UC Econsoc

Recycling Debate

2009-09-20T21:00:00.004+12:00

Recycling, once confined to a cage of cans at the rubbish dump, is enjoying a wave of popularity. In the last two years the Christchurch Council has unrolled a new kerbside waste scheme that places recycling firmly at first priority. The University of Canterbury has removed almost every rubbish tin and replaced (most of) them with a system of paper, plastic, organics, and waste bins. The usual motive is to reduce landfill waste, helping the environment. Yet is recycling an effective means to help the environment? How should we best allocate the scarce resource of land suitable for landfills, in the face of a growing population?

This Thursday, 1:10pm in C1 as part of a special presentation for Econ105, Bob Reed, from the Economics Department will present his analysis on the issue. Following this, Kate Hewson, from Canterbury University's Sustainability Committe, will present her argument, aided by Richard Lloyd, from recycling firm, Becon Canterbury. Your questions follow.

Profits vs. People

2009-08-10T11:33:00.007+12:00

vs.

Should business be about more than just profits? Should executives care about people and the planet?

Arguing that the profit motive is sufficient for maximising social welfare we have:

Seamus Hogan (Head of Economics and Finance)
A DebSoc student debater

Arguing that businesses should have a social conscience we have:

Andrea Menclova (economics)
A DebSoc student debater

This Friday the 14th of August, 1:10pm in Commerce Room 002. Watch the lecturers battle for your minds. The audience can question debaters at the end.

Yes Minister

2009-07-28T10:47:00.003+12:00

This Friday the 31st of July, 7pm in Commerce Room 101 we'll be screening a few hilarious episodes of Yes Minister. Yes Minister is a satirical look into the inner world of government.

"Public choice economics, which explains why all this was going on, was at the root of almost every episode of Yes Minister and Yes, Prime Minister." - Yes Minister creator, Sir Antony Jay

We'll provide fatty snacks and sugary drinks as usual.

Second-Semester Drinks

2009-07-12T15:13:00.005+12:00

To help economics students to get to know each other, this Thursday the 16th of July we'll have a social evening at the Dux de Lux courtyard from 8pm. All students interested in economics are welcome. We'll provide a few bar snacks--buffalo chips, nachos. See ya'll there.

Thank You for Smoking

2009-05-22T15:20:00.004+12:00

This Friday May 25 EconSoc will play Thank You For Smoking in Commerce Room 101 from 7pm.

Thank You for Smoking highlights corporate lobbies and their influence on the political economy.

If you'd like to learn how spin and rhetoric (by "Baptists and Bootleggers") can obscure sensible policy decisions, consider taking Econ224, Econ335 and Econ336.

Also, check out Eric Crampton's analysis of anti-smoking lobbies' reports here.

Post-Sweat Shop

2009-05-16T21:41:00.003+12:00

Thanks to everyone who came down to C-Block Lawn on Friday. It was a great turn out for some heated debate in the sun.

Eric Crampton's pro-sweat-shop speech called Sweatshops and the Nirvana Fallacy can be found here.

Sweat Shop Debate

2009-05-10T21:15:00.005+12:00

This Friday May 15th at 1pm, EconSoc will host a debate on sweat shops on C-Block Lawn (Commerce Room 002 if weather isn't so good).

Arguing for sweat shops, we have two economics lecturers:

Stephen Hickson
Eric Crampton

Arguing against sweat shops we have two philosophy lecturers:

Simon Clarke
Carolyn Mason

Two DebSoc students may also explore the arguments and controversy surrounding sweat shops. After the lecturers speak, the audience will have an opportunity to ask questions or pick holes in the speakers' arguments.

Financial Crisis Talk

2009-04-21T12:24:00.005+12:00

The global recession: Learn about its messy roots

So you're studying economics. Yet you can't really explain everything about what's happening in the world economy right now. Do you find yourself fumbling for insight when others ask 'what you make of this financial crisis'? Fumble no more, as on Friday May 1, 4:00pm in Commerce Room 101, Phil Maguire will give a synopsis of the sub-prime mortgage mess and its domino effect on the global economy.
Hailing from University of Chicago, Dr Philip Maguire lectures our International Macroeconomics and Macroeconomics courses. After the talk Phil will answer your questions over nibbles. As always, free for all members of EconSoc.

Extra tutorials

2009-03-17T21:44:00.002+13:00

If you're struggling with the maths in any of your economics courses, come along to one of EconSoc's extra tutorials this Friday the 20th in Room 536. 11am: Algebra; 1:10pm; Calculus. Come prepared with questions to ask or exercises to work through so you can ask one of our adroit econo-mathematicians, How do I do this?.

The economics of bone marrow donation

2009-03-17T21:40:00.003+13:00

John Fountain has started an interesting dialogue on his website sparked by Professor Ted Bergstrom's presentation on bone marrow donation. This ties in perfectly with health economics courses and public economics courses. Have a look.

Dr Strangelove or: How I Learnt to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb

2009-03-05T22:06:00.010+13:00

This Friday, 13th March from 7pm to 9pm in Commerce Building 101, EconSoc will play Stanley Kubrick's seminal cold war black comedy, Dr Strangelove.

Entry is free.

Reasons you should go:

*The movie's plot is based on game theory: what happens when credible threats are made credible, but you forget to tell your opponent?

*Rotten Tomatoes gave Dr Strangelove 100%

*The inimitable Peter Sellers (Lolita, Pink Panther) plays three protagonists

Background to the film:

For some background to the film and why it relates to economics (game theory):

http://www.marginalrevolution.com/marginalrevolution/2005/10/schelling_and_k.html
(Includes interview with game theoretician Thomas Schelling, who was loosely involved in the film)

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/10/10/movies/10kapl.html?_r=1&oref=login&8hp ib=&oref=login&pagewanted=print&position=

http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/story.asp?storyCode=207215&sectioncode=8

Reading List, February 2009

2009-02-17T14:07:00.004+13:00

Freakonomics, Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner

Related courses: Econ224, Econ225

Freakonomics is a fun, eclectic book showing the weird ways economic reasoning can be used to explain social phenomena around us. Chapters discuss topics such as "Information control as applied to the Ku Klux Klan and real-estate agents" and "why drug dealers still live with their moms." Look out for the book's sequel, Superfreakonomics, to be released this year.

The Penguin History of Economics, Roger E. Backhouse:

Related courses: Any, but especially macroeconomics and cliometrics (Econ342)

Backhouse writes about the subject of economics from a historian's angle. Just over 300 pages in length, The Penguin History of Economics is a concise and broad introduction to important ideas, trends and events throughout the discipline's life. Covering economics' interrelationships with philosophy, theology, law and mathematics, the book summarizes Western economic thought from Aristotle to Gary Becker. Helpful for understanding the contexts under which economic thinkers formed their theories.

Reading List, November 2008

2008-11-23T22:20:00.018+13:00

Good economics books:

The Undercover Economist, Tim Harford:

Related courses: Econ230, Econ231

In the words of Seamus Hogan:

"This is one of the best books on economics written for a lay audience. Plain-English books like this are useful additional reading when studying technical economics (particularly mathematics-based economics) as they help crystallise the ideas."

In Defense of Globalization, Jagdish Bhagwati:

Related Courses: Econ105, Econ209, Econ210

In which Bhagwati carefully considers and refutes the arguments against globalization and international trade. This book is not simply a one-sided ideological paean to globalization, as it also suggests policies that can maximise the benefits of closer economic relations between countries along with improvements that could be made to non-governmental organisations like the World Trade Organisation (WTO), International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank. Even if you disagree with some of his arguments, it is a great book to understand where most economists stand on issues surrounding international trade.

Thinking Strategically, Avinash Dixit and Barry Nalebuff:

Related Courses: Econ104, Econ223, Econ322

If you are wondering how to defuse nuclear conflicts, whether to break a promise, or how often you should use your right or left hand in tennis, this book might help. It is an easy-to-read, yet very extensive walk through the many different applications of game theory.

Are there any economics books you would like to recommend? Let us know in the comments section.

Ideas for 2009

2008-11-14T10:56:00.013+13:00

EconSoc aims to help promote economics and a good undergraduate social
network. Some of our ideas for the society include:

Tri-Semester movie nights. (Dr Strangelove, Wall Street and more.)
Fun quiz nights that relate to your economics courses.
Guest speakers.
Fierce intra- and inter-departmental debates. (Between lecturers, between students.)
Beer and pizza nights with economists.

In February 2009 we'll be ready for life.

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