Syllabus for The Global Economy: Environment, Development and Globalisation

Learning outcomes

On completion of the course, the student should be able to

• account for and compare different ways to measure development, poverty and welfare;
• account for and analyse the relation between economy and gender, class, politics, resources, trade, migration and legislation;
• account for and critically relate to historical and idea-historical perspectives on economic thinking and economic development;
• critically analyse corporations roles and societal responsibility from a global sustainability perspective;
• account for global power relations and apply a justice perspective on the sustainability challenge;
• analyse the global economic system and its institutions, actors and trends from a perspective that spans different disciplines;
• from a multidisciplinary perspective compare and critically analyse the basic assumptions, explanatory models and proposed solutions of different economical theories in relation to the present sustainability challenge.

Content

The course highlights and discusses historical, idea-historical and contemporary sustainability perspectives on economic thinking, economic theory (neoclassical economy, environmental economy and ecological economy) and economic development. The interaction and conflicts between society and the environment from a global perspective are linked to the problem of measuring and evaluating, the relationship between economic growth and the environment and the consequences of consumer society. Furthermore different dimensions and connections between development and under-development and between poverty and wealth are also highlighted. Focus is also given to global economic institutions, international cooperation, world trade, business, globalisation and societal responsibility.

Instruction

The teaching consists of lectures, seminars and workshops. The lectures are given by guest lecturers from various academic disciplines and relevant areas of society. Ample opportunities are provided for active student participation and critical reflection. Participation in seminars and workshops is compulsory. Non-compulsory study visits or equivalent may occur.

Assessment

The student is examined through written preparation for (4 credits) and active participation in seminars and workshops (3 credits), and through written documentation (7 credits) and oral presentation (1 credit) of a project.

If there are special reasons for doing so, an examiner may make an exception from the method of assessment indicated and allow a student to be assessed by another method. An example of special reasons might be a certificate regarding special pedagogical support from the University's disability coordinator.

Other directives

Active participation is reassessed through a re-seminar. If a student after having been offered a re-seminar still does not meet the requirements to pass the active participation elements the examiner can choose reasssessment by another method.