Undergraduate Course: Cultures and Politics of Financial Markets (SCIL10040)
Course Outline
| School | School of Social and Political Science |
College | College of Humanities and Social Science |
| Course type | Standard |
Availability | Available to all students |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 10 (Year 3 Undergraduate) |
Credits | 20 |
| Home subject area | Sociology |
Other subject area | None |
| Course website |
None |
Taught in Gaelic? | No |
| Course description | This course offers an introduction to economic sociology starting from the examination of modern financial markets. Among the key issues examined in this course are: the role of social networks in the constitution of markets; markets and cultures; the role of technology; the links between markets, legal, and political institutions; the behaviour of market actors; globalization and markets. These issues will be explored via case studies, some student led, of particular markets and market episodes. |
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
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Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
| Additional Costs | None |
Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | Visiting students should have at least 3 Sociology or closely related courses at grade B or above (or be predicted to obtain this). We will only consider University/College level courses.
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| Displayed in Visiting Students Prospectus? | Yes |
Course Delivery Information
| Not being delivered |
Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes
1. An understanding of the major phases of change in the global financial markets, especially of the causes of changes since 1945 and their consequences for states' freedom of action.
2. An understanding of the 'efficient market hypothesis' and of the evidence for and against it.
3.An understanding of Marxist and Weberian perspectives on financial markets.
4.An understanding of the notions of 'embedding' and 'networks', and how these might apply to financial markets.
5.An understanding of the problem of collective action and how the notion of 'mutual susceptibility' may solve it, together with an appreciation of how these ideas might apply to financial markets.
6.An understanding of how it might be possible to develop a gender analysis of economic behaviour, especially with reference to the financial markets.
7.An understanding of Callon's analysis of economics and of markets, the criticisms of it, and its potential applicability to financial markets.
8.A capacity to take theoretical ideas such as the above and apply them in student-led explorations, especially empirical explorations of financial markets.
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Assessment Information
| A midterm short essay (25%) and a long essay (75%) |
Special Arrangements
| None |
Additional Information
| Academic description |
Not entered |
| Syllabus |
Not entered |
| Transferable skills |
Not entered |
| Reading list |
Not entered |
| Study Abroad |
Not entered |
| Study Pattern |
Not entered |
| Keywords | Not entered |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Alex Preda
Tel: (0131 6)50 4052
Email: A.preda@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Ms Sue Renton
Tel: (0131 6)50 6958
Email: Sue.Renton@ed.ac.uk |
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