Syllabus

Title
6143 Sustainable Economics and Business II: Inequality, Well-Being and Sustainability
Instructors
Assist.Prof. Mag. Simon Sturn, Ph.D.
Contact details
Type
PI
Weekly hours
2
Language of instruction
Englisch
Registration
02/14/18 to 02/23/18
Registration via LPIS
Notes to the course
Subject(s) Bachelor Programs
Dates
Day Date Time Room
Tuesday 03/06/18 02:00 PM - 05:30 PM D4.0.133
Tuesday 03/13/18 02:00 PM - 05:30 PM D1.1.078
Tuesday 05/22/18 02:00 PM - 05:30 PM D4.0.133
Tuesday 05/29/18 02:00 PM - 05:30 PM D4.0.133
Tuesday 06/05/18 02:00 PM - 05:30 PM D3.0.222
Tuesday 06/12/18 02:00 PM - 05:30 PM D3.0.222
Tuesday 06/19/18 02:00 PM - 05:30 PM D4.0.133
Contents

In this class we will investigate effects of socio-economic inequality on well-being and sustainability. A thriving literature analyses the development of income inequality over time, its determinants, and its consequences. The aim of this class is to read several significant contributions to these fields, and discuss their implications. Specifically, the first part of the course focuses on recent trends in income inequality. We will also briefly discuss inequality by gender and race. The second part investigates the determinants of income inequality. The third and largest part looks at the effects of inequality on various outcomes, like crime, consumerism, household indebtedness, and the environment. The final part of the class deals with options policy makers have to address income inequality.

Learning outcomes

On successful completion of the course, students will know:

  • About recent trends in income inequality in and between countries, and understand the core-differences between various measures of inequality.
  • How inequality affects our society, economy, and environment.
  • Key determinants of income inequality, and how policy makers can tackle inequality without causing significant unintended side effects.
  • How to read academic articles.
Teaching/learning method(s)

  • Lectures
  • Student group presentations
  • Class discussions
  • Videos
  • Note: Students are required to read, present, and discuss academic articles.
Assessment

  • Presentation (40%)
  • Prepared comment on other group's presentation (10%)
  • Discussion questions on readings (20%)
  • Short quizzes on previous class (10%)
  • Class participation (20%)
  • Note: There will regularly be small quizzes on the readings and presentations, and class participation is a relevant part of the final grade; thus, regular attendance is required.

    Prerequisites for participation and waiting lists
    Die Platzvergabe während der Anmeldefrist verfährt im „first-come, first-served Prinzip“.

    Falls Sie eine gültige LV-Anmeldung haben, aber an dieser Lehrveranstaltung nicht teilnehmen können, melden Sie sich bitte während des Anmeldezeitraums über LPIS wieder ab, damit Ihr LV-Platz anderen Studierenden zur Verfügung steht.

    Sollte es eine Warteliste für die Anmeldung zur Lehrveranstaltung geben, werden die Studierenden der Warteliste nach dem Ende der Anmeldefrist nach Studienfortschritt gereiht und auf noch verfügbare Plätze zugeteilt - vorausgesetzt, dass diese über noch keine gültige Anmeldung zum Planpunkt verfügen.

    Dieses Vorgehen ist allerdings nicht als Platz-Garantie zu verstehen! 
    Recommended previous knowledge and skills

    Students are required to read, present, and discuss academic articles and papers on covered topics. Some of these papers apply statistical methods. Students are not required to know these methods to accomplish this class, since the focus lies on the intuition and big picture of these papers. It helps, however, if they are interested in learning how to interpret graphs and regression output tables.

    Availability of lecturer(s)

    Regular office hours (TBD) will be held.

    Last edited: 2018-01-06



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