SUS 7025 - Market Failures and the Regulatory Environment

(4 units)

This course will examine market failure as a framework for defining and articulating sustainability challenges. Students will receive a survey of the American regulatory system and its complementary balancing role in curing or preventing market failure. Specific areas of regulation to be examined will include fiduciary, corporate formation, securities, environmental, antitrust, torts, intellectual property and contract law. Based on this understanding of interdependent market and regulatory environments, students will practice and enhance their ability to innovate new solutions to complex and seemingly intractable problems–i.e., be social entrepreneurs. Students will consider the pros and cons of delivering their solutions through business, governmental, civil societal, or hybrid organizations. After successful completion of this course, students will also have a good sense of when it is time to call a good lawyer.