PEAC 220: Economics of Happiness will bring together the united insights of a diverse suite of sciences and arts (e.g. biology, ecology, psychology, sociology, economics, poetry, marketing, peace studies) to provide learners with a context-inclusive understanding of human decision-making processes, adaptive behaviours, and economic dynamics. A significant set of readings from the academic literature and popular press will challenge current thinking about sustainability and economic models. This knowledge will then be used in solitary synthesis and group collaborations to explore theoretical and practical models of sustainability and development, ultimately linking to the aim of creating local and global cultures of peace.
Prerequisites: PEAC 100, 101 and 201 are recommended but not necessary. English 12 is the minimum pre-requisite.
Accessibility Services Notice
Students who would like an academic accommodation and who have a documented disability should contact Accessibility Services, if they have not already done so.Course Details| Total number of weeks | |
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Typical hours per week breakdown
Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course, the learner will be able to:
- Describe ecological concepts regarding relationships (coevolution and food webs) and biological limits to growth.
- Recognize a complex adaptive system and fundamental precepts of such.
- Understand contrasts between living systems and machines and implications of such as metaphors.
- Describe the concepts of decision-making psychology (e.g. loss vs. gain; emotional vs. logical), including better recognition of why poor decisions may be rational and made in certain contexts.
- Understand basic economic principles such as growth, economic multipliers.
- Engage in discussion and action around what sustainability does and could mean, and how communities make decisions to move toward or away from such a goal.
- Relate the biological and economic concepts of growth, and the psychological concept of happiness to the tenets and foundations of creating local and global cultures of peace.
Additional Assessment Notes: Letter grades of C- to A+, P (pass), and F (fail) will be used. "I" (incomplete) may be given to the student who is unable to complete course assignments by the end of the semester because of illness or another valid reason, but only after consultation with the instructor. A "W" (withdraw) can be obtained by withdrawing from the course before the College deadline for withdrawals.
Disclaimer
Information contained in this course outline is correct at the time of publication. Content of the course is revised on an ongoing basis to ensure relevance to changing educational, employment and market needs. The instructor will endeavor to provide notice of changes to students as soon as possible. The instructor reserves the right to add or delete material from courses.