36
Public Economics
UNIVERSITÀ DEGLI STUDI DI NAPOLI "L'ORIENTALE"
Overview
Date/time interval
Syllabus
Course Objectives
EXPECTED LEARNING OUTCOMES
This course equips students with the conceptual and analytical tools of economic theory needed to understand the dynamics of the cultural goods and activities sector, from the perspectives of demand, production, and territorial policy. By the end of the course, students will be able to:
- situate the subject matter and theoretical foundations of the economics of culture, understanding its scope and economic dynamics within both the Italian and international context;
- apply microeconomic analytical tools to the demand for cultural goods and activities — including consumption patterns, cultural participation, and cultural tourism — identifying the features that distinguish it from conventional markets;
- interpret the economic and managerial rationale underlying cultural production, with particular attention to museum economics and cultural industries in the digital age;
- critically evaluate the different forms of public intervention in the sector (regulation, direct provision, funding, tax incentives) and apply the principal methods for the economic evaluation of cultural heritage and its impacts;
- analyze the relationship between culture and territorial development, with reference to overtourism, cultural districts, and urban and regional regeneration policies.
ABILITY TO APPLY KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING
Students will be able to independently construct a critical analysis of the key theoretical and applied issues in the sector, employing appropriate economic terminology and grounding their arguments in empirical evidence and case studies.
FURTHER EXPECTED LEARNING OUTCOMES
Making judgments: the capacity to independently assess the effectiveness of a cultural policy or managerial decision.
Communication skills: the ability to convey economic concepts through language that is both specialized and clear.
Learning skills: the acquisition of an analytical method that enables the autonomous, ongoing updating of knowledge beyond the completion of the course.
Course Prerequisites
Teaching Methods
Assessment Methods
For both attending and non-attending students, the exam consists of a written test with five open-ended questions covering the topics addressed in class and in the assigned readings; candidates are required to answer four of the five questions. The exam is held in Italian or, upon request, in English.
The exam is considered passed when the candidate demonstrates an understanding of the fundamental elements of the topics covered and is able to clearly articulate their reasoning, using the analytical tools presented in class and in the assigned texts.
The final grade takes into account:
- the depth and breadth of the knowledge acquired;
- the ability to critically interpret the topics covered;
- the ability to draw connections across different topics;
- clarity and precision of exposition;
- command of specialized technical language;
- the ability to read and comment on graphs and diagrams.
The highest grade is reserved for those who demonstrate an excellent level across all of the above dimensions.
Texts
Di Maio A. (ed.), Patrimonio e attività culturali. L'analisi economica, Hoepli, 2019 (chapters: 1, 5, 6, appendix)
Causi M., Economia della Cultura, Edizioni Pigreco, 2022 (chapters: 2, 3, 4, 6, 9, 10, 14)
For students who request to study texts in English:
Hall, Lieberman: Microeconomics: Principles & Applications (chapters 1, 3, 6, 7, 8)
Rizzo, I., & Mignosa, A. (Eds.). (2013). Handbook on the Economics of Cultural Heritage. Edward Elgar Publishing (Part I, chapters 1, 4, 6 + Part IV, chapter 10 + Part VII, chapters 18 and 19 + Part VIII, chapter 21)
Contents
1) Theoretical foundations of the Economics of cultural goods and activities
2) Economic theory of demand
3) The specific features of demand in the cultural goods sector
4) Cultural tourism: origins and evolution
5) Economic theory of supply
6) Market failures, merit goods, and public intervention in the cultural sector
7) Forms of public intervention
8) Economic evaluation of cultural heritage
9) Economics of museums
10) Cultural industries and the digital revolution
11) Culture and urban economic development
Course Language
More information
Further Reading
Throughout the course, the instructor and guest speakers may point students toward additional readings for those hungry to dig deeper. This material won't show up on the exam.