ECONOMICS OF INEQUALITIES

Degree course: 
Academic year when starting the degree: 
2022/2023
Year: 
3
Academic year in which the course will be held: 
2024/2025
Language: 
Italian
Credits: 
6
Period: 
Second semester
Standard lectures hours: 
45
Detail of lecture’s hours: 
Lesson (45 hours)
Requirements: 

The student must have passed the exams in Microeconomics and Macroeconomics

or attending students, the final grade is calculated as follows:
50%: group work;
50%: written exam with a first and second partial exam.
For non-attending students, the final grade is calculated based on:
100%: the general written exam.
A student is considered attending if they submit the group work. The group work consists of two parts: the first part involves summarizing a scientific paper on a topic covered in class and proposed by the instructor, while the second part involves data analysis work.
The written exam will include open-ended questions, short exercises, and multiple-choice questions related to topics covered in class.

Assessment: 
Voto Finale

The course aims at examining the nature and extent of poverty and inequality in the world and in Italy. We will study the causes and consequences of inequality, focusing on the effects of government programs and policies. In the first part of the course, our objective will be to study the measurement of poverty and inequality, analyzing data on global trends and in our country. In the second part, we will delve into the role of institutions, particularly analyzing the main government policies that can impact poverty and inequality. We will explore the role of taxes, public transfers, active labor market policies, and labor market institutions such as unions and the minimum wage. We will also analyze existing and past government policies to understand their functioning. Finally, our last goal will be to use existing data banks to measure inequality and poverty.

Introduction to the study of Inequality (8 hours);
Measurement, Definitions, Facts, and Trends on Inequality (12 hours);
The Role of Institutions and Policy Solutions (Pre-distributive vs. Redistributive Policies) (20 hours);
The Role of Inequality in Economic Growth (5 hours).

Introduction to the Study of Inequality (8 hours): In this part of the course, you’ll delve into the conceptual foundations of inequality, including its definitions and measurements.
Measurement, Definitions, Facts, and Trends on Inequality (12 hours): This segment will focus on measuring and analyzing inequality. You’ll explore data related to global trends and specific trends within Italy, examining how inequality evolves over time.
Poverty and inequality;
Intergenerational mobility;
Data interpretation on inequality and poverty:
Statistical measures of inequality (i.e. income ratios, income shares, Lorenz curve, Gini Coefficient);
Comparison of income distribution and inequality across countries;
The global inequality
Examples and exercises

The Role of Institutions and Policy Solutions (Pre-distributive vs. Redistributive Policies) (20 hours): Here, you’ll study the impact of institutions on inequality. Analyzing government policies—both those that aim to prevent inequality (pre-distributive) and those that address it after the fact (redistributive)—will be a key focus.
Pre-distributive policies: the role of education, labour market (i.e. minimum wage, unions, labour market active policies)
Redistribution policies: policies that influence income redistribution (i.e. taxes, monetary transfers)

The Role of Inequality in Economic Growth (5 hours): This section will explore how inequality affects economic growth. You’ll examine theories and evidence related to the relationship between income distribution and overall economic performance.
Technological innovation and income inequality.

Convenzionale

The course consists of 45 hours of frontal lectures entirely taught by the course professor. The lectures will be based on slides created by the instructor using scientific papers and book chapters. In class, exercises will be carried out, and statistical programs will be used for measuring inequality using existing data bases.

The professor meets with students on Teams. To schedule an appointment, write to the instructor’s email address:
annacecilia.rosso@uninsubria.it
The course does not required a textbook. The list of scientific papers to read will be provided during the lessons and uploaded to the E-learning platform along with the texts.
Regular attendance is highly recommended.

A Tutoring Service is available at the Department of Economics. More detailed information is available at the following link:
https://www.uninsubria.it/servizi/tutti-i-servizi/tutorato-dieco

Professors