ECN 210T Slow Living Economies: Sustainability and Quality of Life
The aim of this course is to examine the 'Slow Living' economies, illustrate their fundamental features, and show how they can match a high quality of life with an environmentally sustainable lifestyle. Drawing upon insights from the economics of wellbeing, happiness economics, and ecological economics, the course provides introductory knowledge on post-growth, anti-consumption, and the so-called 'Slow Economics'. Contrasting the latter with standard economic principles of efficiency, utility, and optimization unveils the hidden consequences of high-speed modern economies; exposing students to alternative modes of organizing contemporary society.