DDRO 25A52 - Money in the age of cryptocurrency. The Legal and Socio-Economic Debate

Money is everywhere in our social life. Although it can be subject to technical definitions from lawyers, economists, central bankers and all sorts of experts, it remains an obscure concept. And the more technical the usage of money, the less understandable its meaning. Considering that money cannot be considered as a homogenous, neutral instrument of exchange, left only to economists, this course aims at providing a deeper understanding of what money is and how it works in today's connected world. Using mainly law, sociology, and economics, but also philosophy, literature, and psychology, and focusing on different actors such as States, societies, consumers and banks, the course will deal with current controversial issues such as the role of money and technology, the erosion of monetary sovereignty, the global distribution of wealth, and the legal and economic challenges raised by cryptocurrencies.

Alain ZAMARIA

English

No knowledge of bitcoin and cryptocurrency technologies is required for this seminar.

Autumn 2024-2025

The seminar will be divided into 3 sets of lectures to question (i) the origins and essence of money, (ii) the socio-economic and legal issues raised by cryptocurrencies (iii) and the current ethical challenges coming from the rise of cryptocurrencies. Each class will include a presentation by the teacher, an interactive discussion on the session's readings, and 15-minute group presentations. • Blogpost (2000-word final paper) – 30% • Oral presentation (in group) – 30% • Mid-term exam – 30% • Oral participation – 10%