The Power of Ideas: The History of Economic and Social Thought

4 credits · Undergraduate

This course looks at the history of economic and social thought from the 18th to the 21st century. It does so by presenting major thinkers and schools of thought and discussing the relevance of their theories for current economic, social, and ecological challenges. Among the thinkers that are covered are classical economists such as Smith, Malthus, and Ricardo, along with Marx, utilitarian and marginalist economists, as well as a number of undogmatic and radical thinkers. The course will, furthermore, discuss the work of Keynes and the theories of his neoliberal critics. Finally, the course also looks at more recent developments such as feminist and environmental economics and economics of race and discrimination.