The course foresees the provision of the concepts and tools useful for following and performing the planned activities successfully. To this end, prior knowledge of basic economics concepts is useful.

The course aims at providing particpants with an adequate knowledge of the tools of economics  as applied to business strategies and industrial policy, with the ultimate goal of identifying the elements useful in defining resilient business strategies and related policies.

To these ends, participants will address the link between technological change, market structures, firms strategies and economic performance; the analysis of the dynamics of specific production sectors and markets in light of industrial and energy transitions; the strategic behavior of firms in highly dynamic international markets; the identification and assessment of political, geo-economic, trade, supply and sustainability-related risk factors; and the systemic risks of the macro-environment in which firms operate or intend to operate.

The course is structured into three modules: 1) Economics and Strategy; 2) Enterprise Strategies and 3) International Risk Analysis

The course plans to provide students with:

• an understanding of the basic concepts of industrial and enterprise economics and their application to firms' strategies and choices, with particular reference to international environments.
• the acquisition of knowledge and methods to identify risks to firms international activity and apply them to the analysis of the systemic risks of firms' industry and macro-environment

The course will have a monographic and highly interactive approach with conceptual lectures based on, or accompanied by, cases analysis and a project work aimed at putting into practice the main concepts and methodological tools provided.

The exam is based on the preparation of a presentation to be presented and discussed with the lecturer.

Office hours: Monday 11.30-13.30 a.m. (Lecce – Building A.Romano/Q Complesso Ecotekne)

Module 1 - Economics and Strategy. Consistently with the objective to understand the links between technological change, market structures, firms strategies and economic performance, after a recap on basic economics concepts, participants will acquire key notions about international trade, globalization, technological change and the role of economics in strategy, Then they will study specific sectoral cases in which they will analyze the dynamics and challenges of industrial and energy transition.

Module 2 - Enterprise Strategies. Consistently with the objective to apply basic concepts learned to enterprises strategic behaviors and choices in international environments, this module will engage participants in industry analysis, choice and entry for internationalization purpose and apply knowledge gained into real settings.

Module 3 - International Risk Analysis. Consistently with the objective to acquire knowledge to identify risks to firms international activity and apply it to the analysis of the systemic risks of the macro-environment in which firms operate or intend to operate, participants will be acquainted about international enterprise risks, the relationships between trade and foreign policies and the impact on enterprises international activties and eventually apply knowledge gained in a real setting.

Presentations and other Teaching Materials provided by the Lecturer