Programme

PGP

Term

IV

Academic Year

2021-22

Course title

Pandemics!

Area

Economics

Credits

0.50

Instructor(s)

Prof. Chinmay Tumbe

Course Description & Objectives

Introduction:  In February 2020, the idea of a „pandemic‟ was still in its infancy in the minds of the general public. Today, it is a reality that is quickly changing the way we consume, interact and do business. This course is about pandemics of the past and the present and their interaction with business and the economy. Understanding the past is important to think through the potential ways pandemics evolve and how people respond to them. For instance, between 1817 and 1920, over 70 million people died in the pandemics of cholera, plague and influenza, with India being the epicenter of mortality in all those episodes. Understanding the present and in particular, the key emerging themes of the Covid-19 pandemic is important for decision makers in the near future.  Part 1 of the course consists of five sessions on major pandemics of the past, covering diseases such as the plague, smallpox, cholera and influenza. Part 2 covers Covid-19 and its potential implications for India and the global economy.  Objectives:  To understand the pandemics of the past and the present and discern major issues and patterns they present To better understand the connections between pandemics, businesses and the economy

Pedagogy

The course will be taught through interactive sessions with class room discussions and presentations. Scholarly articles and background reading notes will be used in the course.