ECC2800 - Prosperity, poverty and sustainability in a globalised world

There is a more recent version of this academic item available.

Overview

This unit seeks to answer the question, ‘what drives sustainable economic prosperity?’ In answer, the unit begins with prominent economic theorising around channels of economic prosperity, including the role of technology, specialisation, capital accumulation, coordination and complexity. Next, we look at where prosperity has chronically failed to arrive, critically examining the successes and failures of major interventions that were aimed at alleviating poverty. Finally, we turn our attention to the complexity of human economic prosperity on a finite planet through the lens of the Anthropocene. Overall, the unit takes a complex systems and sustainability mindset to these topics and seeks to equip students with deep critical thinking frameworks to comprehend complexity and understand key linkages in the pursuit of sustainable prosperity for all.

Offerings

S1-01-CLAYTON-ON-CAMPUS

Contacts

Chief Examiner(s)

Associate Professor Simon Angus

Learning outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, you should be able to:

apply modern sustainability thinking to the idea of economic prosperity

identify sources of connectedness in a complex economy-society-planet system through an economic lens

analyse dynamic models and frameworks of economic prosperity and poverty alleviation

critically assess prominent economic policies that address at least one major environmental externality facing the planet

develop critical and creative thinking, writing and reviewing skills.

Assessment summary

Within semester assessment: 50% + Examination: 50%

Workload requirements

Workload

Minimum total expected workload to achieve the learning outcomes for this unit is 144 hours per semester typically comprising a mixture of scheduled learning activities and independent study. Independent study may include associated readings, assessment and preparation for scheduled activities. The unit requires on average three/four hours of scheduled activities per week. Scheduled activities may include a combination of teacher directed learning, peer directed learning and online engagement.