HEN445 Economics and Environment II

Faculty of Social Studies
Autumn 2010
Extent and Intensity
1/1. 8 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Teacher(s)
Ing. Stanislav Kutáček, Ph.D. (lecturer)
RNDr. Naděžda Vlašín Johanisová, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
Ing. Zbyněk Ulčák, Ph.D.
Department of Environmental Studies – Faculty of Social Studies
Contact Person: Ivona Tolarová
Timetable
Wed 8:00–9:40 U32
Prerequisites (in Czech)
HEN444 Economics I
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.
The capacity limit for the course is 55 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 0/55, only registered: 0/55, only registered with preference (fields directly associated with the programme): 0/55
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
The course builds upon HEN 444 Economics and the environment I, which focuses on the foundations of economics with emphasis on environmental economics. In the first part, we develop a critical analysis of the value assumptions behind mainstream economics in the context of current environmental and social problems. In the second part, we discuss emerging alternatives in economic theory and practice, with emphasis on ethical, non-interest and co-operative banking, complementary currencies, co-operatives, social enterprise and community land trusts. During the course, the student will: develop an understanding of the main economic postulates and an ability to reflect them critically; examine his/her attitudes to some economic stereotypes; gain basic knowledege about some alternative economic systems; be able to place these alternatives in a coherent conceptual framework; strengthen her/his abilities of interdisciplinary discussion on the subjects presented; gain experience with co-operative learning forms; apply his/her creativity writing and presenting a socratic dialogue.
Syllabus
  • Mutual introduction and introduction of the course
  • Basic concepts
  • Unfulfilled assumptions of the model of perfect competition
  • International trade and the model of comparative advantage
  • The issue of cost externalisation in economics
  • Money, debt, economic crisis I
  • Money, debt, economic crisis II
  • Non-market capitals:homo economicus, work and value
  • Non-market capitals: co-operatives and social enterprise
  • Social enterprise, social economy, survival strategies of social enterprises
  • Non-market capitals: money I: ethical and non-interest finance
  • Socratic dialoges - student presentations
  • Non-market capitals: money II: Mondragon, Wirtschafsring, LETS systems
  • Non-market capitals: land: commons, community land trusts, community supported agriculture
Literature
  • Living in the cracks : a look at rural social enterprises in Britain and the Czech republic. Edited by Naďa Johanisová. 1st pub. Dublin: Foundation for the Economics of Sustainability, 2005, 133 s. ISBN 1903998522. info
  • SHUMAN, Michael. Going local : creating self-reliant communities in a global age. New York: Routledge, 2000, xiv, 318. ISBN 0415927684. info
  • DOUTHWAITE, Richard. Short circuit :strengthening local economies for security in an unstable world. Dublin: Lilliput Press, 1996, xiv, 386 s. ISBN 1-874675-60-0. info
Teaching methods
Teaching is delivered in a weekly lecture format (supported by overhead projections). Lectures are combined with interactive teaching methods (group discussion and discussion in couples, brainstorming, work with written text) and with discussions based on students´ abstracts of six readings spaced throughout the course. The aims of the course are also delivered via Socratic dialogues which the students prepare and read at a special session, and via students´work on essays based on selected readings.
Assessment methods
The evaluation of the course is based on asessements of work with texts by the student during the course (incl.submission of six abstracts)and on a Socratic dialogue and essay submitted by the student. She/he is also expected to read additional literature as specified yearly and to take part in a scheduled conversation with the teacher at the end of the course. A syllabus is available to the student containing a detailed description and specification of all the above.
Language of instruction
Czech
Further Comments
Study Materials
The course is taught annually.
The course is also listed under the following terms Autumn 2008, Autumn 2009, Autumn 2011, Autumn 2012, Autumn 2013, Autumn 2014, Spring 2015, Spring 2016, Spring 2017, Spring 2018, Spring 2019, Spring 2020.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Autumn 2010, recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/fss/autumn2010/HEN445