Fundamentals and current issues of the global economy
The content on this page was translated automatically.
"Fundamentals and Current Issues in the World Economy" is our first student-led course in Department 07.
It was developed by students and offers a more intimate approach to the current world economy.
Through discussion contributions and seminar presentations, we would like to develop and elaborate differentiated perspectives together. The accompanying students take over the leadership and moderation.
We attach great importance to the elaboration of economic, social, political and historical contexts. We are particularly committed to interdisciplinary exchange with neighboring sciences, such as political science, history and other social sciences.
For this reason, the course is open to all students of all courses of the Department 07 as well as to students of other courses. (In particular, our bachelor's programs in economics, business education, business law and industrial engineering).
It thus pursues an interdisciplinary claim and thus also takes into account the differentiations and developments of "Political Economy" and its criticism since the beginnings of Adam Smith, David Ricardo and Karl Marx.
Furthermore, a "plural" approach is represented in terms of content as well as method. This means: The course wants to contribute to the diversity, controversy and criticism in political economy today.
As a basis for discussion, the moderators Frank Kistner and Marc Heiden provide online reader texts, as well as current articles from daily and weekly newspapers and other contributions.
As a rule, the participating students introduce the main topics of the individual seminar dates (fortnightly rhythm) through their presentations. The discussion is to be increasingly shaped by the participants from event to event.
Oral participation and prepared presentations can have a positive impact on the final grade.
The seminar will be held fortnightly.
It will be divided into at least five evening events 18:00 to 21:00 (22:00) and a full-day concluding block event from 10:00 to 18:00.
The individual events will have a thematic focus, for each of which basic texts will be made available in the moodle group for preparation.
- Globalization and World Economy
- Financial crises in Europe
- China's role in global capitalism
- US financial crisis 2007ff.
- Financialization
- Financial markets
In the summer semesters we focus on financial markets, financial crises, private, governmental and corporate debt. Of course, the world financial crisis from 2007 onwards plays a central role in this context. In addition, we deal with financialization in the world economy.
In the winter semesters we deal with geopolitical and economic power shifts. For example, under the heading "American Decline", we address the possibly inevitable political and economic decline of the USA, as well as the supposedly unstoppable rise of China as a new superpower. In this student course, we want to take a closer look at the consequences that one and the other could have for the rest of the world. Can Europe hold its own and will the other emerging markets such as Brazil, Russia, India or South Africa catch up with China's economic development, whose securities were to be marketed as "Brics" by resourceful investment bankers years ago?
In both winter and summer, the focus is always on current events in the global economy, such as new free trade agreements, Brexit or the threat of trade wars.
Mr. Marc Heiden and Mr. Anastasios Demertzidis
Prof. Dr. Frank
in this module you can pass with 3 credit points.
However, if you attend the course over two semesters, you can earn 6 credits.
Term paper
The term paper will be accepted by Prof. Dr. Frank. The deadline will be agreed with the supervisor.
For more info, see the course catalog:
Fundamentals and Current Issues in the World Economy