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| Semester |
F2026
|
| Subject |
International Bachelor Study Programme in Social Science
|
| Activity type |
Basic course
|
| Teaching language |
English
|
| Registration |
Students at SIB 2nd semester will be registered for the course automatically |
| Detailed description of content |
The course introduces the students to economics through investigating fundamental concepts, theories, facts, mechanisms and policies. The course is structured to give the students a broad general culture in economics. It is suited for both students who will specialize in other social sciences and for students who will specialize in socio-economics. The course is based on a pluralistic approach to economics and therefore gives an overview of the reflexive economics education one can get at RUC. The course uses a blended approach between history of ideas (Smith and the classics, Marx, Veblen; neoclassical and non-neoclassical approaches to economics), core knowledge (microeconomics, macroeconomics) and specific topics (value, financialization, money, inequalities, ecological crisis, etc) The course consists of 11 lectures. Introduction 1/ Economics, value and prosperity PART 1: Wealth and Value. The Birth of Economics 2/ Adam Smith and the Rise of Capitalism 3/ The Industrial Revolution and the Gilded Age: Marx, Veblen, and the Critique of Capitalism PART 2: The Marginalist Revolution and the Rise of Macroeconomics 4/ The Marginalist Revolution and the critique of utilitarianism 5/ The Depression and the Invention of Modern Macroeconomics PART 3: Economic Growth and Inequality 6/ Stagflation, Monetarism and Inequality 7/ The Rediscovery of Economic Inequality PART 4: Finance and Regulation 8/ Financialisation and Financial Crises 9/ Money and Banks, Credit and Regulation PART 5: Climate Crisis and Green Economy 10/ Market Failures and Environmental Economics 11/ Planetary Boundaries and Ecological Economics Conclusion Let a Thousand Flowers Grow: Pluralism in Economics |
| Expected work effort (ECTS-declaration) |
Teaching = 44 hours (exercises are integrated into the lectures and do not require specific preparation) Preparation for lectures, i.e. reading = 81 hours Exam preparation= 10 hours Total = 135 hours |
| Course material and Reading list |
The main text for the course is Schneider G. 2025,_ Economic principles and problems. A pluralist introduction_, Routledge, second edition (alternatively, Schneider G. 2021,_ Economic principles and problems. A pluralist introduction_, Routledge, first edition, is fine too). This book is supplemented by selected articles and chapters made available on Moodle. |
| Evaluation- and feedback forms |
Students have the opportunity to write a mid-term non-graded mock exam, on which the teacher provides individual written or oral feedbacks. Additionally, the students can get feedback on their final exam upon request to the teacher. |
| Administration of exams |
SIB Registration & Exams (sib-exams@ruc.dk)
|
| Responsible for the activity |
Malin Nystrand (nystrand@ruc.dk)
|
| ECTS |
5
|
| Learning outcomes and assessment criteria |
|
| Mandatory or elective |
Mandatory course |
| Overall content |
Economics is the study of how people manage their resources to meet their needs and enhance their well-being. The study of economics within the interdisciplinary social science bachelor degree helps students to better understand many of the policies and outcomes they observe with relation to economic growth, income, inflation, unemployment, quality of the environment, leisure time, perceptions of fairness and justice. With this understanding, students are better able to think about ways that we might be able to improve things, and to participate in current economic and political debates on topics such as economic inequality, the environment, taxes and globalization. The course is taught in a pluralist manner, covering mainstream Neo-classical economics but also exposing students to other theoretical approaches including Institutional, Evolutionary, Post-Keynesian, and Ecological economics, among others. It also teaches students how to put these multiple theoretical approaches in historical context, and understand the important ideas of key economic thinkers. |
| Teaching and working methods |
The course consists of both lectures and seminars. As part of the course, the students will participate in group work. |
| Form of examination |
The exam is an individual sit-in exam that consists of two parts.
The exam must be taken on your own PC. You can only use the internet to access the exam materials and for submission in the Digital Exam. The internet must remain on throughout the exam to ensure the Observer program runs successfully. The first part is a multiple-choice test, and the second part is a written assignment(s) or questions given by the lecturer. The assessment is an overall assessment of both parts. The character limit for the individual written assignment is a maximum of 4,800 characters, including spaces. The character limit includes the cover, table of contents, bibliography, figures, and other illustrations but excludes appendices. The duration of the exam: 3 hours. Permitted support and preparation materials for the exam: a physical calculator is allowed during the exam. Assessment: 7-point grading scale. |
| Form of Re-examination |
Samme som ordinær eksamen / same form as ordinary exam
|
| Exam code(s) | |
| Last changed | 05/01/2026 |
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