Course Name Year Term Period Faculty / Graduate School All Instructors Credits
33837:[2025 Spring]Introductory Political Economy (E) 2025 Spring Mon3 College　Of　Economics TOKUMARU NATSUKA 2

Campus

BKC

Class Venue

Co-learning106

Language

English

Course Outline and Method

Economic inequality and poverty, instability in financial markets, globalization and anti-globalization movements, global warming, changes in work and production due to new technologies such as artificial intelligence… our society is facing with these problems that need to be solved for sustainable economic development. To address these problems, we need to analyze them from a comprehensive perspective, not only of economics, but also of history, institutions and politics.

The Introductory Political Economy course aims to develop basic knowledge and deep understanding of these problems above with theoretical perspectives. In particular, the course especially focuses on capitalist revolution, technological progress (innovation), social interactions (game theory), and power relations. These topics will be discussed in the course with both empirical data and theoretical frameworks, so that students can acquire basic knowledge of political economy with a sense of reality and critical perspective.

Students will be expected to analyze and think critically about given topics based on relevant facts, data, and theories.

Course materials will be uploaded via manaba+R one week in advance.
講義は原則として英語で行われますが、参加者の理解を深めるために、適宜日本語による解説を行います。

Student Attainment Objectives

1)Participants will gain basic knowledge and deep understanding in the field of political economy.
2) Participants will acquire skills to analyze data and facts from an economic perspective
3) Participants will acquire critical thinking and discussion skills.

Recommended Preparatory Course

Course Schedule

Lecture/Instructor（When there are multiple instructors) Theme
Keyword, References and Supplementary Information
Class 1

Guidance

Class 2

The Capitalist Revolution

Unit 1 in the textbook

Class 3

Technology, Population, and Growth (1)

Unit 2 in the textbook

Class 4

Technology, Population, and Growth (2)

Unit 2 in the textbook

Class 5

Scarcity, Work, and Choice (1)

Unit 3 in the textbook

Class 6

Scarcity, Work, and Choice (2)
【+R Jugyo】Feedback for mini-reports (video-on-demand)

Unit 3 in the textbook

Class 7

Midterm exam

Unit 1, 2, 3, 16

Class 8

Social Interactions(1)

Unit 4 in the textbook

Class 9

Social Interactions(2)

Unit 4 in the textbook

Class 10

Property and power: Mutual gains and conflict

Unit 5 in the textbook

Class 11

Property and power: Mutual gains and conflict (2)

Unit 5 in the textbook

Class 12

The firm: Owners Managers and Employees

Unit 6 in the textbook

Class 13

Final exam

Unit 3, 4, 5, 6

Class 14

Feedback (video-on-demand) and make-up exam

Unit 3, 4, 5, 6

Class Format

Lectures and exams are generally held face-to-face, but Guidance (Class 1) and Feedback and exam preparation (Classes 7 and 14) are video-on-demand.

Recommendations for Private Study

Participants are expected to read related part of the course materials uploaded at Manama+R before classes.
１週間前にmanaba+Rに講義資料をアップロードしますので、講義前に読んでおくことが望ましいです。

Grade Evaluation Method

Kind Percentage Grading Criteria etc.
Final Examination (Written) 0

Report Examination
(A report to be submitted by the unified deadline)		 0

Exams and/or Reports other than those stated above, and Continuous Assessment　
(Evaluation of Everyday Performance in Class)		 100

Evaluation will be based on mini-reports (1/3), midterm exam (1/3) and final exam (1/3).

Grade Evaluation Method （Note）

Advice to Students on Study and Research Methods

This course aims to develop students' critical thinking and analytical skills about the real world economy. In both mini reports and exams, students are expected to discuss and analyze on given topics. Students are always welcome to make a contact with the lecturer about the course directly or via email.

Textbooks

Title Author Publisher ISBN Code Comment
The Economy: Economics for a changing world The Core Team Oxford University Press 978-0-19-881024-7 ebook (http://www.core-econ.org)

Textbooks （Frequency of Use, Note）

The ebook of the text can be read at the CoreEcon website (http://www.core-econ.org)

Reference Books

Reference Books （Frequency of Use, Note）

Web Pages for Reference

Core Econ (relevant information and ebook)
http://www.core-econ.org

How to Communicate with the Instructor In and Out of Class(Including Instructor Contact Information)

Talk with Students

Other Comments

【科目ナンバリング・カリキュラムマップはこちらから/Click here to see the Curriculum-Map and Course-Numbering】
URL:https://secure.ritsumei.ac.jp/students/pathways-future/course/curriculum.html/