FSS:HEN445 Economics II - Course Information

HEN445 Economics and Environment I

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 40 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 0/40, only registered: 0/40, only registered with preference (fields directly associated with the programme): 0/40

fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with

• Environmental Studies (programme FSS, N-HE)

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

Assessment methods

The evaluation of the course is based on asessements of work with texts by the student during the course 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

The course is taught annually.

• Enrolment Statistics (Autumn 2008, recent)
  
• Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/fss/autumn2008/HEN445