Degree Programs & Courses Competencies for the (digital) future

Future competencies

How digitalization changes the way we work, pay and compete

Who works where and how is changing as rapidly as the payment methods, all of which have a profound impact on society. This learning unit delves into what the wide-scale digitalization of the economic system has to do with this.

 

Imagine the following scenario: You work from home, order a burger for lunch online, pay conveniently via PayPal and wait for it to be delivered by the bike delivery service while listening to your favorite playlist on your favorite streaming platform. Pretty ordinary, yet emblematic of the ongoing digitalization of economy and its far-reaching consequences. 

To the learning unit (ILIAS)
Basic informations
Learning outcomes:

Students will be able to…

  • ... explain the economic aspects of automation and work-from-home phenomena.
  • ... discuss gig economy in the context of digitalization, firm boundaries, and regulation arbitrage.
  • ... illustrate how paying with cash differs from paying with credit cards, PayPal or TWINT and compare pros and cons of each payment method.
  • ... explain the concept of “central bank digital currency” and its pros and cons.
  • ... identify how digital business models might favor creation of large, dominant firms.
  • ... critically discuss some business practices through which big tech firms are allegedly abusing their market power.
Duration: 2 hours
Language: English
Expert: Prof. Dr. Igor Letina (Department of Economics)
Eligibility requirements: Affiliation with a Swiss university
Credit transfer to study program:
 The possibility of crediting the learning unit to one's own study program must currently be agreed upon bilaterally with each respective study program.
Authorship: The learning unit was developed in a cooperation between the Department of Economics, the Support Center for ICT-Aided Teaching and Research (iLUB) and the Learning and Development Unit.
Completion: Students receive a confirmation of completion upon successful completion of this learning unit.