The Politics of Economics and the Economics of Politicians (FutureLearn)

The Politics of Economics and the Economics of Politicians (FutureLearn)

Investigate links between economics and politicians with Sir Vince Cable and leading economists at the University of Nottingham. How does economics impact on politicians? And how do politicians impact on economics? In this three-week course, Sir Vince Cable and a team of leading economists at the University of Nottingham will explain the links between politics and economics. You will explore these links by looking at the work of major political figures and the key economic ideas they adopted.

Class Deals by MOOC List - Click here and see FutureLearn's Active Discounts, Deals, and Promo Codes.

Find out about the links between politicians and economics
You will study both contemporary economics – for example exploring responses to the financial crisis of 2008 – and some of the political leaders who have put key economic theories into practice throughout history.
These are political figures from around the world who have changed economic history, including Alexander Hamilton, Sir Robert Peel, the Mejii Emperor, FD Roosevelt, Margaret Thatcher and Deng Xiaoping. The economic policies and practices of these former leaders are still having an impact on our world today.

Learn from experts in the field
The course is led by Sir Vince Cable, former Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (2010-2015) and Honorary Professor of Economics at the University of Nottingham. His experience combines the theoretical knowledge of a trained economist with practical experience gained in government.
You will also learn from leading economists at the University of Nottingham, including Head of School Professor Kevin Lee and Professor of Political Economy Cecilia Testa.

Syllabus

Week 1: Introduction, Alexander Hamilton, and Sir Robert Peel
Week 2: The Meiji Emperor, President Franklin D Roosevelt, and Ludwig Erhard
Week 3: Margaret Thatcher, Deng Xiaoping, and Conclusions

What will you achieve?

  • Investigate policy making in an historical context
  • Apply economic tools to policy relevant questions
  • Discuss the relationship between politics and economics
  • Identify and use assets (images, video, quizzes etc.) within learning resources
  • Develop analytical skills
  • Develop an understanding of how economic theory guides policy choices
Go to Class
MOOC List is learner-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Related Courses

Teoria dos Jogos: Da Teoria à Prática (Coursera) Coursera
FIA Business School

Teoria dos Jogos: Da Teoria à Prática (Coursera)

Nossas boas-vindas ao Curso Teoria dos Jogos: Da Teoria à Prática. Neste curso, você aprenderá que a Teoria dos Jogos é um ramo da Economia que trata da análise da tomada de decisões quando todos os tomadores de decisões são presumivelmente racionais, e cada um procura prever as ações e reações de seus concorrentes. Desta forma, terá subsídios para tomar decisões. Por exemplo, de fazer ou não acordos, desencorajar a entrada no mercado de potenciais concorrentes, de preços quando as condições de demanda e custo apresentam variações ou novos concorrentes entrarem no mercado, dentre outras.

Sep 14th 2026
4 Weeks
Social and Economic Networks: Models and Analysis (Coursera) Coursera
Stanford University

Social and Economic Networks: Models and Analysis (Coursera)

Learn how to model social and economic networks and their impact on human behavior. How do networks form, why do they exhibit certain patterns, and how does their structure impact diffusion, learning, and other behaviors? We will bring together models and techniques from economics, sociology, math, physics, statistics and computer science to answer these questions.

Aug 31st 2026
5-12 Weeks
Desigualdades en América Latina y el Caribe: Investigación, Políticas y Gestión para las Transformaciones Sociales (FutureLearn) FutureLearn
UNESCO,CLAD

Desigualdades en América Latina y el Caribe: Investigación, Políticas y Gestión para las Transformaciones Sociales (FutureLearn)

Explore nuevas estrategias de producción y gestión de conocimiento para mejorar las políticas frente a las desigualdades. Las desigualdades representan uno de los principales desafíos que enfrenta América Latina y el Caribe, y constituyen una constante preocupación para sus gobiernos. Frente a estos escenarios cada vez más complejos, el diálogo fluido entre investigación social y políticas públicas resulta urgente y estratégico. Este curso aborda el actual panorama regional de las desigualdades, alerta sobre sus dramáticas consecuencias, y ofrece estrategias transformadoras que pueden diseñarse para mejorar las políticas sociales y la gestión pública.

No sessions available
4 Weeks
Infonomics I: Business Information Economics and Data Monetization (Coursera) Coursera
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Infonomics I: Business Information Economics and Data Monetization (Coursera)

Thriving in the Information Age compels organizations to deploy information as an actual business asset, not as an IT asset or merely as a business byproduct. This demands creativity in conceiving and implementing new ways to generate economic benefits from the wide array of information assets available to an organization. Unfortunately, information too frequently is underappreciated and therefore underutilized.

Sep 14th 2026
4 Weeks
Pets, Politics and Pandemics (Coursera) Coursera
Columbia University

Pets, Politics and Pandemics (Coursera)

This course is designed to be a fun and accessible introduction to the topic of systems theory. Systems theory describes a number of fundamental concepts that undergird a broad array of phenomena across many different social, political and natural arenas. It is from this broad applicability that the course derives its title: Pets (social), politics (political and economic) and Pandemics (natural).

Sep 7th 2026
5-12 Weeks
Arctic Economy (Coursera) Coursera
University of Alberta,UiT The Arctic University of Norway

Arctic Economy (Coursera)

Arctic communities have diverse histories and roles in local, regional and global economies. However, the scope and scale of globalization has increased so quickly that vulnerable Arctic communities are facing new kinds of challenges to their survival. In this 3-week MOOC, a unique collaboration between the University of Alberta and UiT The Arctic University of Norway, you will investigate the challenges faced by Indigenous, North American, Russian and Nordic Arctic communities in a modern world. So join us as we venture above the 60th parallel North, and explore how these fascinating communities adjust to change while maintaining their ways of life, socio-economic histories, and cultural traditions.

Sep 14th 2026
4 Weeks