ENSb1106 Critical Economics and Nature

Faculty of Social Studies
Autumn 2020
Extent and Intensity
2/0/0. 6 credit(s). Type of Completion: z (credit).
Teacher(s)
RNDr. Naděžda Vlašín Johanisová, Ph.D. (lecturer)
doc. Mgr. Bohuslav Binka, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Mgr. Mikuláš Černík (assistant)
Mgr. Ing. Martin Černý (assistant)
Mgr. Patrik Gažo (assistant)
Mgr. et Mgr. Sandra Silná (assistant)
Mgr. Lucie Sovová, Ph.D. (assistant)
Guaranteed by
doc. Mgr. Bohuslav Binka, Ph.D.
Department of Environmental Studies – Faculty of Social Studies
Contact Person: Mgr. Kristína Markechová
Supplier department: Department of Environmental Studies – Faculty of Social Studies
Timetable
Tue 8:00–9:40 U32
Prerequisites (in Czech)
! ENS106 Critical Economics and Nature &&!NOW( ENS106 Critical Economics and Nature )
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.
The capacity limit for the course is 76 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 2/76, only registered: 0/76, only registered with preference (fields directly associated with the programme): 0/76
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
The aims of this course are:
-to offer students a historical economic perspective,focusing on searching for hidden assumptions in historical and contemporary mainstream economic thought
-to discuss critical (heterodox) economic streams of thought, especially social ecological economics and interdisciplinary critical thought regarding the role of money
-to familiarise students with new forms of entrepreneurship (eco-social enterprise)and with different forms od social solidarity economy
-to enhance students´soft skills, especially dialogue, argument and critical thinking regarding the topics of the course
Learning outcomes
At the end of the course the student will be able to:
Name and critically discuss some unacknowledged assumptions and contentions of mainstream economic theory; Explain selected alternative economic concepts, models and approaches; Improve his/her knowledge of mainstream and alternative economic historic streams; Apply the knowledege gained in concrete environmental and social settings and context; Improve her/his skills of critical thinking as well as social competences and ability to evaluate problems, analyse issues and come up with arguments in the sphere of social ecological economics.
Syllabus
  • Introduction of lecturer, students and course topic and evaluation. Some concepts and an introductory activity.
  • Basic classical economic postulates and their critique.
  • Nature in mainstream economics
  • Neoclassical economics and Keynes. Critique of perfect competition theory.
  • Critiques of GDP and economic growth.
  • Money, its creation, the issue of interest and implications for nature and society. Discounting the future.
  • Critiques of free trade and of the theory of comparative advantage.
  • Economies that mainstream economics has forgotten about. Economic democracy, economic localization, the commons.
  • Economic alternatives in practice: Eco-social enterprise, social solidarity economy.
  • Simulation game: Bangladesh- two approaches to development.
  • Note: This syllabus is approximate and subject to change, updated detailed yearly syllabi are available to students during courses (including a detailed description of the evaluation of students´ work in the course). The course is taught in Czech.
Literature
    required literature
  • FRAŇKOVÁ, Eva. Lokální ekonomiky v souvislostech, aneb, Produkce a spotřeba z blízka. 1. vydání. Brno: Masarykova Univerzita, 2015, 216 stran. ISBN 9788021077409. info
  • JOHANISOVÁ, Naděžda. Ekologická ekonomie: vybrané kapitoly (Ecological Economics: Selected Chapters). 1. vyd. Brno: Masarykova univerzita, 2014, 88 pp. ISBN 978-80-210-7116-2. info
    not specified
  • CAPRA, Fritjof. Bod obratu :věda, společnost a nová kultura. Translated by Miroslav Štýs. Vyd. 1. Praha: DharmaGaia, 2002, 514 s. ISBN 80-85905-42-6. info
  • SCHUMACHER, E. F. Malé je milé : aneb ekonomie, která by počítala i s člověkem. 1. vyd. Brno: Doplněk, 2000, 284 s. ISBN 807239035X. info
Teaching methods
The teaching methods entail lectures supported by overhead projections and interactive student activities. The latter include brainstorming in class, work with texts and systems and other diagrams, discussion in pairs and small groups, class discussions, group and class work with texts and a simulation game.Students are assigned compulsory reading and write a review of a selected book - See Evaluation methods.
Assessment methods
The final evaluation involves a book review (the book si chosen by the student from a recommended reading list updated yearly)and a four quizzes during the semester (term)In the quizzes students display their knowledge of compulsory readings. Students are guided by a detailed course syllabus and are given additional teaching materials during the course. The course is evaluated on a fail-pass basis (i.e. no grading is involved).
Language of instruction
Czech
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
Study Materials
The course is taught annually.
Information on course enrolment limitations: Kurz se otevírá při 5 a více přihlášených studentech.
Listed among pre-requisites of other courses
The course is also listed under the following terms Autumn 2019, Autumn 2021, Autumn 2022, Autumn 2023, Autumn 2024.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Autumn 2020, recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/fss/autumn2020/ENSb1106