WISO002346 Rethinking economics

Type
course with continuous assessment
Semester hours
3
Lecturer (assistant)
Schmidt, Johannes
Organisation
Sustainable Economic Development
Offered in
Wintersemester 2026/27
Languages of instruction
Deutsch
Content

TUDENT-ORGANIZED COURSE INITIATED BY RAPHAEL OFNER & CLEMENS HOFSTÄDTER

The established economic system - shaped by massive dependence on fossil
fuels, excessive resource use, and the pursuit of endless growth -
threatens the global foundations for a fair and secure life. To
effectively and justly combat the climate and biodiversity crises, the
economy must be "rethought". This course will therefore - always with a
focus on sustainability - critically examine the economic status quo and
present a selection of alternative ideas, concepts, and courses of
action. For a better economy ... and future!

PRELIMINARY PROGRAM
SESSIONS 1 & 2: Introduction – What is the economy, actually? Which
economic terms should I absolutely know? Which economic schools of
thought and assumptions play a central role? (Johannes Schmidt, Mathias
Kirchner)
SESSION 3: "Why There Is Hardly Any Room for the Climate Crisis in
Mainstream Economics" (Stephan Pühringer)
SESSION 4: "Feminist Perspectives on Economic Policy in Times of
Multiple Crises" (Sophie Achleitner)
SESSION 5: "How Many Steaks Do Markets Eat? – On the Possibility of
Ethical Consumption in Voracious Markets" (Marc Kaufmann)
SESSION 6: "How Our Money Impacts the World—and How I Can Give It a Good
Direction" (Stefan Kainz)
SESSION 7: "Decentralized and Democratic Energy: Social and Ecological
Opportunities of Energy Communities" (Friedrich Strobl)
SESSION 8: "Why Endless Growth and Climate Protection Are
Incompatible—and How the British Wartime Economy Could Serve as a Model"
(Ulrike Herrmann)
SESSION 9: "Traction: Strategy, Hope and the Future We Make" (Martin
Kornberger)
SESSION 10: [Planned] Universal Basic Services for a Fairer and More
Sustainable Society ([Planned] Astrid Krisch & Leonhard Plank)
Previous knowledge expected

No prior knowledge is required. We welcome all questions and aim to make the sessions as interactive and open as possible! Additionally, the introductory chapter will provide the foundational knowledge needed to critically analyze the opportunities and risks of the measures presented afterward.
Objective (expected results of study and acquired competences)

After completing the course, students will be able to…

… define fundamental economic terms, schools of thought, and assumptions.
… outline possible organizational structures for national economies.
… list, describe, compare, and—most importantly—critically assess collective and individual measures for a more sustainable economic system that better aligns with planetary boundaries.
You can find more details like the schedule or information about exams on the course-page in BOKUonline.