Department About us

About us

The Department of Economics and Management (DISEI) was established in 2013 through the merger of the four former departments of Economics, Business Sciences, Law and Economics, and Mathematics for Decision Making, representing the evolution of the Faculty of Economics and Business founded in 1936. In line with the University’s mission, DISEI promotes scientific research and advanced education, contributing to social, cultural, and economic development at the local, national, and international levels. Within this framework, the Department values its strong roots in Tuscany and Central Italy through long-standing relationships with the productive sector and an active commitment to supporting public policies.

DISEI is responsible for four Bachelor’s degree programmes and five Master’s degree programmes. One Bachelor’s programme, “Sustainable Business for Societal Challenges”, is entirely taught in English and offers the opportunity to obtain a Double Degree. The other three programmes – “Business Administration”, “Economics and Commerce”, and “Sustainable Development, Cooperation and Conflict Management” - are taught in Italian, while also offering several courses in English.

With regard to Master’s programmes, two of them – “Economics & Development” and “Finance and Risk Management” - are entirely taught in English and each offers three Double Degree programmes. The programme “Accounting, Auditing and Control” offers three curricula (one in English and two in Italian), with the possibility of two Double Degree programmes. The programme “Economics, Institutions and Sustainability” includes one curriculum in English and one in Italian, while “Business Governance and Management” is taught in Italian.

DISEI also offers a highly qualified third-level education through four PhD programmes – “Development Economics and Local Systems”, “Social Sciences for Sustainability and Wellbeing”, “Economics”, and “Business Economics and Management” - developed also in collaboration with the Universities of Siena and Pisa and the IMT School for Advanced Studies Lucca. Of particular importance are the integrated educational pathways focused on development and sustainability, extending from undergraduate studies to doctoral education.

Research at DISEI encompasses both theoretical and empirical studies in economics, business studies, history, and mathematics, with a strong transdisciplinary orientation that integrates contributions from legal, geographical, and agricultural sciences. This broad multidisciplinary approach, combined with solid quantitative and empirical expertise and a data-driven perspective, represents a distinctive feature of the Department, enhancing both the quality of scientific production and the effectiveness of teaching activities. DISEI hosts the interdepartmental “Behavioral and Experimental Economics Lab” (BEELab+) and the “Research Centre on Games for Social Change” (GiX). The Department also participates in numerous national and European research projects covering a wide range of topics. In addition, DISEI hosts the prestigious “Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence”, whose mission is to coordinate and promote research and studies on European integration from an interdisciplinary perspective.

Internationalisation represents a strategic priority pursued through collaborations with foreign universities, participation in international networks and research projects, and joint educational initiatives. Since 1 January 2026, the Department has been a member of the European Foundation for Management Development (EFMD), one of the leading international organisations promoting excellence in management and business education. Membership constitutes a strategic step in strengthening the Department’s internationalisation process, as it provides access to a highly qualified network of academic institutions, fostering the development of new collaborations, international agreements, and joint initiatives in teaching and research. DISEI is therefore characterised by a well-established position in the fields of economics, business, and finance, with a strong international, interdisciplinary, and applied orientation.

The DISEI recognizes sustainability as the fundamental paradigm for addressing the global challenges of the 21st century. In line with the United Nations 2030 Agenda, it is committed to integrating the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) across all its institutional dimensions. DISEI’s approach is not limited to the environmental dimension, but also embraces economic and social sustainability, promoting inclusive growth models, strong institutions, and transparent markets. DISEI’s activities in Teaching, Research, and Knowledge Transfer are strongly connected to many of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the UN 2030 Agenda.