13925 - Alternative Economies Modulübersicht

Module Number: 13925
Module Title:Alternative Economies
  Alternative Ökonomien
Department: Faculty 5 - Business, Law and Social Sciences
Responsible Staff Member:
  • Prof. Dr. phil. Jaeger-Erben, Melanie
Language of Teaching / Examination:English
Duration:1 semester
Frequency of Offer: Every summer semester
Credits: 6
Learning Outcome:

Upon successful completion, students will have a solid overview on heterodox economic theories (including feminist, post-Keynesian, ecological and political economy perspectives), and understand how they differ from neoclassical economics. They are skilled in discussing and critically reflecting upon the opportunities, limitations and the applicability of different economic concepts presented in class. Students will acquire methodological skills in researching, reading and discussing academic literature.

Contents:The multiple crises we are currently facing – in relation to climate, biodiversity, democracy, or social inequalities – require different economic perspectives and practices. In lectures and seminars, students will learn about the limits of the dominant neoclassical paradigm and gain an overview on heterodox economic schools. They will be introduced to concepts such as degrowth, care economy, economic democracy or social entrepreneurship. At the same time, this course will critically analyse fundamental aspects of current economies, such as money, growth, profits, work or the relation to nature, and discuss practical examples of alternative economies. 
Recommended Prerequisites:Knowledge of the contents of module 
  • 13922 Introduction to Transformation Studies
Mandatory Prerequisites:None
Forms of Teaching and Proportion:
  • Lecture / 2 Hours per Week per Semester
  • Seminar / 2 Hours per Week per Semester
  • Self organised studies / 120 Hours
Teaching Materials and Literature:
  • Chang, H.-J. (2014). Economics: The User's Guide. Bloomsbury Publishing.
  •  Bauhardt, C. (2014). Solutions to the crisis? The Green New Deal, Degrowth, and the Solidarity Economy: Alternatives to the capitalist growth economy from an ecofeminist economics perspective. Ecological Economics 102, 60-68. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolecon.2014.03.015
  • The Foundational Economy Collective (2022). Foundational Economy. The infrastructure of everyday life. Manchester University Press.
  •  Raworth, K. (2017). Doughnut economics: seven ways to think like a 21st-century economist. London: Random House Business Books.
  • Wellbeing Economy Alliance (2020). Wellbeing Economics for the COVID-19 recovery. Ten principles to build back better. Briefing Paper,https://serval.unil.ch/resource/serval:BIB_C2D492EC73DF.P001/REF.
  •  Kallis, G. et al. (2018). Research on Degrowth. Annual Review of Environment and Resources. 43:4.1–4.26.https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-environ-102017-025941
Module Examination:Continuous Assessment (MCA)
Assessment Mode for Module Examination:
  • Participation and reflection notebook, 1,500-2,000 words (30%)
  • 4 short tests in class, 10 min. each (40%)
  • Poster presentation in groups (15 min.) (30%)
Evaluation of Module Examination:Performance Verification – graded
Limited Number of Participants:40
Part of the Study Programme:
  • Master (research-oriented) - Double Degree / Environmental and Resource Management / PO 2021
  • Master (research-oriented) / Environmental and Resource Management / PO 2021
  • Master (research-oriented) / Transformation Studies / PO 2024
  • Master (research-oriented) / Wirtschaftsingenieurwesen / PO 2025
  • Master (research-oriented) - Reduced Semester / Wirtschaftsingenieurwesen / PO 2025
  • Master (research-oriented) - Reduced Semester / Wirtschaftsingenieurwesen - dual / PO 2025
  • Master (research-oriented) - Co-Op Programme with Practical Place / Wirtschaftsingenieurwesen - dual / PO 2025
Remarks:

Module with limited number of participants - Registration two weeks prior to the commencement of lectures!

Module Components:None
Components to be offered in the Current Semester:
  • no assignment