The Political Economy of Money
Course Description
Summary
Coins, cash, credit, capital. A medium of exchange, a store of value, a unit of account, a measure of wealth. Money seems to come in many forms and to serve many functions. This course is a quest to discover what money really is from a diversity of perspectives in economic thought. We will address questions such as: Should money be understood as a public or private good? What would happen if individuals had a right to money? Are different empirical understandings of money’s function informed by different political commitments? We will discover how central banks, private banks, and national governments are involved in decisions about what to do with money. Evaluating the implications of global currency hierarchies will be another part of the quest. We will also look at the broader political economic concept of wealth and its relation to money.
Learning Outcomes
- Develop and sharpen writing, reading, discussion, and analytical skills. Through the course content, we can improve our overall form as learners and thinkers.
- Become familiar with a variety of political and economic understandings and beliefs about the role of money and begin to develop your own. I am keen to assist you in asking your own questions and in reflecting on your own stakes and beliefs about the texts and ideas we encounter.
- Co-create a learning community in the process of discussing the political, economic, and ethical dimensions of money.
Prerequisites
This course is designed for juniors and seniors who have taken least two courses in PEC already.
Please contact the faculty member : emmakast@bennington.edu