The Pluralistic Economics Movement as Done by oikos Leipzig

What is economics and how to get a better grasp at this area of knowledge? That’s the big question some student initiatives try to answer in Germany. Economics students all around the country question the way economics is taught at university. Indeed, almost all the lectures take a neo-classical approach, leaving aside the plurality of theories which appeared during the last decades. The movement started in 2003 in Germany with a working group followed by the creation of a pluralist economics association in 2007, whose name was changed into “Netzwerk Plurale Ökonomik” in 2012.

oikos Leipzig has been part of this movement for several years now, through the working group AK Plurale Ökonomik. AK Plurale Ökonomik is an independent group which not only organizes biweekly reading circles to talk about recent research on that subject, but also events at university with distinguished guests. The latter are highly successful among students and beyond. The working group also tackles the issue of the lack of input of actual topics in the teaching model, like the euro and financial crisis, the growing income and wealth inequalities or even the degrowth-movement.

In May 2014, a similar community was created with active members all around the world: ISIPE, International Student Initiative for Pluralism in Economics. oikos Leipzig is also part of it and participated in the global action day #2 on the 2nd of May. This event is a way to show the world that students care about getting other views in economics. Therefore, the AK Plurale Ökonomik decided to take pictures of students holding a placard with the sentence: “We need pluralism, because…”. Everyone was encouraged to say why pluralism in economics is important to her / him. You can see the pictures on the oikos facebook website.

But if we talk about pluralism, shouldn’t be the question “what are economics?”

Do you want to know more about the Netzwerk Plurale Ökonomik or about ISIPE? You can visit their websites and take look at the open letter of ISIPE.

https://www.plurale-oekonomik.de/home/

Written by Tiphaine Roualt, oikos Leipzig 

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oikos International

posted May 30, 2016

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Alumni Meeting in Paris

We are pleased to invite you to the oikos Alumni France next event which will take place on Wednesday, June 1st in a bar in Paris from 7:30pm.

Mathieu Jousset, an alumn from oikos Reims, will present his new entrepreneurial project which aims to develop projects from people in precarious situation to take them out of it. Another person, Antonio, will come as well and is currently leading a project on solidary massages.
 
The objective of the evening is to have friendly chats over a drink!
 
Fill in the following doodle with your email address to register: http://doodle.com/poll/3vawzz5w5gnnn64f

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oikos International

posted May 27, 2016

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The First Model WTO in Baku

The Model WTO Baku has been held at Azerbaijan State University of Economics (UNEC) on 20th May, 2016. The organizers of the event were the Ministry of Youth and Sports and UNEC, as well as “UNEC Model UN” Club and “oikos Baku”. More than 100 of local and overseas students from all higher education institutions of our country joined the conference held for the first time in Azerbaijan.

 
“Building Trade Capacity: Challenges of Global Trading System” and “Country Working Group: Negotiations on Azerbaijan’s accession to WTO” were the main subject of the conference. By examining the problems in global trade and the ways to resolve them, representatives have prepared a plan of actions. Other students worked on Azerbaijan’s accession to WTO and forwarded their proposals. Later, representatives discussed the conditions required to join the WTO, commitments set forth and held debates.

Conventional declarations were adopted by the participants at the end of the conference.
The proposals for Azerbaijan’s accession to WTO were put forward. For instance, to accede  the economy’s dependence on oil and gas export should be minimized over 15 years, particularly it should be focused in agriculture and tourism. Student-experts proposed the liberalization of country’s trade, customs matters should be simplified and the legislation should be brought in line with WTO standards. The participants were presented certificates at the closing of the 3-day conference. Azerbaijan’s representative Eltaj Rustamli and Oman’s representative Ulvi Ojagli were awarded the ”best delegate” award. The Swedish representatives were distinguished as the “best delegation”.

 
Two winner students have gained the chance to participate at the “International Model Screen Shot 2016-05-26 at 20.42.57WTO” conference to be held in Switzerland in 2017.

Written by oikos Baku 

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oikos International

posted May 26, 2016

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Essays on Behavioral Economics: Experimental Evidence from Microinsurance

This thesis consists of four essays on behavioral economics, with experimental evidence from the field of microinsurance. The aim of this thesis is to understand the determinants of microinsurance demand using experimental research methods. The first chapter provides a broad overview of the literature on microinsurance demand whereas the remaining three chapters are concerned with demand and behavioral responses to microinsurance. The last three chapters are experimental studies that are united by the common aim of identifying causal relationships i.e., whether a particular program or intervention leads to the outcomes of interest. They also share a common setting in the rural Philippines. Ultimately, the goal of the studies undertaken is to inform policies and programs aimed at making microinsurance more accessible to the poor.

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oikos International

posted May 26, 2016

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Engage on the oikos Research Hub!

The oikos Research Hub is an online platform to share research on sustainability in economics and management among bachelor, master and PhD students worldwide.

Go to the Hub by clicking here. Inspire others to write on sustainability, get to know if anyone else is writing in your topic of interest, engage and make the best out of your thesis writing opportunity!

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oikos International

posted May 25, 2016

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oikos Veggie Dinner Hopping

oikos Paderborn is organising a vegetarian hopping dinner, where different students are challenged to cook vegetarian and share their creations with each other.

More information (in German) here.

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oikos International

posted May 25, 2016

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Short Interview with Two oikos Board of Trustees Members

Screen Shot 2016-06-08 at 12.57.271. What are you passions? 

Mark Wade: Passion for developing responsible leaders, especially the next generation of young people, so critical to achieving a sustainable world for all. I believe in doing my best to ‘walk the talk’ by building a very eco-efficient house for me and my family and driving an electric car. I have been fortunate that my career has given me the opportunity to be involved in sustainability thinking, change management and leadership development – the most rewarding role to have. I work with companies, institutions, government agencies and NGOs helping them understand the importance of sustainability to strategy, markets and culture and in bringing about change.

Thomas Dyllick: Share my passion for sustainability to make it relevant for business, academia and students.

2. What drew you to oikos as a Trustee?

Mark Wade: I was drawn to oikos because of its mission, values and activities in bringing sustainability into leadership and the curriculum of business schools. This sits perfectly with my passions and enables me to work with inspiring young oikos people from all across the world.

Thomas Dyllick: I have been with oikos for 39 years now, since I was an oikos President in St. Gallen in 1977.

3. What projects or initiatives do you support in oikos?Screen Shot 2016-06-08 at 12.57.17

Mark Wade: Having been a friend, unofficial advisor and mentor to oikos for many years I am now a Trustee. I take an interest in supporting strategy development and the review of implementation plans and the LEAP programme. I help make connections to get speakers for the FutureLab and in help behind the scenes on general advice and thinking on governance.

Thomas Dyllick: I chair the oikos Cases Programme Competition track of Corporate Sustainability and I strongly support oikos in St. Gallen and COMMIT.

4. What impact do you wish to have within oikos?

Mark Wade: I hope my contributions will add to the effectiveness of oikos in achieving its mission.

Thomas Dyllick: Help to create more long-term stability for oikos.



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oikos International

posted May 24, 2016

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Faculty from University of Oregon, Technical University of Munich and University of Hamburg win first prizes in oikos Case Writing Competition

We are proud to announce the winners of this year’s oikos Case Writing Competition:

The first prize in the Corporate Sustainability track is awarded to Michael Russo and Michael Crooke from University of Oregon (US) for their case “Guayakí: Securing Supplies, Strengthening the Mission”.

In the Social Entrepreneurship track, the first prize goes to “Polarstern Energy – Sustainable Change Led by Innovative Entrepreneurs” by Julia K. Binder from TUM School of Management at Technical University of Munich (Germany).

In our youngest track, Sustainable Finance, outstanding case submissions competed for prizes this year. The winners of the first prize are Katrin Gödker, Josua Oll, Franziska Sump and Julia Frech from University of Hamburg (Germany) with “The Case for Divestment: Rockefellers’ Fortune?”.

Read more.

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oikos International

posted May 24, 2016

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Sustainability Day – University of Graz

oikos Graz is co-organising the sustainability day at the University of Graz.

More information can be found here.

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oikos International

posted May 24, 2016

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Discussion: “Money, power, happiness?”

oikos Lueneburg is hosting a discussion with sleep Lueneburg on priorities in our society between money, happiness and power, join them!

More information (in German) here.

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oikos International

posted May 24, 2016

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