Prof. Diane Perrons and Dr Ania Plomien

Optional on MSc Gender, Development and Globalisation, MSc Gender, Policy and Inequality, MSc Gender, MSc Gender (Research), MSc Development Studies, MSc Development Management, MSc Social Policy and Development, MSc International Employment Relations and Human Resource Management, MSc Management and Human Resources, MSc Local Economic Development and MSc Urbanisation and Development. Also available as an outside option to students on other programmes where regulations permit.

The course is run by the Gender Institute - an interdisciplinary institute. One of the key objectives is to bring a multi-perspectival approach to understanding of economic processes. As economic processes have a profound influence on social life, gender relations and gender equality, this course seeks to expose students interested in gender to the work of Feminist Economists. An undergraduate level course in economics would be an advantage.

Recent decades have seen the emergence of gender equality as a key policy concern and Feminist Economics as a sub discipline. The purpose of the course is to consider the provenance and key tenets of Feminist Economics and how these ideas have been used to provide analytical understandings of gender issues with respect to economic processes and policies operating at macro and micro levels. At the macro level the course will analyse the implications of contemporary economic and financial governance from a gender perspective. At the micro level the course will analyse the economic foundations and analyses of gender inequality within employment and within the household focusing on wage and productivity differences and the gender division between 'productive' and 'reproductive' work. Gender is not the only economically significant marker of identity so it is important to analyse the intersectionality between other lines of difference, including race, social class, sexuality and migrant status. Individual well being is also influenced by the level of development and transnational economic relations. Accordingly, the final session aims to bridge the macro-micro divide by drawing together the gendered critique of existing biases in economic thinking and provide an analytical foundation for alternative approaches to policies that aim to contribute towards securing sustainable development and gender-equitable well-being.

Part 1 Emergence of Feminist Economics and contemporary concerns
L1. Feminist political economy:
- early writers and concerns
- key analytical concepts and methodology
L2. Feminist economics and policy:
- contemporary concerns at macro and micro levels
- key analytical concepts and methodology

Part 2: Feminist Economics: the macro level
L3. Understanding national 'economies' and macro economic policies
L4. International trade, financial governance and gender equality
L5. Economics of gender and development: gender equality as 'smart economics'
L6. Gender budgeting for inclusive development: theory and practice

Part 3 Feminist Economics; the micro level
L7. Feminist Economics perspectives on labour markets, segregation and the gender wage gap
L8. Economics of the household, care and reproductive work
L9. Analysing intersectionality: linking gender, race and class

L.10 Connecting the scales - a holistic approach to economic provisioning, sustainable development and well-being.

10 one-hour lectures and 10 one-hour seminars in the LT. 6 hours of workshops on concepts and methods in LT

One formative essay (2000 words) on which written feedback will be provided

Berik,G, Rodgers,Y and Seguino S. (2011) Inequality, Development, and Growth, London: Routledge
Budlender, D., Elson, D.,Hewitt, R and Mukhopadhyay, T. (2002) Gender Budgets Make Cents. London: Commonwealth Secretariat Publications
Ferber, M. and Nelson, J. (2003) Feminist Economics Today Beyond Economic Man: Feminist Theory and Economics Chicago: Chicago University Press
Folbre, N. (2009) Greed, Lust and Gender: A History of Economic Ideas, Oxford; Oxford University press
Grown, C. and Valodia, I (eds) (2010) Taxation and Gender Equity, London: Routledge
Kuiper, E. and J. Sap, eds. (1995) Out of the Margin: Feminist Perspectives on Economics, London: Routledge.
Nelson, J. (2006) Economics for Humans, Chicago: Chicago University Press
Nussbaum, M (2011) Creating Capabilities: The Human Development Approach, Cambridge, Massachusetts: Harvard University Press
Pujol, M. 1992. Feminism and Anti-Feminism in Early Economic Thought. Aldershot: Edward Elgar.
Sen, A (2010) The idea of Justice. London: Penguin,
Staveren,I, Elson, D.,Grown, C and Cagatay, N (2007) The Feminist Economics of Trade, London: Routledge
Young, B., Bakker,I. and Elson, D. (2011) Questioning Financial Governance from a Feminist Perspective, London: Routledge.

One two-hour examination (40%) and one 3,000 word essay (60%).