21210212 - Economia dell’incertezza e dell’informazione

The availability and dissemination of information have very significant effects on individual behaviour and on the functioning of the markets. The nature of the contracts traded, the mechanisms and operating rules of the markets often reflect the prevailing information conditions. This course is an introduction to these topics through the methodologies of microeconomic theory. In particular, a first part is dedicated to decisions under uncertainty in perfectly competitive markets. A second part considers decisions with incomplete information and imperfectly competitive markets (monopoly, oligopoly, monopolistic competition); the emergence of strategic behaviours is considered. A final part of the course is dedicated to the functioning of markets in the presence of information asymmetries. Understanding these issues aims to put the student in a position to understand the information that market data transmits and to identify which other data it is important to collect in order to effectively inform the decisions of economic agents.

teacher profile | teaching materials

Programme

Part I – The Perfectly Competitive Economy: Review and Further Analysis

Individual decision-making
Perfectly competitive markets: equilibrium, efficiency, and equity

Part II – Decisions and Transactions under Imperfect Information

Decision-making under uncertainty
Decision-making under incomplete information: strategic behaviour
Incomplete information and market power: monopoly and oligopoly

Part III – Decisions and Transactions under Asymmetric Information

Market power: static and dynamic price discrimination, two-part tariffs, and bundling
Asymmetric information about characteristics and actions (adverse selection and moral hazard) and contractual solutions

Core Documentation

B. Douglas Bernheim, Michael D. Whinston, Microeconomia, Mc Graw Hill, 2022.
Additional materials will be made available on the Moodle platform throughout the course.

Attendance

Attendance is not compulsory.

Type of evaluation

The assessment will consist of a written and an oral examination.