Law and Economics

The second cycle degree programme inEconomics and Law aims to train specialists who will have solid knowledge inthe fields of economics, law, statistics, econometrics and businessadministration, as well as the ability to analyse the interactions betweeneconomic systems and institutional frameworks and to understand the influenceof rules and regulations on the way businesses, markets and publicadministrations operate.

Introduction to the areas of learning

The course programme provides appropriatetraining in three areas of learning: economics, law and businessadministration.

Through the study of economics, studentsgain advanced knowledge of economic analysis in the main sectors concerningbusiness activities and market regulation. In particular, students acquiredetailed knowledge of the way in which different contractual arrangements createand change the incentives that determine the behaviour of the differentparties. They acquire sound knowledge of the economics of competition and theability to analyse antitrust cases autonomously. They gain detailed knowledgeof the economic functions of the different institutions governing intellectualproperty, of regulation models and of the main methods of economic interventionfor private sector enterprises as well as public enterprises or enterpriseswith public participation. They also acquire knowledge of the foundingprinciples of business ethics and how they have developed over time.

All this enables them to understand theinteractions between economic systems and institutional frameworks and toassess the influence of rules and regulations on the way enterprises, marketsand public administrations operate. The study of economics subjects isstrengthened by the study of econometric and data analysis methods, thanks towhich graduates with a second cycle degree in economics and law learn to criticallyassess the quantitative implications of legal and regulatory requirementsthrough an empirical-inductive approach.

The study of law subjects is fullycomplementary to the study of economics, and provides graduates with a secondcycle degree in economics and law with the required knowledge of the statutoryand regulatory frameworks governing all the main sectors concerning businessactivities. Students thus acquire knowledge of the relevant legal instrumentsfor dealing in the global market, protecting competition and intellectualproperty, dealing in the capital and the banking market, and working in theareas of labour and welfare. They gain an advanced understanding of thelegislation governing corporate crisis, environmental protection and corporate taxwithin the national taxation system.

The study of business subjects providesstudents with knowledge of the foundations of business economics and businessaccounting in particular, of budgetary analysis, cost analysis, planning andmanagement control.

Introduction to professional profiles

The second cycle degree programme inEconomics and Law aims to train professional profiles for which there iscurrently a sustained and, in some cases, growing demand.

Economist

An economist is a professional role qualifiedto conduct economic research activities, who analyses data and information ofan economic nature (such as economic policy measures, data on economic trends,forecasts, etc.). Economists are also qualified to carry out economicconsultancy activities in support of decision making processes and to assist inthe definition of economic and institutional policies. Hence, the detailedknowledge of economics provided by the degree programme and the skillsdeveloped in statistical and econometric methods and in the statutory andregulatory frameworks are particularly useful in training for this professionalrole.

Business economist

This professional role is qualified todefine corporate policies, formulate corporate economic and financial plans,provide consultancies for the improvement of corporate performance, define thestatutory and regulatory frameworks of companies and institutions and assistthem in their choices concerning taxation, social security contributions,corporate structure and financial management. Hence, the detailed knowledge ofeconomic and legal issues as well as of corporate issues connected withbudgetary analysis and costing are particularly useful in training for thisprofessional role.

Official working in administrations,corporations and public companies and official working in regulatoryauthorities and international organisations

This professional role performs high leveladministrative duties of an economic and legal nature, preparing administrativeacts, managing economic resources and the implementation of projects, anddeveloping the guidelines and policies of the administrations and organisationsthey work in. The economic and legal knowledge as well as business andmanagement skills provided by the degree programme are invaluable for carryingout these duties. Knowledge of administrative law and public company law,combined with expertise in the economics of regulation and of public utilitiesis particularly useful in this respect.

Structure of the degree programme

The first semester is devoted to the studyof the foundations of the disciplines, based on a set of courses attended byall the students enrolled in the degree programme. The second and thirdsemesters focus on the acquisition of advanced and specialist knowledge that isessential for the professional profiles described above. Students can decidewhich particular specialist area to focus on by choosing from differentteaching and training activities conducted in distinct groups: one whichprovides in-depth knowledge of economics, one which focuses in detail on legalaspects and one which allows students to choose whether to expand theirknowledge of econometrics or of business studies. Moreover, students can chooseto complete their learning programme by attending seminars, obtainingadditional language proficiency qualifications (in addition to the required B2level of English proficiency) or doing an internship. The fourth and finalsemester is primarily devoted to research activities and working on and writingthe final dissertation.

Admission to the second cycle degreeprogramme in Economics and Law requires possession of a first cycle degree or abachelor degree awarded after three years of study, or a foreign educationalqualification recognised as suitable.

Additionally, it requires possession ofcurricular requirements and to have passed an assessment test.

To attend the Second Cycle Degree programmein Economics and Law, candidates need to have acquired adequate knowledge inthe field of economic analysis and legal studies.

In particular, for admission to the SecondCycle Degree programme in Economics and Law, candidates need to meet the followingrequirements:

Curricular requirements

Possession of a First Cycle Degree in oneof the following classes, pursuant to Italian Ministerial Decree 270/04:

L-33 (Economics) L-18 (Economics andBusiness Administration)

L-14 (Legal Services)

L-36 (Political Science and InternationalRelations)

LMG/01 (Law)

pursuant to Italian Ministerial Decree509/99:

classes 28 (Economics) classes 17(Economics and Business Administration)

classes 31 (Legal Studies)

classes 2 (Legal Services)

classes 15 (Political Science andInternational Relations)

class 22/S (Law)

or under the four-year system previously inforce:

First cycle degree in Business andEconomics, Business Administration, Political Economy, Law, Political Sciencesand equivalent qualifications;

or possession of another educationalqualification obtained abroad recognised as appropriate.

For candidates holding an educationalqualification obtained abroad, a committee will evaluate, through a processwhich may include an interview, whether their foreign qualification meets theadmission requirements for the degree programme.

The Committee will set a timetable for itsactivities, which will be published on the University portal. If the Committeefeels that the candidate's level of knowledge and competencies are adequate, itexpresses an opinion of suitability through which the candidate will gainadmission to the assessment test.

Admission to the degree programme requirescandidates to pass an assessment test which

will be held according to the methods definedin the point on method of admission.

Additionally, the candidates will be testedon their English proficiency level which should be at least B1.