Economics for Engineering

Not applicable.

Expository classes, practical exercises (with guidance), work and debates in the classroom.

For a better performance, students must attend and participate in classes.

For an adequate study of the subject, they should not only use the notes collected in classes, but also consult all and study the materials provided by the professor and the recommended bibliography.

a) Goals:

This course is designed for future engineers. The main goal is that students can acquire elementary, practical and fundamental skills on economic science, which should allow them to:

– Develop general knowledge in the field of economic science by understanding its fundamental principles;

– Analyze and reflect on macroeconomic information and respective impacts on companies and families;

– Apply the theoretical concepts of Economics to the real world, creating the ability to reflect on real problems;

– Have the ability to solve specific problems, not only as consumers, but also from the perspective of the producer / seller;

– Participate in debates around economic science, managing to support and substantiate their own positions;

– To know the reality of the Portuguese and world economies through the analysis of a set of indicators.

b) Skills:

Students will learn to:

– Know the Economic Science and its postulates;

– Understand the rational decisions of consumers and producers;

– Know and differentiate the various types of market;

– Interpret the activities of the State;

– Know the reality of the Portuguese economy and the evolution of the world economy;

– Analyze a set of fundamental economic indicators (examples: GDP, inflation, unemployment, budget deficit, public debt, statistics on international trade);

– Have a critical spirit about the economic environment that surrounds them based on basic and fundamental knowledge of Economics;

– To interpret simple economics texts (including daily information published in the press), to understand the economic language and to be able to participate in debates.

– Introduction to economic science;

– The economic problem and its solutions;

– The Marshallian cross (demand and supply);

– Theory of consumer;

– Theory of producer;

– Theory of international trade;

– The main forms of market;

– Economic activity;

– The evolution of the State’s economic role;

– Brief notions of economic policy;

– Appearance, functions and characteristics of the currency;

– Portuguese economy in a historical perspective;

– The Portuguese business reality;

– The importance of internationalization of companies

– Sustainable Development and the Strategic Value of Sustainability;

– The concept of circular economy.

NAO

1) Main bibliography:

– Neves, J. C. (2017). Introdução à Economia (11ª edição). Lisboa: Verbo.

– Ferraz, R. (2021). Slides de apoio às aulas de Economia. ISEC.

2) Secundary bibliography:

– Samuelson, P. and Nordhaus (2011). Economics (19th ed). London: Mc Graw-Hill.

– Neves, J. C. (2011). Princípios de Economia Política. Lisboa: Verbo.

– Gomes, O. e Oliveira, L. (2017). Economia o Essencial. Lisboa: Edições Sílabo.

– Généreux, j. (1995). Introdução à Política Económica. Lisboa: Editorial Estampa.

– Mankiw, N. (2012). Principles of Economics (6th Ed). London: Cengage Learning.