ECONOMICS OF INNOVATION

Single discipline educational activity

Course Sheet

Course code:

000432L

Academic Year of enrolment:

2022

Year of supply:

2023/2024

Degree:

Course of 2nd Cycle Degree in LEGAL SCIENCES FOR INTERNATIONALISATION AND BUSINESS INNOVATION

Moduls:

ECONOMICS AND INNOVATION POLICY - A - 6 credits

Location:

PESCARA

Credits:

Programme Year:

Cycle:

Second semester

Hours of classroom activity:

Prerequisites:

Basic knowledge of microeconomic concepts.

Objectives

Knowledge and understanding
The main objective of the course is to provide students with the basic economic tools needed to analyse the determinants, the nature and the effects of innovation. The course fits the context of the degree in Scienze Giuridiche per l’Internazionalizzazione e l’innovazione delle Imprese (Giur.Inn) by providing economic knowledge and skills useful to understand the institutional and market framework whereby firm activities take place, particularly innovation activities, so as to be able to tackle complex situations and to elaborate innovative strategies from an interdisciplinary perspective. The acquired competences are also susceptible to make the graduate in Scienze Giuridice capable to use the legal tools aimed at protecting products and services with a relevant innovative component and to address legal questions related to digital technologies with a greater awareness of the underlying economic dynamics. They are functional to various job responsibilities: from internal general counsel, to the expert in euro-projects and law of new technologies, to positions of responsibility within chambers of commerce, professional associations and local development offices, to professional and consulting activities.

Autonomous judgement
Particular attention will be devoted to the practical application of the main economic concepts illustrated, so as to stimulate the ability to apply the acquired knowledge in real contexts with a higher degree of complexity with respect to textbook examples and critical spirit. Moreover, the tools needed to read and interpret economic data relevant to the innovative context will be provided.

Written and oral communication abilities
The course aims to provide students with the ability to correctly use the economic terminology, to effectively communicate and to autonomously organize their reasoning on topics related to innovation and new technologies, so as to be able to interact effectively with economists and technicians in an interdisciplinary context.

Contents

The course introduces the student to the knowledge of the main economic aspects of innovation dynamics at the firm and economic system level, as well as to the tools and effects of innovation policies. In particular, the course addresses the main incentive problems related to innovation investment – appropriability of results and financing of innovative ideas – and compares the different policy instruments that can be used to mitigate them. This provides an overview of the institutional context within which innovative firm activities take place. Specific attention will be devoted to the ratio and the economic effects of the industrial property system, to the entrepreneurial strategies related to the patenting, and to the strategies of open innovation. Determinants of innovation different from the legal-institutional context will also be examined, and particularly: market structure, demand and the firm’s corporate governance structure. Moreover, the economic aspects of digital innovation both online (within the e-commerce context) and in the traditional sectors (within the context of Industry 4.0) will be addressed. The student will be introduced to the economic implications of network effects, multi-sided platforms, big data and artificial intelligence. Finally, some space will be devoted to address innovation issues related to the recent Covid-19 pandemic.

Extended Syllabus

The main themes of the course will be explored by addressing the following key questions:
1. What are the economic features of knowledge/technology?
• Malerba, cap. 1, par. 1.1-1.4

2. How can innovation be measured?
• Malerba par. 1.5 oppure Belloc par. 1.2.2.

3. How do innovations diffuse in the economy?
• FMN, cap. 6

4. Does greater competition mean more innovation?
• Malerba, cap. 14, par. 14.2
• Belloc, cap. 1, par. 1.1.1. e 1.1.2

5. Does technology influence market structure?
• Malerba, cap. 8

6. Why do different firms have different innovative perfomances?
• Malerba, cap. 3
• Belloc, cap. 1 e 2 (par. 1.1.3; 1.1.4; 1.3; 2.1, 2.2 e 2.4).

7. How do firm relationships with other economic actors influence innovation?
• Malerba, cap. 6, par. da 6.5 a 6.7
• Slides provided by the instructor

8. What are the features of platforms as forms of organization of innovation?
• Slides provided by the instructor
• Franzini-Guarascio

9. How can differences in country-level innovation performance be explained?
• Zecchini
• Slides provided by the instructor

10. How does innovation influence growth?
• Slides provided by the instructor

11. How does innovation influence employment?
• Franzini-Guarascio

12. What policies can be adopted to promote innovation?
• Mazzucato
• Slides provided by the instructor

References
I temi del corso saranno affrontati organizzando la discussione in relazione ad alcune domande fondamentali:
1. Quali sono le caratteristiche economiche della tecnologia/innovazione?
• Malerba, cap. 1, par. 1.1-1.4

2. Come si misura l’innovazione?
• Malerba par. 1.5 oppure Belloc par. 1.2.2.

3. Come si diffondono le innovazioni?
• FMN, cap. 6

4. Più concorrenza vuol dire più innovazione?
• Malerba, cap. 14, par. 14.2
• Belloc, cap. 1, par. 1.1.1. e 1.1.2

5. La tecnologia influenza la struttura di mercato?
• Malerba, cap. 8

6. Perché imprese diverse hanno performance innovative diverse?
• Malerba, cap. 3
• Belloc, cap. 1 e 2 (par. 1.1.3; 1.1.4; 1.3; 2.1, 2.2 e 2.4) – Questo materiale è più ampio ed approfondito del peso che assume questo argomento nel corso; i concetti che sono indispensabili per la vostra formazione sono indicati nelle slide.

7. In che modo le relazioni dell’impresa con altri soggetti economici influenzano l’innovazione?
• Malerba, cap. 6, par. da 6.5 a 6.7
• In aggiunta, usare come riferimento le slide del corso, che indicano anche gli approfondimenti (in inglese – non obbligatori)

8. Quali sono le caratteristiche delle piattaforme come modalità di organizzazione dell’innovazione?
• Usare come riferimento le slide del corso, che indicano anche gli approfondimenti (in inglese – non obbligatori)
• Franzini-Guarascio

9. Cosa spiega la diversità delle caratteristiche innovative fra Paesi?
• Zecchini
• Per l’approccio delle “varietà di capitalismo”, usare come riferimento le slide del corso, che indicano anche gli approfondimenti (in inglese – non obbligatori)

10. In che modo l’innovazione influenza la crescita?
• Usare come riferimento le slides del corso, che indicano anche gli approfondimenti (in inglese – non obbligatori)

11. In che modo l’innovazione influenza l’occupazione?
• Franzini-Guarascio

12. Quali politiche è utile adottare per promuovere l’innovazione?
• Mazzucato
• Sui limiti del sistema brevettuale, usare come riferimento le slides del corso, che indicano anche gli approfondimenti (in inglese – non obbligatori)

Bibliografia essenziale

Fagerberg, Jan, David Mowery e Richard Nelson (a cura di), Innovazione. Imprese, industrie, economie, Carocci, Roma, 2007 (FMN)
Franco Malerba (a cura di), Economia dell'innovazione, Carocci, Roma, 2002 (Malerba)
Belloc, F. Governo dell’Impresa e Innovazione Tecnologica. Rubbettino, Soveria Mannelli, 2015. (Belloc)
Mazzucato, M. 2014. "Costruire lo Stato innovatore: un nuovo quadro per la previsione e la valutazione di politiche economiche che creano (non solo aggiustano) il mercato," Economia & lavoro, Carocci editore, issue 3, pages 7-24. (Mazzucato)
Zecchini, S. “Criticità nella politica per l’innovazione dell’Italia”, L’industria, Fascicolo 1, gennaio-marzo 2016. (Zecchini)
Franzini, M. e D. Guarascio “Questa volta è diverso? Mercati, lavoro e istituzioni nell’economia digitalizzata”, SINAPPSI - Connessioni tra ricerca e politiche pubbliche | Anno VIII | n. 2/2018. (Franzini-Guarascio)

Recommended Bibliography

The references for this course are given by a set of book chapter and scientific articles selected by the instructor. Please, see the extended program for the exact references.

Articles, slides and other additional material to support lectures and practical sessions will be provided by the instructor.

Methods of Provision

Conventional

Teaching Methods

Interactive lectures, case studies, class presentations and debates on selected topics. Students will also be required to write an essay on one of the course topics.

Evaluation methods

Verification of learning:

The exam foresees a written part that may contain open questions and/or exercises, graded on a scale of 30. Passing the written part with a grade of at least 17/30 is a necessary condition to take the oral part of the exam, which may be requested by the student or the instructor. The final mark will be given by the arithmetic average of the written and the oral part (if any), always on a scale of 30.
The exam will cover the topics illustrated in the course and indicated in the program. The evaluation will concern not only the specific knowledge of the topic contents, but also the use of terminology, the effectiveness in communication, the organization of discourse and the ability to elaborate and critically interpret the different topics.
Moreover, to reach 9 credits, students will be required to follow-up lectures with an essay that will allow to autonomously deepen their knowledge of specific topics.

Contacts/More Information

Lecture material will be made available on the FAD website for the course.

Università degli Studi
"G. d'Annunzio"

Chieti - Pescara

Aree