This course offers an overview of central concepts in the European tradition of economic thought. It addresses key thinkers and main issues that are reflected in the debate about economic strategy today.

One two-hour session per week as scheduled on MyCampus.

This is one of the Honours options in SMLC and may not run every year. The options that are running this session are available on MyCampus

None

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Essay (2000 words) - 50%

Report (2000 words) - 50%

Reassessments are normally available for all courses, except those which contribute to the Honours classification. For non-Honours courses, students are offered reassessment in all or any of the components of assessment if the satisfactory (threshold) grade for the overall course is not achieved at the first attempt. This is normally grade D3 for undergraduate students and grade C3 for postgraduate students. Exceptionally it may not be possible to offer reassessment of some coursework items, in which case the mark achieved at the first attempt will be counted towards the final course grade. Any such exceptions for this course are described below. 

This course will provide the opportunity to:

■ examine the tradition of economic thought in the European context by consideration of a focussed selection of texts available in English and in original languages;

■ equip students with an awareness of the chief arguments in European economic thought;

■ give students who are not specialists in economics greater awareness of and confidence in dealing with economic debates;

■ promote awareness of economic issues and critical reflection

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

• identify key themes and issues in European economic thought;

• relate those themes to each other and to the texts under discussion;

• analyse a representative selection of texts, focussing on Adam Smith, David Hume,

Fourier, Proudhon, Karl Marx, Werner Sombart, Joseph Schumpeter, and Friedrich Hayek;

• discuss these themes and issues in an appropriate written format;

• apply these issues to contemporary discussion about business, finance, and economics in Europe today.

Students must submit at least 75% by weight of the components (including examinations) of the course's summative assessment.