Department of Social & Policy Sciences, Unit Catalogue 2006/07

SP50142 Morals, markets and politics

Credits: 6

Level: Masters

Semester: 2

Assessment: EX100

Requisites:

Before taking this unit you must take SP50123

Aims:
* To examine critically the role of moral considerations, values and notions of fairness in the politics and morality of commercial market relations.
* To contrast prevailing orthodoxies about the separation of politics, moral and economic institutions and practices with theories and evidence of their interaction.
* To illustrate and compare theories of ethical business with accounts of contemporary evidence.
Learning Outcomes:
Providing students with the theories and empirical evidence that will have:
* developed an awareness of the moral and political complexities of market behaviour and relations;
* deepened understanding of key aspects of the interaction of ethical, economic and political practices;
* developed intellectual capacity for critical analysis of business, economic and socio-political orthodoxies,
Skills:
This course should further develop the following skills and capabilities:
* adaptation of ideas across disciplinary and sub-disciplinary boundaries;
* questioning of received and conventional opinions;
* synthesis of ideas and evidence between subjects, theories and empirical cases;
* reflection on the complexities of moral reasoning and action in professional and commercial practice.
Content:
Will include varying degrees of emphasis within the following topics: profit, loss, fairness and expectations; moral and political bases of market relations, corporate responsibility, ethical investing, consumer boycotts and shareholder action; charitable giving and public expediture; self-interest and social welfare; role of citizenship in economic affairs.

University | Catalogues for 2006/07