AMU3630 - Governing the global economy: Stability, efficiency, justice - 2018

This unit introduces students to the global economy and its governance. It enables students to critically examine conflicts among states, firms, international organizations, NGOs and other groups over how the global economy is governed. Key questions to be explored are:

1. How do different political and economic ideas influence global economic governance, including in trade and finance, and whose interests are privileged as a result?
2. How have groups such as women and labour and issues such as the environment fared under neoliberal approaches to governance?
3. Should we govern the global economy to achieve stability and efficiency, or should we also attempt to achieve justice?

On successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:

1. Identify and interpret the changes that have occurred in how the world economy has been governed since the end of the Second World War;
2. Understand how different political and economic ideas that underpin distinct approaches to global economic governance privilege some actors and normative values at the expense of others;
3. Explain why conflicts occur among states, firms, international organizations, NGOs and other groups over how the global economy is governed;
4. Engage with and evaluate key normative debates on how the global economy should be governed.

   Students will meet the objectives of the unit by:

   1. Participating actively in tutorial discussions;
   2. Reading critically about the topics covered in lectures;
   3. Writing and submitting an essay that presents a well-researched and carefully argued analysis of the material covered in the unit;
   4. Demonstrating in the examination knowledge and understanding of key concepts and theoretical debates on global economic governance and their application to different case studies.

Within semester assessment: 60%

Exam: 40%

Minimum total expected workload to achieve the learning outcomes for this unit is 144 hours per semester typically comprising a mixture of scheduled learning activities and independent study. A unit requires on average three/four hours of scheduled activities per week. Scheduled activities may include a combination of teacher directed learning, peer directed learning and online engagement.

See also Unit timetable information

Global studies