Course Description

This course invites you to reimagine the future of work and leisure through the lens of one of the 20th century's most visionary economists, John Maynard Keynes. Keynes foretold a world where economic abundance would allow humanity to escape the tyranny of endless labor. His ideas force us to ask: How do we harness newfound freedoms to foster creativity and meaning?

For Keynes, the transformative potential of technology and economic growth was not simply a means to increase wealth but a route to liberate human life from constant labor.In this context, Keynes predicted that as societies attained material abundance, the need for extensive labor would give way to a focus on what he termed “the art of life”—an era where creativity, leisure, and personal fulfillment would occupy the central place in human endeavors. 

Designed for students in the arts and digital humanities, this seminar uses a blend of guided readings, interactive discussions, and creative projects. We will explore Keynes’s seminal essay alongside modern interpretations found in Revisiting Keynes: Economic Possibilities for Our Grandchildren. By examining how economic theory intersects with different outlines for our society, the course will draw interdisciplinary connections that illuminate both the challenges and promise of a future replete with leisure.

Learning Objectives

- Develop a comprehensive understanding of Keynes’s original arguments and predictions regarding economic growth, technological progress, and working hours.

- Critically analyze contrasting viewpoints presented in Revisiting Keynes, focusing on why predictions of reduced working hours largely remain unfulfilled.

- Compare cultural and policy factors influencing work-life balance across different regions, with specific attention to the European and American contexts.

- Explore behavioral and psychological factors that perpetuate consumerist attitudes and longer work hours.

- Learn about the most state-of-the-art research on the employment effects of working time reduction

- Synthesize these insights to foster creative discussions about alternative economic futures, including policy proposals for working time reduction.

Grading

Grades are given based on the students’ active participation (20%) as well as presentations in groups (40 %) and an summaries of the preceding class (40%). Bonus points may be achieved via the submission of activities related to this classes discussions outside of it.

Contact

Ludwig List: ludwig.list@uni-ak.ac.at

Literature

Pecchi, L., & Piga, G. (2008). Revisiting Keynes: Economic possibilities for our grandchildren. MIT Press.