Alternative Economies
Alternative Ökonomien
6 CPSummerEN
Prerequisites
Recommended, as written
Knowledge of the contents of module • 13922 Introduction to Transformation Studies
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.
Learning outcomes
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.
Assessment
• 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%)
Literature (6)
- 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
Remarks
Module with limited number of participants - Registration two weeks prior to the commencement of lectures!
Source: BTU's module description · retrieved 29 Sep 2026Original