The Global Social Challenge: Beyond Poverty & Inequality

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The evidence of mounting world poverty and inequality is compelling. The challenge globally is to move beyond sheer descriptions and consider holistic frameworks that can give poor and vulnerable populations  sustainable access to the resources they need to be self-sufficient and to be able to contribute in their societies. There is a common perception that it is primarily developing countries which experience severe poverty and inequality but the problem also extends to developed and industrialised countries. This course presents students with a wide range of concepts, definitions, and theories of poverty and inequality. The main objective is to increase knowledge and understanding of the diversity and complexity of poverty and inequality, their forms and root causes and the linkages between  the concepts of human development and the welfare state. Students will learn the basic technical skills required to measure poverty and inequality and consider a range of other topics including: social risks and vulnerability, patterns of economic and social development, sources of inequality, formal and informal labour markets, social impacts of growth, macro-economic (fiscal, monetary) policy, global governance, and the role of international institutions and their role in development.