ECONOMICS OF INEQUALITY

This course belongs to the teaching activities of the Master progamme in "Economics and Finance" curriculum "Economics - QEM". The course covers different topics in the field of economic inequality. It presents different conceptions of economic inequality, methods to measure, models to interpret causes and consequences of economic inequality, institutions to combat and to correct inequality.

The aim of the course is to provide students with tools and skills needed to discern the forces behind historical and current trends in economic inequality, to follow with deep understanding contemporary debates on problems of economic inequality, both in a national and worldwide perspective, to comprehend advanced scientific research in the area, and to develop autonomous reflections including for the final critical essay, possible thesis and further interests.

Students are expected to be familiar with material of the main core courses of the Master progamme in "Economics and Finance" curriculum "Economics - QEM", including in particular microeconomics and macroeconomics.

The course presents 5 main topics in the literature on economics of inequality.
1 - Measurement of Inequality
2 - Economic inequality, welfare and social justice
3 - Positive theories of income distributions
4 – Number and trends in inequality
5 – Redistribution

A webpage for the course will be active on the e-learning platform at moodle.unive.it. The page will contain references for readings from scientific journals and details on lecture contents and other materials.

The assessment will be based on:

1) A critical essay focusing on a specific scientific paper chosen from a provided list

2) An oral presentation of the essay on the exam date, delivered to the entire class participating in the exam session

3) Active participation in the open discussion following both one’s own presentation and those of the other students participating in the exam session

oral

Assessment and examination will be based on:

A critical essay focusing on a specific scientific paper chosen from a provided list (30% of the final grade)

An oral presentation of the essay on the exam date, delivered to the entire class participating in the exam session (35% of the final grade)

Active participation in the open discussion following both one’s own presentation and those of the other students participating in the exam session (35% of the final grade)

The grading scale will be as follows:

A. Grades in the 18–22 range will be awarded for:

Sufficient knowledge and understanding demonstrated through the critical essay, the oral presentation, and the subsequent discussion.

B. Grades in the 23–26 range will be awarded for:

Fair knowledge and understanding demonstrated through the critical essay, the oral presentation, and the subsequent discussion.

C. Grades in the 27–30 range will be awarded for:

Good or very good knowledge and understanding demonstrated through the critical essay, the oral presentation, and the subsequent discussion.

D. Honors (cum laude) will be awarded for:

Excellent knowledge and understanding demonstrated through the critical essay, the oral presentation, and the subsequent discussion.

It should be noted that the level of knowledge and understanding of the critical essay, its presentation, and the discussion will depend not only on the chosen essay but also on the learning and comprehension achieved regarding the five main topics in the literature on the economics of inequality.

The course follows a conventional teaching approach, based on lectures and discussions.

This subject deals with topics related to the macro-area "Poverty and inequalities" and contributes to the achievement of one or more goals of U. N. Agenda for Sustainable Development