Prosperity, poverty and sustainability in a globalised world in unit ECC5801

Dr Ricardo Dahis, 2025

This unit challenges students to explore the central question: what drives sustainable economic prosperity?

Students engage with key economic theories on prosperity, covering the roles of technology, specialisation, capital accumulation, coordination, and complexity. The curriculum then examines contexts where prosperity has failed to materialise, critically assessing the design and outcomes of major poverty-alleviation initiatives, such as the Millennium Development Goals, with a particular focus on sub-Saharan Africa.

The unit integrates responsible management concepts by situating economic development debates within the realities of the Anthropocene. Students apply sustainability thinking to economic analysis, exploring the interconnectedness of economy, society, and planet. This systems-based approach fosters deep critical thinking and equips students to identify the causes of prosperity, poverty, and environmental degradation, as well as to critically evaluate policies targeting these challenges.

Learning activities emphasise active engagement, including critical assessment of academic literature, analysis of dynamic models, and collaborative discussions. By the end of the unit, students have developed the skills to apply economic reasoning to real-world sustainability challenges, preparing them to contribute to global efforts in building inclusive and environmentally responsible prosperity.