Societal challenges in Europe: Global responses to a changing world

(3 Credit Hours) · Undergraduate

Economic policy affects us all. That is why the best approach to solving the challenges that arise from it is an interdisciplinary one. From political science to economics to global affairs, each discipline offers something to this conversation that transcends national borders. Traditionally, they have operated in silos, but this course seeks to bring them together to address six multidisciplinary challenges facing contemporary society, including: 𝐓𝐡𝐞 (𝐬𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐞𝐝) 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐞-𝐨𝐟𝐟 𝐞𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐲/𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲— How do societies balance the need for efficiency with a view to preventing or reducing inequality? Is this perceived trade-off actually a trade-off? 𝐊𝐧𝐨𝐰𝐥𝐞𝐝𝐠𝐞, 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐭𝐡: 𝐚 𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧-𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐚𝐜𝐡 — What is the root of innovation? How do external motivators and intrinsic motivations interact to stimulate growth? What is the role of government in these questions, and how has the European Union approached them? 𝐆𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐧𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 — How can we protect the environment and ensure a thriving ecosystem for generations to come while meeting our socio-economic needs? What is the relationship between sustainability and innovation in today’s rapidly evolving green tech market? 𝐑𝐨𝐛𝐨𝐭𝐬, 𝐀𝐈, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐮𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤 — To what extent will the rapid iteration of AI technology affect the world of work? How is the deployment of generative AI unique compared to previous automation movements? 𝐆𝐥𝐨𝐛𝐚𝐥 𝐯𝐚𝐥𝐮𝐞 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐬, 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐞, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐝𝐲𝐧𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐜𝐬 — How do nations and businesses fit a value chain that occurs across borders? 𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐦 𝐡𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐢𝐭𝐲, 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐭𝐲, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐠𝐚𝐩 — How does the growing wage gap, even across firms in the same sector, relate to questions of inequality? Students will learn about how the European Union is addressing each challenge, as well as offering space for reflection on global responses. Students will come away from the course with a strong understanding of how Europe and the world see each topic and the implications for future policy decisions, ethics, and diplomacy.