Sophus Reinert (Harvard Business School)
First-Year Seminar 71M | 4 Credits (Fall 2024) | CANVAS SITE
Wednesday, 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Few forces have shaped the world over the past millennium more than capitalism has, yet few terms remain more elusive and more divisive. Today, less than half of young Americans view capitalism positively, and calls for alternatives are becoming ever more frequent. Why? And why have different forms of capitalism led to such unequal outcomes around the world? What is capitalism, really; what has it been, and what might it be? This course takes students on a journey to explore the past, present, and future of various forms of capitalisms, globally and beyond, introducing them to theories and frameworks to help make sense of the world in which they live, and where it might be headed.
This seminar introduces students to the Socratic teaching method used in the Harvard Business School and is based on case studies covering the vast epic of capitalism. In addition to discussing the past, present, and future of global capitalism, the seminar will familiarize students with basic concepts of macroeconomics as well as tools, such as balance of payments analysis and national economic accounting to prepare them for lives of active global citizenship. The seminar will, at times, meet at Harvard Business School in order to make use of Baker Library’s extraordinary collection of materials relating to the histories of business, capitalism, and political economy.
NOTE: The seminar will meet at Harvard Business School in order to make use of Baker Library’s extraordinary collection of materials relating to the histories of business, capitalism, and political economy.