Economic and social sciences

The PhD Program in “Economic and Social Sciences” is an advanced and interdisciplinary training program, aimed at preparing researchers and professionals capable of analyzing in depth economic, business and social phenomena. The Program in question integrates theoretical and methodological tools specific to political economy, economic policy, business and managerial economics, sociology, anthropology, legal and social sciences, offering a dynamic and multidisciplinary research environment. Consistent with a multi- and interdisciplinary analysis approach, with the aim of promoting scientifically and methodologically based reflection on contemporary political-economic, economic-business and socio-anthropological processes, the training project of the PhD Program focuses on varied but complementary thematic axes. Going into detail, particular attention will be paid to the main contemporary economic theories, public policies, globalization processes and the dynamics of markets and labor. In addition, specific in-depth studies will be conducted on the lines of study characterizing both business economics and business economics and management, with a specific focus on strategic management, entrepreneurial innovation, measurement and evaluation of financial performance and ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) matters, on the environmental and social sustainability of a company, on corporate governance models from a public and private perspective, as well as on integrated reporting. Finally, the socio-anthropological field will be considered with its distinctive scientific approach characterized by the investigation of the new cultural and social realities of our contemporary age, due to the increasingly intense cultural contact generated by migratory phenomena, by the transmission of information and images on a global scale, by the diffusion of technologies and by the expansion of markets. The educational program is divided into advanced courses on quantitative (bibliometric and econometric) and qualitative (ethnography, discourse analysis, case-based analysis, survey) research methods, on interdisciplinary workshops, on seminars with international teachers and experts as well as on study visits abroad. The multidisciplinary and integrated approach, therefore, will allow PhD students to develop solid and versatile skills, promoting a high level of education that combines scientific rigor, critical sense and the ability to systemically read local, intercultural and global territorial contexts.

The Doctoral Program pursues the goal of training scholars and professionals capable of contributing in an original way to the advancement of knowledge in economic, business, legal and social sciences. Doctoral students will be able to design and carry out complex research, to observe and critically analyze the socio-cultural dynamics that underlie social changes, their impact on social and institutional processes, their influence and effects on the transformation of values and socio-economic and socio-institutional models both at local and international level, competently addressing the analytical and interpretative challenges posed by contemporary society. A further objective concerns both the contamination between economic-business, legal, anthropological and sociological disciplines, and the dialogue between academic research and the socio-economic ecosystem, by virtue of collaborations with companies, public administrations, non-profit organizations and other research centers, both Italian and foreign. The PhD Program offers a training project structured on a multidisciplinary basis, aimed at providing PhD students with the theoretical, methodological and applicative tools necessary for the development of advanced research in the fields of economics, business economics and, more generally, social sciences. The program is divided into teaching modules organized on multiple levels: a first methodological core, followed by specialized modules oriented to the development of specific, disciplinary and interdisciplinary skills. The methodological core includes advanced training in scientific research methodology in the economic-social field, with a balance between quantitative approaches (bibliometrics, econometrics, financial statement analysis) and qualitative approaches (construction of interviews, ethnography, discourse analysis, case-based analysis, financial statement evaluation). The PhD student, therefore, will acquire significant familiarity with a broad spectrum of research techniques, not only for empirical analysis, but also for the theoretical construction and conceptual interpretation of complex and continuously changing contexts. The economic disciplinary modules delve into the main currents of contemporary economic thought, the analysis of public policies, industrial and macroeconomic dynamics, regional development and sustainable growth models. Particular attention is paid to the study of labor markets, poverty and inequalities, as well as transformations in the relationships between the State, market and civil society, also in relation to the cultural and economic dynamism that characterizes contemporary geopolitics; with a focus on innovation as a driver of sustainable development, as well as on the definition and evaluation of policies for eco-sustainability.The economic and business disciplinary modules focus on the strategic management of choices of economic, social and governance sustainability of the private and public business system, on the management of innovation and on reporting and accountability systems. The courses aim to strengthen analytical and critical skills with respect to corporate, public and private decision-making processes, and provide the basis for understanding organizational dynamics in global, inter-cultural and local contexts. In close connection and transversally to the previous disciplinary nuclei, the objective of the teachings of the anthropological and sociological area focuses on the development of critical thinking and innovative problem solving skills in the face of complex socio-cultural, socio-economic and governance paradigms, through the acquisition of a theoretical background that allows the analysis of a research problem through different analytical perspectives. An ethnographic approach to field research will also be encouraged, capable of grasping the complexity of relationships between individuals, groups and institutions in different territorial contexts, with particular attention to the processes of marginalization, inclusion, agency and cultural resistance. The program includes seminar activities with national and international professors, interdisciplinary workshops, cycles of critical comparison between doctoral students, periodic checks and individual scientific tutoring activities, in order to encourage scientific discussion and the development of original research. Finally, the training path includes a period of training and research abroad, at universities or research centers of recognized international prestige, chosen according to the specific research area of the doctoral student. This is an important moment of cultural, scientific and professional growth, aimed at strengthening the internationalization of research and promoting the dissemination and recognition of the results achieved at a global level.through the acquisition of a theoretical background that allows the analysis of a research problem through different analytical perspectives. An ethnographic approach to field research will also be encouraged, capable of grasping the complexity of relationships between individuals, groups and institutions in different territorial contexts, with particular attention to the processes of marginalization, inclusion, agency and cultural resistance. The program includes seminar activities with national and international professors, interdisciplinary workshops, cycles of critical comparison between doctoral students, periodic checks and individual scientific tutoring activities, in order to encourage scientific discussion and the development of original research. Finally, the training path includes a period of training and research abroad, at universities or research centers of recognized international prestige, chosen according to the specific research area of the doctoral student. This is an important moment of cultural, scientific and professional growth, aimed at strengthening the internationalization of research and promoting the dissemination and recognition of the results achieved at a global level.through the acquisition of a theoretical background that allows the analysis of a research problem through different analytical perspectives. An ethnographic approach to field research will also be encouraged, capable of grasping the complexity of relationships between individuals, groups and institutions in different territorial contexts, with particular attention to the processes of marginalization, inclusion, agency and cultural resistance. The program includes seminar activities with national and international professors, interdisciplinary workshops, cycles of critical comparison between doctoral students, periodic checks and individual scientific tutoring activities, in order to encourage scientific discussion and the development of original research. Finally, the training path includes a period of training and research abroad, at universities or research centers of recognized international prestige, chosen according to the specific research area of the doctoral student. This is an important moment of cultural, scientific and professional growth, aimed at strengthening the internationalization of research and promoting the dissemination and recognition of the results achieved at a global level.

Expected teachings

• Research Methodology
• Systematic review of the literature
• Qualitative analysis
• Ethnographic analysis
• Econometrics
• Research and design funding
• Social Network Analysis
• Balance sheet analysis and evaluation
• Sustainability, integrated reporting and evaluation
• Analysis of cultural and communicative processes

Other educational activities

• Seminars
• Laboratory activities
• Core principles of ethics, gender equality and integrity

Master's degrees in:

• LMG/01 Class of Master's Degrees in Law
• LM-1 Cultural Anthropology and Ethnology
• LM-1 R Cultural Anthropology and Ethnology
• LM-14 Modern Philology
• LM-15 Philology, literature and history of antiquity
• LM-18 Computer Science
• LM-23 Civil Engineering
• LM-30 Energy and Nuclear Engineering
• LM-31 Management Engineering
• LM-35 Environmental and Land Engineering
• LM-40 Mathematics
• LM-41 Medicine and Surgery
• LM-41 R Medicine and Surgery
• LM-46 Dentistry and dental prosthetics
• LM-46 R Dentistry and dental prosthetics
• LM-48 Territorial, urban and environmental planning
• LM-48 R Territorial, urban and environmental planning
• LM-49 Planning and management of tourism systems
• LM-49 R Design and management of tourism systems
• LM-50 Educational Services Planning and Management
• LM-50 R Educational Services Programming and Management
• LM-52 International Relations
• LM-52 R International Relations
• LM-56 Economics
• LM-56 R Economics
• LM-59 Public, Business and Advertising Communication Sciences
• LM-59 R Public, Business and Advertising Communication Sciences
• LM-62 Political Science
• LM-62 R Political Science
• LM-63 Public Administration Sciences
• LM-63 R Public Administration Sciences
• LM-73 Forestry and environmental sciences and technologies
• LM-73 R Forestry and environmental sciences and technologies
• LM-75 Sciences and technologies for the environment and the territory
• LM-75 R Science and technology for the environment and the territory
• LM-76 Economic Sciences for the Environment and Culture
• LM-76 R Economic Sciences for the Environment and Culture
• LM-77 Business and Economics
• LM-77 R Business and Economics
• LM-81 Sciences for development cooperation
• LM-81 R Sciences for development cooperation
• LM-82 Statistical Sciences
• LM-82 R Statistical Sciences
• LM-87 Social services and social policies
• LM-87 R Social services and social policies
• LM-88 Sociology and Social Research
• LM-88 R Sociology and Social Research
• LM-90 European Studies
• LM-90 R European Studies
• LM/GASTR Economic and social sciences of gastronomy
• LM/GASTR R Economic and social sciences of gastronomy
• LM/SC-GIUR Legal Sciences
• LM/SC-GIUR R Legal Sciences
• LM-Data Data science
• 64/S (specialization in economic sciences)
• 71/S (specialization in public administration sciences)
• 84/S (specialization in economic and business sciences)
• 90/S (specialization in demographic and social statistics)
• 91/S (specialization in economic, financial and actuarial statistics)
• 92/S (specialization in statistics for experimental research)
• LMG/01 Jurisprudence

The PhD program aims to train highly qualified profiles, equipped with advanced theoretical, methodological and applicative skills in the fields of economics, management, sociology and anthropology. At the end of the program, PhDs will be able to analyze and interpret complex phenomena with an interdisciplinary approach, applying the most suitable scientific tools to address the national and global challenges posed by transition processes in the economic and social field. The main employment and professional opportunities - with reference to roles of responsibility with research and consultancy functions - concern: - Academic career and scientific research PhDs will be able to undertake academic careers in universities and research centers, in Italy and abroad, thanks to the solid theoretical and methodological preparation acquired, participation in international scientific networks and the experience gained during the mandatory periods of study and research abroad. The PhD will be able to contribute to scientific production and competitive research activities on a national and international scale. - Study centers, public and private research institutes The analytical and transversal skills acquired allow the PhD to be placed in study centers of public institutions, think tanks, development agencies, socio-economic observatories and foundations, with roles in applied research, in the development of scenarios, in the evaluation of public policies and in the analysis of the relationship between society, territory and environment, with particular reference to redevelopment projects, cultural protection of the territory and sustainable development. - Public administration and international organizations The PhD will be able to access management positions or high-level technical consultancy in local, national and supranational public bodies (ministries, regions, regulatory authorities, European Commission, OECD, UN), contributing to the definition, implementation and monitoring of economic, social and environmental policies. - Private sector and businesses Outgoing profiles will also be able to enter the private sector, in particular in businesses, consulting firms, financial institutions and start-ups, where skills relating to strategic management, sustainable innovation, measurement of economic-social performance and sustainability reporting will be valued. - Health economics and health policies The PhD may also find employment in the health economics sector, working as analysts, consultants or researchers in health companies, public bodies, regional and national evaluation agencies, international organizations and NGOs. He/she will be able to contribute to the design, analysis and evaluation of health policies,resource management and economic sustainability of healthcare systems, integrating economic, managerial and social skills in a perspective oriented towards equity and efficiency of healthcare services. - Third sector, cooperation and local development The interdisciplinary path allows the PhD to cover roles of planning, evaluation and coordination within non-governmental organizations, cooperatives, third sector entities and social and solidarity economy initiatives, with particular attention to the promotion of inclusion, the fight against marginalization, sustainable territorial development, social integration and cultural dissemination through diversified media and the adoption of social policies concerning migrants and development projects aimed at promoting the integration of foreign citizens, assistance to migrants and the promotion of social and cultural rights.
In line with the principles of the United Nations 2030 Agenda, the Doctoral Course aims to train researchers and professionals capable of addressing the major global challenges with a critical spirit and advanced skills: inequalities, climate change, ecological transition, digital innovation, social cohesion and democratic participation. The Doctor of Research will be able to significantly contribute to sustainable development, collective well-being and the enhancement of territories, promoting solutions based on evidence and social responsibility. The added value of the training path lies in the ability to seize future professional opportunities with a systemic and interdisciplinary vision, integrating economic-business, legal and socio-anthropological skills, as well as contributing in an original way to innovation, sustainability and the progress of scientific and applied knowledge.