ECON 33270 - Economics of Science

Institution:

University of Notre Dame

Subject:

Economics

Description:

This course is the seminar version of ECON 30270. Economists often fret over whether they qualify as a hard science, but of late, they have begun to turn the tables and apply their theories to the operation of the sciences themselves. This phenomenon is related to the increasing commercialization of science since the 1980s, but other factors include: a shift within economics to portray the market as an ideal information system, the globalization of the modern intellectual property regime, and the transformation of the post- Cold War University. These phenomena all have profound political and social consequences for the future, and so we will not restrict the course to a few abstract models, as is frequently the case in economics curricula. Part of the course consists of a discussion of what topics the 'economics of science' should take as its subject matter. The remainder explores some of the major transformations, especially with regard to intellectual property and the social structures of science. In this class we describe the changing history of the organization and subsidy of scientific research, especially (but not exclusively) in America; and then we survey the different classes of economic theories applied to the scientific process. The second half of the course is then concerned with issues in the modern globalization and privatization of science, focusing on various case studies.

Credits:

3.00

Credit Hours:

Prerequisites:

Corequisites:

Exclusions:

Level:

Instructional Type:

Lecture

Notes:

Additional Information:

Historical Version(s):

Institution Website:

www.nd.edu

Phone Number:

(574) 631-5000

Regional Accreditation:

North Central Association of Colleges and Schools

Calendar System:

Semester

The Course Profile information is provided and updated by third parties including the respective institutions. While the institutions are able to update their information at any time, the information is not independently validated, and no party associated with this website can accept responsibility for its accuracy.