Course Catalogue

Economic Crises and Depressions MGT4063

  • Academic Session: 2026-27
  • School: Adam Smith Business School
  • Credits: 15
  • Level: Level 4 (SCQF level 10)
  • Typically Offered: Semester 2
  • Available to Visiting Students: Yes
  • Collaborative Online International Learning: No
  • Curriculum For Life: No

Short Description

The course will be a thematic investigation of economic crises drawing from various literatures, including, crisis management, political economy and economics, business and economic history, sociology, and geography. The course will discuss the meaning, history, and theories of economic crises. In doing so, it will contrast and compare the most significant economic upheavals of the past century.

Timetable

10 x 2 hour lectures

1 x 1 hour revision lecture

1 x 1 hour seminar

Requirements of Entry

Entry to an Honours programme in Business and Management or a GPA of 12 in the level 2 courses listed below for students taking an Honours programme in another subject:

 

■ MGT2002 Business and Management 2A

■ MGT2001 Business and Management 2B

 

Alternatively, entry to a Single Honours programme in Economics or Business Economics without previous study of Business and Management.

Excluded Courses

None

Co-requisites

None

Assessment

1. Written assignment, including essay; Individual; 750 words; 30%; ILOs 1-4.

2. Degree exam: Online; Individual: 120 minutes; 70%; ILOs 1-4.

Main Assessment In: April/May

Course Aims

This course aims to

 

■ Review some of the major controversies about economic cycles and prolonged depressions as well as the economic and social evolution of the western world (including Japan).

 

■ Assess the role of the international monetary and trading systems in the working of the global economy.

 

■ Assess underlying theoretical explanations of the business cycle and crises.

 

■ Advance understanding of how Western governments responded to the challenges posed by the depression of the 1930s and of the post-2008 period.

Intended Learning Outcomes of Course

By the end of this course students will be able to:

 

1. Critically assess some of the major debates about the nature and reasons behind prolonged economic crises.

2. Broadly evaluate how economic policy can influence business and economic performance.

3. Demonstrate a general understanding of how diverging social and political interests may shape economic policy.

4. Critically assess how economic crises and contingent historical occurrences may help stimulate new economic ideas and paradigms.

Minimum Requirement for Award of Credits

No exceptions