Last modified: 20 Jun 2025 15:13
This course examines different social scientific approaches to economic ideas and practices, and global processes of economic transformation. We will critically examine key theories and debates (particularly from economic anthropology and economic sociology) concerned with how different societies around the world produce, distribute, and consume resources. Through examples, we will look at and how people around the globe think about and experience the economy in everyday life.
| Study Type | Undergraduate | Level | 4 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Term | First Term | Credit Points | 30 credits (15 ECTS credits) |
| Campus | Aberdeen | Sustained Study | No |
| Co-ordinators |
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One or more of these courses have a limited number of places. Priority access will be given to students for whom this course is compulsory. Please refer to the Frequently Asked Questions for more details on this process.
This course examines different social scientific approaches and arguments (particularly from economic anthropology and economic sociology) concerning economic ideas and practices, and global processes of economic transformation. Students will be encouraged to critically interrogate and evaluate different ideas and theories pertaining to the idea of the economy, and key themes and topics related to capitalist expansion and globalisation.
We will critically examine key theories and debates in social sciences (particularly economic anthropology and economic sociology), concerned with how different societies around the world produce, distribute, and consume resources. This will include topics and themes such as work and labour, commodity supply chains, consumption choices and practices, and banking and finance.
Through real-world case studies and ethnographic examples, we will look how people around the world think about and experience the economy in their everyday lives, from how they make a living, to their economic transactions, and the resources and things they possess and consume. We will also reflect on the ethical, political, and environmental implications of different economic ideas and actions, how economic processes both harness and shape social inequalities (including race, and gender, as well as social class and wealth inequalities). Students will be encouraged to reflect on their own assumptions and everyday economic actions and experiences.
Information on contact teaching time is available from the course guide.
| Assessment Type | Summative | Weighting | 20 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment Weeks | 9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19 | Feedback Weeks | 10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20 | |
| Feedback |
5-10 minute presentation (600-1000 words equivalent) to peers answering a question based on readings for that weeks topic. Immediate formative feedback through interaction with tutor and peers. Summative feedback/grade within 1 week of presentation. |
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| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Conceptual | Create | Generate arguments and creative responses to course questions and topics, and develop skills to present these persuasively in written and verbal forms. |
| Conceptual | Evaluate | Develop the ability to critically evaluate different social scientific approaches and arguments pertaining to global economic issues. |
| Conceptual | Understand | Develop an understanding of a range of social scientific literature and debates surrounding global economic transformations. |
| Reflection | Evaluate | Reflect on the ethical, political, and environmental implications of different forms of economic ideologies and actions, including our taken-for-granted assumptions and everyday choices. |
| Assessment Type | Summative | Weighting | 50 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment Weeks | 19 | Feedback Weeks | 21 | |
| Feedback |
Students choose a question relating to a course topic. They will write a 3000-word critical essay drawing on and referencing relevant scholarly literature. Feedback will be provided via MyAberdeen. |
Word Count | 3000 | |
| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Conceptual | Create | Generate arguments and creative responses to course questions and topics, and develop skills to present these persuasively in written and verbal forms. |
| Conceptual | Evaluate | Develop the ability to critically evaluate different social scientific approaches and arguments pertaining to global economic issues. |
| Conceptual | Understand | Develop an understanding of a range of social scientific literature and debates surrounding global economic transformations. |
| Reflection | Evaluate | Reflect on the ethical, political, and environmental implications of different forms of economic ideologies and actions, including our taken-for-granted assumptions and everyday choices. |
| Assessment Type | Summative | Weighting | 30 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment Weeks | 15 | Feedback Weeks | 18 | |
| Feedback |
1,500-word Reflective Report ('Follow the thing'). Students will select a commodity they possess or use and (as far as possible) trace the journey of the commodity from raw materials to production, distribution, point of exchange, and consumption. They will also be asked to discuss the methods used, and availability and transparency of sources identified, and to reflect on any ethical, political, or environmental issues and implications from this research. |
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| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Conceptual | Create | Generate arguments and creative responses to course questions and topics, and develop skills to present these persuasively in written and verbal forms. |
| Conceptual | Understand | Develop an understanding of a range of social scientific literature and debates surrounding global economic transformations. |
| Procedural | Analyse | Develop methods and identify sources to independently investigate an example of a commodity chain. |
| Reflection | Evaluate | Reflect on the ethical, political, and environmental implications of different forms of economic ideologies and actions, including our taken-for-granted assumptions and everyday choices. |
There are no assessments for this course.
| Assessment Type | Summative | Weighting | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment Weeks | Feedback Weeks | |||
| Feedback | ||||
| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
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| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Conceptual | Understand | Develop an understanding of a range of social scientific literature and debates surrounding global economic transformations. |
| Procedural | Analyse | Develop methods and identify sources to independently investigate an example of a commodity chain. |
| Conceptual | Evaluate | Develop the ability to critically evaluate different social scientific approaches and arguments pertaining to global economic issues. |
| Conceptual | Create | Generate arguments and creative responses to course questions and topics, and develop skills to present these persuasively in written and verbal forms. |
| Reflection | Evaluate | Reflect on the ethical, political, and environmental implications of different forms of economic ideologies and actions, including our taken-for-granted assumptions and everyday choices. |
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