Department of Social & Policy Sciences, Unit Catalogue 2009/10 |
SP50142: Morals, markets and politics |
 Credits:
| 6 |
| Level:
| Masters |
| Period: | Semester 2 |
| Assessment:
| EX 100% |
| Supplementary Assessment: | Like-for-like reassessment (where allowed by programme regulations) |
| Requisites:
| Before taking this unit you must take SP50123 |
| Description: | 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. |