Pasta, Soccer, and Opera: A Sampler of Economics and Data Analysis in Italy

3 credits · Undergraduate

The goal of this course is to introduce students to fun, real-world and sometimes surprising economic phenomena with modern and historical Italy as the centerpiece. Examples include the game theory of penalty kicks in Italian soccer, the salt monopoly that led to Tuscany's famous salt-less bread, the causal effect of BBC radio on Italian resistance efforts during World War II, the economic effects of the Mafia, and the effects of Napoleon's victories on Italian opera quality (through adoption of copyright laws). Students will learn basic economic concepts and econometric tools, as well as a basic introduction to coding in R.