Local Economic Development Sociology

A.Y. 2023/2024
6
Max ECTS
40
Overall hours
SSD
SPS/09
Language
Italian
Learning objectives
The course provides the basic as well as advanced knowledge and analytical tools to understand the institutional, economic, and demographic factors that influence the development of local economies, with a specific reference to changes over time in local public policy as linked to global processes. The course further focuses on the analysis of the relationships between dynamics of the local labor market, poverty and welfare systems from the 1970s to today in Italy and in a comparative perspective.
Expected learning outcomes
- Describe the institutional, economic and demographic dynamics (e.g., welfare downsizing, the oil crisis, and migration flows respectively) that influence alternative paths of local development
- Illustrate the main themes and areas of action of local public policies against the background of the relationship between local development and global dynamics
- Apply the conceptual schemes used to explain the interdependence between local and global processes during the course to case studies that focus on the relationship between the labor market, poverty, local welfare and social integration
Single course

This course can be attended as a single course.

Course syllabus and organization

Single session

Responsible
Lesson period
Second trimester
Course syllabus
For attending and non-attending students:

1.The theoretical and analytical field of the sociology of local economic development
2.Classical themes in the study of local development
3.Local economic development through the inequality-lens
o The relationship between the "centre" and the "periphery"
o Poverty in the context of the transformations of the social issue
o Cities and inequalities: poverty and social exclusion in metropolitan areas
o Educational poverty and regional differences
Prerequisites for admission
Students must have a general knowledge of issues concerning economic development and development policies. Student attending the degree in Social Sciences for Globalisation (GLO) would meet these requirements through the courses in Politics, Institutions and Development (first year) and Fundamentals of Economics (second year).
Some of the materials are in English, a working knowledge of the language is therefore desirable.
Teaching methods
Lectures are alternated with sessions focused on group discussions. Students will be encouraged to engage in group works. Besides the mandatory readings, a number of complementary materials will be proposed to target specific topics. Active participation in class is strongly encouraged.
Teaching Resources
The list of readings will be made available during the first session. Non-attending students are invited to register to MyAriel to access the list of readings.
Assessment methods and Criteria
The final exam consists of a written exam with open-ended questions. The answers will be evaluated according to the following criteria: the ability to elaborate a focused, clear, and exhaustive answer; the use of appropriate concepts; the ability to re-elaborate what has been learned in an original and critical way. The final grade is in thirtieths. Students are informed through the registration system automatically.
SPS/09 - ECONOMIC SOCIOLOGY AND SOCIOLOGY OF WORK AND ORGANIZATIONS - University credits: 6
Lessons: 40 hours