Events Summer school “Multiscale Modelling and Ecological Macroeconomics”Programme

Programme

Programme

Modules

The summer school focuses on three primary modelling approaches that provide comprehensive insights into sustainability challenges and policy interventions:

1. SIMPLE-on-a-Grid (SIMPLE-G):
   SIMPLE-on-a-Grid (SIMPLE-G) is a multi-region, partial equilibrium model of gridded water use, cropland use, crop production, consumption and trade. It is an extension of the SIMPLE model that has been applied to study long run sustainability issues in the global food-water-environment nexus. The georeferenced grid-cell units allows SIMPLE-G to explicitly incorporate local environmental constraints in its projections, account for sub-national heterogeneity of global drivers such as water scarcity, and assess local land and water use given future trends in the global farm and food system. So far, in SIMPLE, the world was split into 16 economic regions, while the SIMPLE-G existed only for the US, China and Brazil. Now, for the first time, an EU country has been included: Italy.
   
   
2. Environmentally Extended Input-Output (EEIO):
   EEIO modeling extends traditional input-output frameworks by incorporating environmental variables, providing a systematic approach to evaluate the environmental pressures associated with economic activities. This module focuses on the integration of material flows, emissions, and resource use into economic models, enabling participants to assess the ecological footprints of industries and supply chains. EEIO methods facilitate the analysis of policy interventions aimed at reducing environmental impacts while promoting sustainable production and consumption patterns.
   
   
3. Ecological Macroeconomics Modelling:
   Ecological macroeconomics integrates ecological constraints into macroeconomic modelling, addressing critical issues such as resource depletion, carbon emissions, social justice and post-growth. This segment explores system dynamics, stock-flow consistent models (e.g. the EUROGREEN model), and feedback loops between the economy and the environment. Participants will gain insight into policies for achieving long-term sustainability, balancing economic stability with ecological resilience. The focus will be on exploring pathways for green transitions, degrowth scenarios, and policies that promote social equity alongside environmental preservation.

The summer school will combine lectures from leading experts with hands-on workshops, where participants will apply these models to real-world data and scenarios. Emphasis will be placed on developing practical skills in software environments commonly used for multi-scale modeling, such as R, Vensim, and GIS-based platforms.

 

The overall classes will be of 24 hours and will provide 3 ETC credits.

 

Invited Lecturers

Marco Veronese Passarella (Keynote Lecture)

Michele Manfroni (Université Grenoble Alpes)

Simone D’Alessandro (University of Pisa)

Guilherme Morlin (University of Pisa)

 

Lecturers of the Summer School

Tiziano Distefano (University of Florence)

Luca Salvatici (Roma Tre University)

Cristina Vaquero (Roma Tre University)

Exequiel Romero Gómez (Roma Tre University e Universidad de Buenos Aires)

Maria Laura Ojeda  (Roma Tre University e Universidad de Buenos Aires)

Benedetto Rocchi (University of Florence)

Giorgia Giovannetti (University of Florence)

Gino Sturla (Universidad Diego Portales, Chile)

Mauro Viccaro (University of Basilicata)

Majid Zadmirzaei (University of Basilicata)

Raphael Porcherot (University of Florence)