Current course offerings

Please Note: Course profiles marked as not available may still be in development.

Course description

Economics focuses on finding the best ways of using scarce resources, but what is 'best' for serving an individual's self-interest may not be 'right' in terms of the greater good. For policymakers who are expected to act in the interest of the wider population, what does it mean to say that 'society' is 'better off'? Changes in policy result in winners and losers, which raises questions of equity and fairness. This course examines the past, present and potential future relationships between ethics and economics, and questions the ethical side of choices made by individuals or groups. This includes what (not) to teach in economics and how this may influence the ethical outlook of social scientists.

Archived offerings