Economics ought to be an engaging subject that sheds light on the important challenges that society faces. Instead, it is often limited to discussion of short-term news (its public face) or mining a seam of research that is increasingly less productive and of little public interest (its private face). University students of economics have often expressed disappointment at how little engagement their course has with the social, economic and environmental issues they care most about. This course begins with the big questions and explores what economics has to say, or could say, about them. We shall consider questions such as ‘Why are we trashing our planet?' and ‘Why are a few people rich and a lot of people poor?’. The format will be presentations and opportunities for discussion (including, at the beginning, a chance to choose the questions the course will cover).
For tutor presentations please click HERE