Admission requirements
None.
Description
The European Union has achieved a unique level of economic integration. The six founding members initially focused on trade integration; but the cooperation widened to currently 27 member states; and it deepened into a large single market; where countries have given up parts of their economic sovereignty in favour of an intense economic cooperation at the EU level. The departure of the United Kingdom from the EU also pointed to the limits of integration. In this course; we discuss the development and the landmarks of this integration process. We will focus on the economic analysis of international economic processes and economic policies and we will discuss the milestones of the integration process; among which the realization of the internal market and the creation of the euro zone.
At the end of this course; the student will have a better understanding of the economic processes and policies in the European Union. He or she will be able to link legal and political developments in the EU to economic developments and will be able to present the relevant discussions.
If you come from a programme other than Law and Economics; we recommend you to have taken a basic course in economics before enrolling in this course.
Course objectives
In this course; the student will attain knowledge and an understanding of the issues in the field of Economic Policy in the EU. The student will be trained to independently analyse these issues.
At the end of this course, students will be able to:
Recognize and define important current issues in the major areas of European Economic Integration.
Identify the required steps to progress towards further integration.
Summarize economic policies in the European Union and interpret these policies in terms of economic efficiency and economic interests.
Identify the benefits and costs of the single currency in the process of integration and its effects on the policy making within the member states.
Use graphs to analyse the process of economic integration in the EU.
Present a topic related to the economics of the European Union and analyse it from a critical perspective.
Timetable
Check MyTimetable.
Mode of instruction
Lectures
Number of (2 hour) lectures: 7
Name(s) of lecturer(s): Dr. Simona Cicognani
Required preparation by students: Students are required to read the mandatory literature indicated in the course syllabus.
Seminars
Number of (2 hour) seminars: 4 or 5
Name(s) of instructor(s): Dr. Simona Cicognani
Required preparation by students: Preparing the exercises that will be uploaded on Brightspace.
Assessment method
Examination form(s)
Written exam (75%)
Presentation (25%)
Presentation
The presentation will be in groups; and it will touch upon a topic chosen by the students; which must be related to the economics of the European Union. The students must provide a description of the situation at stake and also use some critical thinking to discuss the points for improvement of the current situation.
Participation in the presentation is obligatory to partake in the written final examination.
Areas to be tested within the exam
The examination syllabus consists of the required reading (literature) for the course; the course information guide and the subjects taught in the lectures; the seminars and all other instructions thatare part of the course.
Regulation retake passed exams
In this course it is possible to retake an exam that has been passed (cf. art. 4.1.8 and further of the Course and Examination Regulations). Students who have passed the exam may retake the final written assessment (test) of the course if they meet certain requirements. For more information, go to the website > ‘Law’ tab > ‘Retake a passed exam’.
Reading list
Required course materials
Literature:
Richard Baldwin and Charles Wyplosz, The Economics of European Integration, 7th edition, McGrawHill Education, 2022
Articles discussed in class
Course information guide:
- See reader.
Reader:
- Economic Policy in the EU, available through Brightspace
Recommended course materials
- None.
Registration
Registration for courses and exams takes place via MyStudymap. If you do not have access to MyStudymap (guest students), look here (under the Law-tab) for more information on the registration procedure in your situation.
A block of seats will be reserved for exchange students and will be registered through the international office.
Contact
Co-ordinator: Dr. Simona Cicognani
Work address: Universitycampus Spui, Spui 5, The Hague
Contact information: through the secretariat of the Economics unit
Institution/division
Institute: Institute for Tax Law and Economics
Department: Economics
Room number secretariat: B2.07
Telephone number secretariat: +31 (0)71 527 7756
Email: economie@law.leidenuniv.nl