The course is an introduction to the economics of the process of European integration.

The first part of the course provides an historical overview of the European countries' political and economic developments after the Second World War and the early steps of the economic integration. It also illustrates the main features of the European Union (EU) institutions and processes of decision making.

The second section describes the microeconomic mechanisms behind the process of economic integration. In particular it analyses the creation of the custom union and the common market.

The third part illustrates the macroeconomics of European monetary integration and the monetary and fiscal policies within the EU.

The second and third section are introduced by classes dealing with the review of the main tools for microeconomic and macroeconomic analyses.

Finally, the fourth part of the course focuses on some EU micro policies such as the EU regional policy and the common agricultural policy. The process of financial integration and the costs and benefits of the EU Eastern enlargement are also discussed. Classes are organized following a diachronic perspective to permit students to get acquainted with key events and phenomena that constitute the background for the analysis of current affairs and problems.