2024/25 Undergraduate Module Catalogue

LUBS2680 Ethics and Economics

10 creditsClass Size: 90

Module manager: Dr Stefan Kesting
Email: s.kesting@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) View Timetable

Year running 2024/25

This module is approved as a discovery module

Module summary

Economics and ethical questions are intertwined in many ways. The workshops are intended to provide you with an overview and in-depth insight of a range of moral philosophies and the ethical assumptions inherent in economic concepts and the potential and problems associated with their application to ethical problems and economic policy that are currently debated. Independent reading is strongly encouraged and is essential to do well in the essay or podcast and oral group presentation. The seminars are a vehicle for you to work in groups and to build on the knowledge gained in the workshops , to develop a methodology for applying your knowledge to problems and to refine your analytical and oral communication skills. This module is particularly aligned with the Leeds University Business School thread of global cultural citizenship and ethics/responsibility.

Objectives

This module aims to provide students with the knowledge and skills to contrast and integrate ethics and economics and enable students to apply moral philosophy and economic theory to an appropriate, but freely chosen economic policy or management decision problem. The module aims to provide students with skills in evaluating economic policies and company practices based on a variety of alternative concepts.

Learning outcomes
Upon completion of this module students will be able to:
- Outline the ethical foundation in economic thinking
- Engage critically with current theoretical and empirical literature in economics and moral philosophy as well as critically evaluate the potential of economic activities to deliver positive and negative social and environmental outcomes.

Skills outcomes
Upon completion of this module students will be able to:
Transferable
- Deploy effectively written and presentational communication skills
- Apply critical thinking to reviewing evidence and interpreting results

Subject Specific
- Recognise the relevance of ethical awareness to economics

Syllabus

Indicative content
Key concepts: cost-benefit analysis, critical approaches to welfare economics, rationality in neoclassical economics and consequences, utility, liberty, rights, equality, virtue and justice in moral philosophy will be covered.
Moral questions and their relevance to economics; ethics in welfare economics; ethics in positive economics; rationality and morality; welfare and consequences; liberty, rights, equality and justice.

Teaching methods

Delivery type	Number	Length hours	Student hours
Workshop	11	1.00	11.00
Seminars	5	1.00	5.00
Private study hours			84.00
Total Contact hours			16.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)			100.00

Private study

This could include a variety of activities, such as reading, watching videos, question practice and writing the proposal, course work essay, podcast and preparation for the oral group presentation and class contributions.

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

Your learning methods could include a variety of delivery models, such as face-to-face teaching, live webinars, discussion boards and other interactive activities. There will be opportunities for formative feedback throughout the module.

Methods of assessment

Coursework

Assessment type	Notes	% of formal assessment
Presentation	Recording	20.00
Tutorial Performance	Participation	10.00
Essay	2,500 words	70.00
Presentation	20 minute podcast	70.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)		170.00

For the 70% element of assessment noted above; students can choose to do the Essay OR the podcast. Only ONE method is required. The resit for this module will be 100% by 2,500 Essay OR 20 minute Podcast (whichever one was taken originally).

Reading list

The reading list is available from the Library website

Last updated: 29/04/2024 16:16:20

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