Syllabus

Title
1563 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
09/10/20 to 09/23/20
Registration via LPIS
Notes to the course
Subject(s) Bachelor Programs
Dates
Day Date Time Room
Thursday 10/15/20 10:30 AM - 02:00 PM Online-Einheit
Thursday 10/22/20 10:30 AM - 02:00 PM Online-Einheit
Thursday 11/05/20 10:30 AM - 02:00 PM Online-Einheit
Thursday 11/12/20 10:30 AM - 02:00 PM Online-Einheit
Thursday 11/19/20 10:30 AM - 02:00 PM Online-Einheit
Thursday 12/03/20 10:30 AM - 02:00 PM Online-Einheit
Thursday 12/10/20 10:30 AM - 02:00 PM Online-Einheit
Procedure for the course when limited activity on campus

The course is announced in distance mode and takes place - regardless of whether campus operations are restricted or not - in any case as "distance learning”.

 

 

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 and largest part looks at the effects of inequality on various outcomes, like crime, consumerism, household indebtedness, and the environment. The third part investigates the determinants of income inequality, and options policy makers have to address high 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.
  • Basics about causality and credible identification strategies.
  • How to (critically) read academic articles.
Attendance requirements

This course is based on scheduled online-meetings, applying the software MS Teams. Important information on your MS Teams account can be found here: https://learn.wu.ac.at/open/distanzlehre/webconferencing. Students are expected to regularly participate and present online.

 

Examination-immanent courses (PI) have compulsory attendance. In case of absence the lecturer is to be informed in advance if possible. More detailed regulations on absenteeism will be explained in the first unit.

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 (10%)
  • Short quizzes on previous class (20%) 
  • Class participation (20%) 

Note on online attendance: The first two sections provide crucial inputs and participation is important. There will regularly be small quizzes on the readings and presentations, and participation is a relevant part of the final grade.

Prerequisites for participation and waiting lists

Course enrollment is on the basis of "first-come, first-served” principle. If you have registered but cannot participate in the course, please de-register via LPIS during the registration period so that your course is available to students on the waiting list.

 

If there is a waiting list for enrollment in the course, students at the waiting list will be notified after the end of the enrollment period, and will be allocated to available places. Students will be ranked by their study progress not by their rank on the waiting list.

 

This procedure, however, is not to be understood as a place guarantee!

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 empirical 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 empirical findings.

Availability of lecturer(s)
Last edited: 2020-07-27



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