Course Description

The global economy is increasingly financialized. What does financialization mean? What are its effects? What are the implications when finance is decoupled from the ‘real economy’? And, most importantly, how does financialization affect citizens’ daily lives?

Course Director

Brenda Spotton-Visano
Brenda Spotton-Visano is a distinguished University Professor in Economics and Public Policy. Her widely published interdisciplinary scholarship advances a heterodox perspective on macroeconomics and microfinance. She is a member of the Graduate Programs in Economics, Interdisciplinary Studies, Public Policy Administration & Law, Social & Political Thought, and Sociology. Dr. Spotton-Visano routinely consults for agencies of the Canadian Federal Government, the not-for-profit sector, and labour organizations. She is a member of the national Financial Literacy Research Committee of the Financial Consumer Agency of Canada, a Steering Committee Member of the Progressive Economics Forum, and former President of the Canadian Women Economists Network. Her research, teaching, and university service have been honoured with national, provincial and university level awards recognizing her contributions.                                                                                

Picture of Brenda Spotton-Visano

Brenda Spotton-Visano

Term and Time

Winter 2025 – starting January 10
12:50 pm on Friday afternoon
Room 204 in York Hall

Course Outline

Before the course starts, you can download a printable PDF giving the 10-week detailed course outline.

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Lecture Notes

Links to resources such as additional reading or play lists are provided here as the Course Director makes them available during term. Like the course outline, lecture notes open in a new browser tab so that you can download and print them.

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