Economics of Human Sexuality
7.5 ECTS creditsThis course is based on a view of individuals of different genders as (mainly) rational utility maximisers. This means that individuals of different genders desire as much well-being for themselves as possible, and choose the best ways of reaching that goal. It is important to note that this behaviour does not exclude altruism, since it is possible to rejoice in the welfare of others. In Economics and Sociobiology, and to a varying extent in other social sciences, there are fruitful trends based on this perspective on human behaviour. However, the course does not require prior knowledge of Social Science or Sociobiology.
The view of individuals of different genders as rational utility maximisers has yielded productive explanations for widely divergent phenomena. Examples of explanations include family formation (why people get married and why various patterns of how they do so emerge, as well as more unconventional forms of sexual relationships such as polygyny, polyandry, and prostitution); discrimination and the conditions required for it to occur and recur; fertility decisions and the division of labour in households; and the significance of legislation (against discrimination, pornography, divorce, and so on, with content that potentially affects individuals of different genders differently). The course consists of a series of lectures on these themes.
The view of individuals of different genders as rational utility maximisers has yielded productive explanations for widely divergent phenomena. Examples of explanations include family formation (why people get married and why various patterns of how they do so emerge, as well as more unconventional forms of sexual relationships such as polygyny, polyandry, and prostitution); discrimination and the conditions required for it to occur and recur; fertility decisions and the division of labour in households; and the significance of legislation (against discrimination, pornography, divorce, and so on, with content that potentially affects individuals of different genders differently). The course consists of a series of lectures on these themes.
Progressive specialisation:
G1F (has less than 60 credits in first‐cycle course/s as entry requirements)
Education level:
Undergraduate level
Admission requirements:
At least 30 ECTS credits completed in one of the following subjects: Economics, Sociology, Political Science, Working Life Science, Business Administration, or Gender Studies, and upper secondary level English 6, or equivalent
Selection:
Selection is usually based on your grade point average from upper secondary school or the number of credit points from previous university studies, or both.