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Understanding international trade is central to economics and is currently a hot political issue. It’s an area where popular perceptions of mainstream economics are low, since they have historically missed some important downsides of trade agreements, especially the hollowing out of former manufacturing hubs in the Western world. et economists have for long time had a theory of trade with an impressive amount of scientific clout behind it: the gravity trade model. 2020 Level: beginner A Theory of Enormous Gravity Cahal Moran Rethinking Economics The Privatized State shows how privatization undermines the very reason political institutions exist in the first place, and advocates for a new way of administering public affairs that is more democratic and just. 2020 Level: beginner The Privatized State Chiara Cordelli Princeton University Press This paper investigates how the concept of public purpose is used in Modern Monetary Theory (MMT). As a common denominator among political scientists, the idea of public purpose is that economic actions should aim at benefiting the majority of the society. However, the concept is to be considered as an ideal of a vague nature, which is highly dependent on societal context and, hence, subject to change over time. MMT stresses that government spending plans should be designed to pursue a certain socio-economic mandate and not to meet any particular financial outcome. The concept of public purpose is heavily used in this theoretical body of thought and often referred to in the context of policy proposals as the ideas of universal job guarantee and banking reform proposals show. MMT scholars use the concept as a pragmatic benchmark against which policies can be assessed. With regards to the definition of public propose, MMT scholars agree that it is dependent on the social-cultural context. Nevertheless, MMT scholars view universal access to material means of survival as universally applicable and in that sense as the lowest possible common denominator. 2020 Level: advanced Modern Monetary Theory and the public purpose Dirk H. Ehnts, Maurice Höfgen Institute for International Political Economy Berlin The 2007–08 credit crisis and the long recession that followed brutally exposed the economic and social costs of financialization. Understanding what lay behind these events, the rise of “fictitious capital” and its opaque logic, is crucial to grasping the social and political conditions under which we live. Yet, for most people, the operations of the financial system remain shrouded in mystery. 2017 Level: advanced Fictitious Capital Cedric Durand Verso Feminist economics critically analyzes both economic theory and economic life through the lens of gender, and advocates various forms of feminist economic transformation. In this course, we will explore this exciting and self-consciously political and transformative field. 2015 Level: beginner Feminist Economics Professor Julie Matthaei (Wellesley College) Wellesley College In this lecture, Sanjay Reddy reviews the work of János Kornai, especially his critique of the socialist system, which is rooted in his understanding of the eminently political character of socialism. 2020 Level: beginner János Kornai's Critique of the Socialist System Sanjay Reddy New School for Social Research In this episode of the podcast "Hear this idea", Dr. Carolina Alves delves into the political debate surrounding Heterodox Economics and elaborates on D-Econ's mission to promote greater inclusivity in the field of Economics concerning gender, race, and representation from the Global South. 2020 Level: beginner Carolina Alves on Heterodox Economics, Diversity in Academia, and the Global South Carolina Alves Hear This Idea In this essay the author reviews empirical studies in economics that analyze factors behind the rise of nationalist and populist parties in Western countries. He stresses that economic factors (e.g., trade shocks and economic crisis) play a crucial role in the rise of populist parties; however, the discussion of mechanisms driving this trend remains unsatisfying 2019 Level: advanced The Economics of Populism in the Present Felix Kersting Exploring Economics This article introduces the series, “Reclaiming Africa’s Early Post- Independence History,'' from Post-Colonialisms Today. It explores the policies and thinking of African governments in the early post-independence period, and the lessons for today’s struggles for political and economic agency on the continent. 2020 Level: beginner Reclaiming Africa’s Early Post-Independence History Adebayo Olukoshi, Tetteh Hormeku-Ajei, Aishu Balaji, and Anita Nayar Post-Colonialisms Today: postcolonialisms.regionsrefocus.org This book represents a new foundation for the study of microeconomics, viewed from a broad perspective that takes into account new developments at the intersections with psychology, political science, the natural sciences and philosophy. 2014 Level: beginner Microeconomics. A fresh start Dorman, Peter Springer VS In the course Sociology and Socialism, students engage with classical theories of socialism as well as their applications in a variety of historical and international contexts. Staunchly interdisciplinary, the course utilizes expertise in philosophy, history, economics, sociology, anthropology and political theory. 2020 Level: beginner Socialism and Sociology Collaborative attempt by Andrew Arato and other Faculty members of the New School for Social Research New School for Social Research An essay of the writing workshop on contemporary issues in the field of Nigerian economics: The adverse effect of climate change is overwhelming, not just in Nigeria but globally. Global warming is the result of hostile human activities that have impacted the environment negatively. This is the principal variable the government should tackle through practical innovations such as the acceptable implementation of Adaptation Policies and also through the adequate implementation of environmental tax. These will enhance pro-environmental behaviour which is fit for socio-political and economic activities for sustainability. Level: beginner The Role of Fiscal Policy in Climate Change Mitigation Via Environmental Management and Sustenance in Nigeria Ayuba Yahaya Karatu Exploring Economics Environmental catastrophe looms large over politics: from the young person’s climate march to Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s Green New Deal, increasing amounts of political space are devoted to the issue. Central to this debate is the question of whether economic growth inevitably leads to environmental issues such as depleted finite resources and increased waste, disruption of natural cycles and ecosystems, and of course climate change. Growth is the focal point of the de-growth and zero-growth movements who charge that despite efficiency gains, increased GDP always results in increased use of energy and emissions. On the other side of the debate, advocates of continued growth (largely mainstream economists) believe that technological progress and policies can ‘decouple’ growth from emissions. 2020 Level: beginner To Grow or Not to Grow? Cahal Moran Rethinking Economics The Sufficiency Policy Map is an online tool for initiatives, political actors, organisations and individuals. It provides recommendations, strategies and communication tools for realizing projects and policy around the topic sufficiency. Sufficiency projects have the aim to reduce one's own ecological footprint. 2016 Level: beginner Sufficiency Politics Map Dominik Zahrnt, Angelika Zahrnt Institute for Ecological Economy Research The Routledge Handbook of Heterodox Economics presents a comprehensive overview of the latest work on economic theory and policy from a 'pluralistic' heterodox perspective.

Contributions throughout the Handbook explore different theoretical perspectives including: Marxian-radical political economics; Post Keynesian-Sraffian economics; institutionalist-evolutionary economics; feminist economics; social economics. 2019 Level: advanced The Routledge Handbook of Heterodox Economics Tae-Hee Jo, Lynne Chester, Carlo D'Ippoliti Taylor & Francis Limited Macroeconomics in Context: A European Perspective lays out the principles of macroeconomics in a manner that is thorough, up to date, and relevant to students. With a clear presentation of economic theory throughout, this latest addition to the bestselling "In Context" set of textbooks is written with a specific focus on European data, institutions, and historical events, offering engaging treatment of high-interest topics, including sustainability, Brexit, the euro crisis, and rising inequality. Policy issues are presented in context (historical, institutional, social, political, and ethical), and always with reference to human well-being. 2018 Level: advanced Macroeconomics in Context Sebastian Dullien, Neva Goodwin, Jonathan M. Harris, Julie A. Nelson, Brian Roach, Mariano Torras Routledge The outbreak of COVID-19 has substantially accelerated the digitalization of the economy. Yet, this unprecedented growth of digital technology brought novel challenges to the labour market. Rise in income inequalities and precarious working conditions or polarization of jobs. In this essay, we try to assess what tools to use to counter these trends. 2021 Level: beginner Post-pandemic future of work - How does digitization impact labour? Neha Chauhan, Miguel Corredera, Krystian Lukasik, Filipa Reis Exploring Economics Economics is dogmatic, monolithic, merely quantitative, highly normative, strongly political, primarily ethical, pseudo-scientific, and manipulative. 2019 Level: beginner Economics is ... Leonardo Conte Rethinking Economics Switzerland Philosopher and political economist John Stuart Mill laid several foundations for liberal thinking, amongst others with the harm principle: everyone should be given the individual freedom - and not be hindered by e.g. state intervention - to act as s/he wants as long as no other person is harmed by this action. A short insight in his book On Liberty. 2014 Level: beginner The Harm Principle: How to live your life the way you want to   BBC Radio In this interview, Daron Acemoğlu provides a definition of institutions as rules that govern how individuals interact and speaks about social, political and economic institutions. He furthermore presents his view on bad or good institutions and the importance of the latter. The video is part of a larger interview, where he elaborates his perspective on differing prosperities of states and the relation between growth and democracy. 2009 Level: beginner Institutional Economics - Rethinking the Wealth of Nations Daron Acemoğlu Fondazione Eni Enrico Mattei Mark Blyth criticises the political inability to solve the persistent economic crisis in Europe against the background of a deflationary environment. Ideological blockades and impotent institutions are the mutually reinforcing causes of European stagnation. The deeper roots lie in the structural change of the economic system since the 1980s, when neoliberalism emerged as hegemonic ideology. This ideology prepared the ground for austerity and resulting deflationary pressures and a strategy of all seeking to export their way out of trouble. Worryingly this is breeding populist and nationalist resentments in Europe. 2015 Level: beginner Policies to avert stagnation: The Crisis and the Future(s) of the Euro Mark Blyth IMK In this article, Rob Hoveman breaks down concepts like historical materialism and materialist analysis that are pivotal to understand Marx. He argues that abstractions are necessary for a concrete analysis of society that in turn should inform political practice. 2018 Level: advanced Marx and historical materialism Rob Hoveman https://www.rs21.org.uk In this article, Gareth Dale analyzes and compares the main characteristics and differences of two visions that are currently emerging to tackle Climate Change: the Green New Deal and Degrowth. Which are the consequences from the environmental, economic and political point of view? And what are the underlying doctrines? 2019 Level: expert Degrowth and the Green New Deal Gareth Dale The Ecologist Yanis Varoufakis, former finance minister of Greece and the co-founder of the international DiEM25 platform, discusses the economic and political impacts of the Covid-19 Pandemic, in particular with regards to the Eurozone and southern European countries. 2020 Level: beginner Coronavirus Economics and the Eurozone Yanis Varoufakis kpfa.org John Christensen from the Tax Justice Network addresses the Modern Monetary Theory idea that governments don't need tax revenues if they want to spend money. Doing so, he sums up the main points made by MMT proponents and their critics, and shows how MMT can be reconciled with another progressive economic narrative: "Modern Tax Theory". While MMT made valuable contributions to the policy debate on fiscal policy, it misrepresents the importance of taxation as a political matter and as a way to generate public revenues. This is where MMT steps in. 2019 Level: beginner The Magic Money Tree: From Modern Monetary Theory to Modern Tax Theory John Christensen Tax Justice Network In this interview, the political activist, author and lecturer Dr. Vandana Shiva explains the linkage between ecology, feminism and economics along the lines of current effects and implications of the Corona-Crisis in India and around the world. 2020 Level: beginner Ecology, feminism and economics in times of Covid-19 pandemic Dr. Vandana Shiva Cusanus Hochschule für Gesellschaftsgestaltung The article compares market fundamentalism and right-wing populism on the basis of its core patterns of thinking and reasoning. Based on an analysis of important texts in both fields we find many similarities of these two concepts in their "inner images". Thus, we develop a scheme of the similar dual social worlds of right-wing-populism and market fundamentalism and offer some recent examples of market fundamentalism and right-wing populism mutually reinforcing each other or serving as a gateway for each other. We then apply our scheme for the analysis of the recent political developments and its ideological roots in the US under Donald Trump. 2017 Level: advanced Right-wing populism and market-fundamentalism: Two mutually reinforcing threats to democracy in the 21st century Walter O. Ötsch & Stephan Pühringer Institut für Ökonomie und Philosophie Cusanus Hochschule In this interview Ilya Matveev discusses the social, political, economic, and ideological foundations of the Russian regime, to provide additional context about Russia’s geopolitical goals. 2022 Level: beginner The Putin Regime Is Straining Under Its Own Contradictions Interview with Ilya Matveev by Rafael Khachaturian Jacobin Magazine The podcast is an interview of Silvia Federici by David Denvir. It is centred around her book 'Caliban and the Witch - Women, the Body and Primitive Accumulation', but they also draw lines to contemporary issues and political struggles. Federici analyses the emergence of capitalism through a radical Feminist-Marxist lens. 2019 Level: advanced Silvia Federici on Women and Capitalism Silvia Federici interviewed by Daniel Denvir The Dig This brief views the environment through diverse lenses – those of standard economics, institutional economics, political science, environmental science and ecology. 2013 Level: advanced The Environment in Economics and Development Vikram Dayal Springer Science & Business Media It is fiercely debated when exactly the growth set off and what the drivers of Indian growth were. Scott Alexander summarises some of the recent literature on this question, demonstrating that not only the liberalisation policies of the 90s might be the driver of the take-off, but potentially public investments, political developments or cultural shifts. 2019 Level: beginner Indian Economic Reform: Much More Than You Wanted To Know Scott Alexander Slate Star Codex This course will expose students to some of the key debates that link digital transformations to economic, social, and political inequalities. Students will be familiarised with a variety of theoretical movements in development studies and internet studies: exploring thinking that frames the internet as a leveller that can bridge divides vs. exploring the internet as an infrastructure that amplifies existing inequalities. 2022 Level: expert Digital Capitalism and its Inequalities Prof. Mark Graham https://www.oii.ox.ac.uk/study/courses/digital-capitalism-and-its-inequalities-2/

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