Stiglitz answers the question why globalization and world trade has not delivered on its promise of increased well being as much as classical economists thought, by pointing to the power asymmetries: firstly, between industrialized nations and developing nations and secondly, between special corporate interest and social interests. In his analysis, developed countries and MNCs were able to extract the benefits, while shifting the costs (i.e. pollution) to states and communities with lesser power. Amongst many other historical examples the pharmaceutical and the mining industry are discussed to some length.

Der Soziologe Stephan Lessenich erläutert in diesem Vortag die zentrale These seines Buches „Neben uns die Sintflut - Wie und warum wir über die Verhältnisse anderer leben"“. Menschen des globalen Nordens leben nicht nur auf Kosten künftiger Generationen, sondern auch aktuell auf Kosten von Menschen im globalen Süden.

Werbung versucht sich das Streben nach Glück zunutze zu machen. Eine Verteufelung der Werbung als Konsequenz erscheint jedoch nicht sinnvoll, um die aktuellen ökonomischen, ökologischen und sozialen Probleme der Menschheit zu bewältigen. Vielmehr bedarf es eines Paradigmenwechsels beim Konsum und damit einhergehend beim Wirtschaften.

This lecture by Economy Studies lays out the foundations and current state of the ecological crisis, its main drivers and who is responsible for this. It is crucial for students to develop a deeper understanding of the problem they are likely to encounter in their future careers, before getting into various economic policies or solutions to this pressing issue.

Information and skills required to make more sustainable choices every day.