ECONOMICS OF INNOVATION AND DEVELOPMENT-2

The course complements the master’s degree programme in Global Development and Entrepreneurship (GDE), providing students with theoretical and practical skills to understand the dynamics of innovation and development in the context of equitable and sustainable growth. The course will cover the care economy, sustainable finance, ecosystems that support innovation, and the implementation of innovation in small and medium-sized enterprises.

- Understanding of the main challenges and opportunities associated with models of equitable and sustainable economic growth and innovation.
- Understanding of the different types of ecosystems that support innovation.
- Ability to analyse the mechanisms through which innovation spreads and its relationship with economic development.
- Ability to analyse the impact of care work in macroeconomic models and its implications for gender economics.
- Ability to analyse the impact of climate change and sustainable finance policies on innovation and business competitiveness.
- Ability to critically discuss the knowledge acquired in an effective and coherent manner.

Microeconomics and Macroeconomics

Innovation as a process of economic and organisational transformation:
- How innovation leads to economic development; new technologies, products and business models arising from environmental and sustainability challenges; the role of innovation ecosystems in transforming research into economic value; innovation in SMEs and the challenge of reinventing themselves.
- Industry insights: examples and in-depth exploration of different local and international innovation systems; Entrepreneurship-Through-Acquisition (ETA) and the Search Fund model; case studies and guest testimonials.
The care economy:
- From Nobel laureate Claudia Goldin’s work on women’s labour force participation to the relationship between employment, care responsibilities and work organisation; the paradox of unpaid care work, the continuing underrepresentation of women in positions of power, and the macroeconomic implications.
- Workshop: discussion of potential economic policy solutions.
Climate and ESG risks:
- How the effects of climate change are transmitted to the economy and finance; discussion of the assessment and management of climate and ESG risks; macroeconomic stability policies and their practical impact on businesses and investments.
- Industry insights: corporate ESG risk management and sustainable investment management – case studies.

Slides, reading lists and case studies provided by the lecturer

The final assessment consists of a written test at the end of the course (mandatory), with close-ended and open-ended questions, and group-project presentation (optional).

written

The instructor is responsible for ensuring the authenticity and originality of all examinations and coursework. In cases of suspected academic misconduct, an additional on-site assessment may be required during the exams, which may differ from the standard format.

The highest grade (30 and 30 with laude) will be awarded to students who demonstrate perfect knowledge of the concepts and models presented in class, together with skill and originality in answering the open-ended questions on the test.
Lower grades will be graded based on the final exam answers: 27-29 excellent knowledge; 24-26 very good knowledge; 21-25 good knowledge; 18-20 satisfactory.
The final assessment will also take into account the optional group-project.

The teaching method consists in frontal lectures

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