Master's Programme in Critical Perspectives on the Economy: Environment, Inequality and Crises 60 credits
About the programme
Understand the forces shaping today’s world – and learn how to analyse them critically.
This one‑year fully online master’s programme equips students with advanced analytical tools to understand how economies evolve, why inequalities persist, and how environmental and financial crises emerge. Drawing on economic history and integrating perspectives from cultural geography, historical demography and gender studies, the programme offers a powerful interdisciplinary framework for analysing the long‑term dynamics of economic and social change.
Students learn to connect historical transformations with contemporary global challenges such as climate change, uneven development, financial instability and demographic transitions. By combining methodological training with theoretical depth, the programme prepares students to investigate complex societal problems and to critically evaluate established economic explanations and policy solutions.
Key Questions Explored in the Programme
• Why are economic opportunities and living standards distributed so unevenly across regions and social groups?
• How have colonialism, industrialisation and globalisation shaped contemporary patterns of inequality?
• Why do financial crises occur – and why do they affect societies and social groups differently?
• How have economic systems contributed to climate change and environmental degradation?
• What historical experiences exist of energy transitions and environmental policy?
• How have demographic change, welfare institutions and gender relations influenced economic development?
The language of instruction is English. All lectures, seminars, supervision and assessments – both written and oral – are conducted in English. The programme therefore welcomes both Swedish and international students and is designed for students who want to develop strong academic writing, analytical and communication skills in an international environment.
While studying
The programme is delivered entirely online and combines live digital lectures with interactive seminars and collaborative learning activities. Teaching takes place in real time, allowing students to actively engage with teachers and fellow students through discussion, group work and analytical exercises.
Active participation is central to the learning environment. Students are therefore expected to participate in seminars with camera and microphone enabled. This format creates a dynamic and supportive digital classroom that encourages debate, critical thinking and close interaction with teaching staff.
Assessment is based on a combination of written assignments, oral presentations and research‑based projects. This variety of formats strengthens academic skills, promotes academic integrity and allows students to develop both independent and collaborative research competencies.
Programme Structure
The programme comprises 60 credits and is organised into three integrated blocks that progressively develop students’ analytical and research skills.
1. Methods and Research Design (22.5 credits)
This block introduces students to how scientific studies are designed, conducted and critically evaluated. While rooted in economic history, the courses draw on methodological traditions from across the social sciences.
Students receive training in:
• Research design in the social sciences (quantitative and qualitative approaches)
• Quantitative methods with a focus on inequality, population change and economic development
• Qualitative and interdisciplinary approaches to historical and social research
The courses are practically oriented and include hands‑on work with real datasets and historical sources. Students learn how to formulate research questions, evaluate methodological choices and critically reflect on how theories, sources and data shape our understanding of economic and social change.
2. Theoretical Specialisation (22.5 credits)
In this block students deepen their understanding of major debates in economic history and global development.
Courses explore themes such as:
• Uneven economic development in a globalised world
• Financial crises and the dynamics of global capitalism
• Climate change, environmental transformation and the historical roots of sustainability challenges
Students analyse long‑run processes including globalisation, inequality, industrialisation, demographic change, environmental transformation and gendered labour markets. Methodological skills acquired in the first block are applied in independent analytical assignments where students develop their own research questions.
3. Master’s Thesis (15 credits)
The programme concludes with an independent master’s thesis in economic history. Under the guidance of an academic supervisor, students conduct their own research project connected to the program’s themes.
Possible thesis topics include:
• The environmental consequences of industrialisation
• The historical roots of global inequality
• Colonial resource extraction and long‑term development
• The social consequences of financial crises
• Welfare states, labour markets and social protection
• The history of sustainability policies and energy transitions
Future and career opportunities
Graduates from the programme gain advanced analytical and methodological skills that are highly relevant for a wide range of careers.
After completing the programme, students will have:
• Strong skills in quantitative and qualitative social‑science methods
• The ability to analyse complex economic, social and environmental challenges from a long‑term perspective
• Experience in conducting independent research and communicating analytical findings
The programme provides an excellent foundation for careers in the public sector, international organisations, policy analysis, civil society organisations and sustainability‑oriented businesses. It also provides strong preparation for doctoral studies in economic history and related social‑science fields.
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