Course teacher(s)
Marco BECHT (Coordinator)ECTS credits
5
Language(s) of instruction
english
Course content
The course will cover a key set of issues in responsible capitalism with particular emphasis on responsible investment. The issues addressed will include:
1. The origins and evolution of capitalism;
2. Laissez-faire, libertarians and the affluent society;
3. Capitalism in crisis?
4. The origins of the corporate form and its governance;
5. The role of shareholders, debtholders and boards;
6. The corporation, the state and the market;
7. Managerial, shareholder and stakeholder capitalism;
8. Investor stewardship;
9. Environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG);
10. Principles of Responsible Investment (PRI);
11. Shareholder engagement;
12. Shareholder voting and proxy advisers;
13. Divestment;
14. Impact investment;
15. Benefit corporations and corporate purpose;
Objectives (and/or specific learning outcomes)
Teaching methods and learning activities
The course is comprised of lectures involving class interaction, readings and online video material. Subject to the evolving Covid situation the lectures will be delivered on campus. To minimise the risk of transmission all participants are expected to be fully vaccinated. Students will be expected to devote a sufficient amount of learning time outside of the classroom, in private and group study of module material. The total workload of the course amounts to 5 ECTS.
Contribution to the teaching profile
Course Objectives
The objective for this elective is to enable students to1. Identify and analyse significant issues in responsible capitalism and responsible investment based on insights from authoritative sources;
2. Locate and analyse relevant information published by listed companies and investors;
3. Read, understand and critically evaluate research articles published in scientific journals and books;
4. Engage with public debate on current responsible capitalism and investment issues;
5. Evaluate public policy proposals.
Learning Outcomes
After taking this course, students should be able to:
- Summarize the main issues arising in responsible capitalism and investment;
- Understand responsible capitalism and investment related terminology and concepts;
- Locate and synthesize relevant information and data;
- Describe and understand the pertinent theoretical frameworks;
- Grasp the basics of empirical tools used to assess the impact of responsible investment and corporate change;
- Apply economic reasoning to responsible capitalism and investment.
Contribution to Specific Learning Goals of Master in Business Economics
- LG1 (Economics): LO 1.1., LO1.2., LO1.2,
- LG2 (Academic Mindset): LO2.1
- LG3 (Analytical Skills): LO3.1.
References, bibliography, and recommended reading
The reading list, lecture slides and readings will be made available via uv.ulb.ac.be.
Course notes
- Université virtuelle
Other information
Additional information
Further information (link to Google Drive for readings, Zoom or Teams link for lectures, Gradescope account for assignments) will be provided to all registered students via uv.ulb.ac.be at the beginning of the course.
Contacts
Professor Marco Becht (marco.becht@ulb.be)
Campus
Solbosch
Evaluation
Method(s) of evaluation
- written examination
written examination
There will be a one hour written open book exam at the end of the course that will be set remotely via Gradescope. The consultation of other individuals during the exam is excluded. There will be a mock exam that will allow students to get acquainted with Gradescope and the process.
Gradescope will release a questionnaire as a .pdf file at a time set by the SBS-EM timetable office. The questionnaire can be printed or viewed online. Candidates will have half an hour to read the questionnaire and one hour to answer the questions offline in their own handwriting on A4 paper. This will allow the candidates to make drawings and make it possible to perform a verification of identity via a handwriting comparison, if necessary. For this reason typed answers will not be accepted. The candidates will then have another half hour to scan and upload their handwritten scripts to the Gradescope platform. Late submissions will not be accepted or, at least, result in point deductions.
Mark calculation method (including weighting of intermediary marks)
The written exam is 100% of the final grade.
Language(s) of evaluation
- english