MW26.1 - Approaches to Economic Science (2011/12) - Master Program in Economics

This lecture is part of the Master Program in Economics and given together with other members of the faculty of economics and business administration.

Lecture

Wed., 10:15-11:45, SR223 (19.10., 26.10., 2.11.)

Exercises

Thu. (20.10.), 14:15-15:45, SR223, Mon. (24.10.), 8:15-9:45, SR 123.

Topics

1. Introduction: examples of controversial economic reasoning (Kirchkamp)
• Handout for the lecture
• Assignment: A poster on an economic topic that you find controversial
  Handout for the exercises and the assignment
• Literature:
  • William Thomson; A Guide for the Young Economist; The MIT Press, 2001.
  • William Strunk Jr., E.B. White, Roger Angell; The Elements of Style; Fourth Edition, Longman, 2000.
2. What is social science? (Pasche/Freytag)
3. Economic methodology - what is constitutive for economics? (Fritsch)
4. Typical assumptions economists make (Cantner)
5. Types of economic analysis (Lorenz)
6. A brief history of economic thought (Lorenz)
7. Controversies in economic science (Examples) (Freytag/Pasche)

Exam:

(not for my part of the course, but perhaps for other parts) Thu., 24.2.2011, HS250, UHG