DECO 25A05 - Age of Economists: A History and a Critique (The)

Globalization and its opposition, growth, and its possible end, rising inequalities, …all those subjects will be studied. From Gilgamesh and Aristotle to neuroeconomics and ChatGPT, this course contextualizes contemporary debates and underline how the economic “way of thinking” is now the dominant scheme in our lives. Whether facing a Tinder account, a fiscal policy proposition or global warming, one's “natural” reaction to the challenge is the same: a combination of cost/benefit analysis in a coordination game framework. How did we come to that? Drawing on economics and current events, we will use case studies to show how the history of economic thought shaped - if not totally constructed - some of our most important contemporary debates (attitudes towards inequalities, the value of globalization, the commodification of human interaction, the quantification of, well everything, etc.).

David DUHAMEL

Séminaire

English

Written and oral English. No other requirements.

Autumn 2023-2024

Students will be expected to have read, seen or listened to all the required materials ascribed for every class A team-oriented work yet to be defined 50% Or A Book review about a work published in the last year 50% And A final written test during the last class 40% Class Participation 10%

Each course will be devoted to a theme and a reduced number of authors. Economic news and current events in the largest sense will be mobilized to emphasize the longevity of our subject. As often as possible we will use a case study whether historical, experimental or empirical to engage discussion and show how the history of economic thought shaped, if not totally constructed, some of our most important contemporary debates (the undesirability of inequalities, the clash of civilization, the worth of Globalization, the “commodification” of human interaction, etc. etc.). Dialogue will be encouraged. Teamwork and innovation will be put at a premium during the collective assignments. Each group of five students will research a given subject. Form and substance will both be graded. A list of subject can be found at the bottom of the syllabus.