Culture and Economics

Uitgebreide vaknaam	Culture and Economics
Leerdoelen	- Recognize the diversity in economic policies, institutions, and behaviors across societies - Recognize the embeddedness of economic behavior and outcomes in the institutional and cultural setting - Critically reflect on research methods for comparative research - Describe and reflect upon the differences in object and methodology between economics and other social sciences
Omschrijving	In this course, we discuss the increasingly recognized role of culture (interpreted as shared values, norms and beliefs) on economic behaviour and outcomes. The course consists of two parts. In the first two introductory lectures, we sketch a general overview how cultural differences in recent years have been theoretically and empirically linked to differences in economic outcomes and the conduct of international business respectively. This recent trend is positioned against the background of a discussion why economics traditionally used to ignore cultural explanations, and how it struggles to incorporate cultural factors now. The second part of the course consists of three lectures, in which we go deeper into the impact of values, norms and beliefs for economic behavior and outcomes. One lecture deals with the impact of differences in attitudes and value orientations for economic behavior; another with the impact of differences in norms about kinship and family relations; a third about the role of differences in religious beliefs on political and economic outcomes. At the end of the course, students should be aware of the cultural contingency of economic outcomes and behaviors, and be able to relate form an informed assessment of the promises of cultural explanations in economic thought.
Uren per week	4
Onderwijsvorm	hoor- en werkcolleges
Toetsvorm	opdracht(en), schriftelijk tentamen (Individual assignment)
Vaksoort	bachelor
Coördinator	dr. R.K.J. Maseland
Docent(en)	dr. R.K.J. Maseland
Verplichte literatuur	Titel Auteur ISBN Prijs Articles t.b.a. Recommended background literature: Culture in Economics, Cambridge University Press, 2012 Beugelsdijk, S., and R. Maseland
Entreevoorwaarden
Opmerkingen	Dr R.K.J. Maseland, email r.k.j.maseland@rug.nl; GEM Secretariat, email: gem.feb@rug.nl, phone: 050 36 33458, 5411.0538.
Opgenomen in	Opleiding Jaar Periode Type BSc Economics and Business Economics/E&BE  (minor E&BE) 3 semester I a keuze Courses open to Exchange Students (BSc)  ( Courses open to Exchange Students (BSc) without limited access) 3 semester I a keuze