LFU:online

This seminar analyzes social structures (markets, states and other institutionen)and historical changes in the political economy of contemporary society. It focuses on Thomas Piketty’s recent book and draws on a number of critical reviews from various perspectives. The seminar examines data from twenty countries, reaching as far back as the eighteenth century, to uncover core economic and social patterns toward understanding the dynamic factors relevant to the accumulation and distribution of capital. Are profits from capital higher than rates of growth and, if so, are profits the single most important driver of social inequality today? To what extent does inequality jeopardize social stability? To what extent does it undermine the values of justice and democracy? How extreme are the various forms of inequality? Will today’s inequality generate forms even more extreme in the future?

Continuous assessment (based on regular written and/or oral contribution by participants).

Course examination according to § 7, statute section on "study-law regulations."For a benoteter Schein, submit an essay (in German or English) of 10 to 12 pages that closely analyzes selected passages of Piketty’s text, guided by the student’s own thesis and defended with discursive arguments ▪ Deadline for submission, as a digital file, delivered via email attachment: 8 August 2015

(a) Thomas Piketty, Le capital au XXIe siècle (in the French original or in German or English translation) ▪ (b) copies of a published critiques of Piketty: available as pdf-files

positive completion of the compulsory module according to § 5 Para 1 No 8.

Attendance required on all four days of seminar