Webinar: Making Economics Relevant: Incorporating SDG 8 & SDG 12 in the Curriculum–An Interdisciplinary Discussion

Introductory economics courses provide an opportunity to connect the economic assumptions of human behavior with their realization and legitimacy in social norms. Given that social norms dictate economic outcomes, the questioning of the behavioral assumptions in economics, specifically insatiable appetites to consume and profit maximization/cost minimization, would appear appropriate. Such a discussion allows for the evaluation of the alignment of social norms with sustainability values: environmental and social justice and economic equity, presenting an opportunity to address how the teaching and the related practice of economics promotes unsustainable outcomes. This approach underscores the significance of an interdisciplinary approach to sustainability education.

In this webinar, SDG 8, Economic Growth and Decent Work and SDG 12, Responsible Consumption and Production will be addressed from the perspective of prevailing economic assumptions. The discussion will address how to engage students in a critical assessment of current practices specific to SDG 8 and SDG 12 and fundamentally, provide them with a classroom forum to understand how and why the practice of economics needs to be modified in order to promote sustainability as a social norm. The discussion will address the following topics: decoupling, carbon taxation, exploitation, competitive advantage, opportunity cost, valuing the environment, externalities, lifecycle assessment, cradle to cradle/cradle to waste, economic growth, alternative economic indicators of progress and stakeholder engagement. The webinar will be of value to anyone seeking to increase economic literacy and will provide an understanding as well as tools to promote understanding of the relationship between an economic framework and the sustainability of its outcomes. No prior economics knowledge is required and the discussion will be interdisciplinary.

This webinar is part of a series of webinars on sustainability in the curriculum put on by SCC and AASHE.