Meine Studienangebote >> Veranstaltung anzeigen

What should economic policy do? Neoclassical economics has a seemingly simple answer to this question: maximise welfare through boosting efficiency and equity. However, in practice, economic policy decisions are highly complex. Welfare is multidimensional and defined in different ways by different people. Efficiency and equity also have multiple dimensions.

To reduce this complexity, policy makers rely on 'economic paradigms'. These are models that simplify how the world - and the economy - works. 'Keyenesianism' for example can be seen as one such model that makes sense of the world and gives policy makers clear instruction of what the objective of economic policy should be.

Such economic paradigms are thus immensely important for shaping policy and real world outcomes. But how do such powerful paradigms work and how are they formed? Who shapes them? What paradigm are we in today? Are some paradigms better at promoting welfare than others? Are some more socially just than others?

In this seminar, we will seek to asnwer these questions, by tracing a small number of economic policy paradigms, understand their scientific structure, analyse their real world implications and discuss their ethical properties.

Please apply using this link:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe-nRMb_XLgYaSPPJv3vyonBzDxiYwl3oWSUJh_koPCfYo5eQ/viewform?usp=sf_link

V4 / V5: 5 ECTS graded