogmatismo della scienza).
2. Francesco Saraceno, La scienza inutile, Roma, LUISS University Press, 2019.
3. One among the following texts: Daniel Kahneman, Pensieri lenti e veloci, Milano, Mondadori, 2012, chap. 1, chap. 15, chapters 25-29; chapters 31-34; or, Liliann Fischer, Joe Hasell, J. Christopher Proctor, David Uwakwe, Zach Ward-Perkins, Catriona Watson (eds.), Rethinking Economics. An Introduction to Pluralist Economics, London and New York, Routledge, 2018 (pp. 1-135).

Further texts (to be considered as recommended, not mandatory readings) will be eventually indicated and/or made available in the didactic material during the course.

Texts for students of the Laurea magistrale in Metodi statistici ed economici per le decisioni (SEED) planning to take the exam “Theories, Methods and Data in Economics” are the following (the list is for both attending and non-attending students):

1. Francesco Guala, Filosofia dell'economia, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2006, cap. 5 (Friedman e l’irrealismo delle assunzioni), cap. 7 (L’imperialismo economico), cap. 8 (Il falsificazionismo di Popper), cap. 10 (Il dogmatismo della scienza).
2. One among the following texts: Daniel Kahneman, Pensieri lenti e veloci, Milano, Mondadori, 2012, chap. 1 (pp. 21-33) e chapters 19-34 (pp. 219-414); or, Liliann Fischer, Joe Hasell, J. Christopher Proctor, David Uwakwe, Zach Ward-Perkins, Catriona Watson (eds.), Rethinking Economics. An Introduction to Pluralist Economics, London and New York, Routledge, 2018 (pp. 1-135).

Further texts (to be considered as recommended, not mandatory readings) will be eventually indicated and/or made available in the didactic material during the course.

Lessons will be held on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesday, from 4,00 p.m. to 6,00 p.m.

The course "Theories, methodologies and data in economics" (SEED) is held by prof. Stefano Fiori in the first 36 hours of lessons.

Teaching modalities evidently depend on the constraints imposed by the pandemic, and may change compared to those described here. Online teaching is guaranteed during the whole academic year in any event.