Course overview
This course deepens the critical thinking and practical reasoning of economics by examining a wide range of pressing issues confronting modern market economies, adopting a pluralist perspective throughout. While technological advances and economic globalisation have contributed to economic growth over time, they have been accompanied in many countries by underemployment and insecure employment; higher levels of income and wealth inequality; financialisaton and rising private indebtedness; higher concentrations of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases in the atmosphere; and a variety of other ecological problems. In recent years, secular stagnation, low investment rates and stalling productivity growth have been widespread. The approach taken in this course is discursive and empirical, rather than being either mathematical or heavily theoretical and technical.
Course learning outcomes
- Identify and explain a range of contemporary economic issues which are currently subject to debate and controversy
- Identify, explain and apply contributions from a variety of prominent economists and various schools of thought to modern controversies relating to economic policy
- Construct effective pieces of written work of a professional standard, to communicate the results of economic analysis to non-economists
- Present economic analysis to a diverse group of students and members of staff, making appropriate use of the available technology for the purpose