Overview
An introduction to the anthropological understanding of money, drawing on contemporary case studies from Indigenous (often non-cash) societies, globalising industrial societies, and classical ethnographies of money.
This paper looks at how people use money. It considers how people spend, save and get into debt with money as well as use it for crime. These areas are considered cross-culturally. The anthropology of money and its use has implications for understandings of religion and belief, risk, wealth, poverty, inequality, AI and sustainability.
This paper begins by exploring the relationship between money and culture. This includes exchange networks in the Pacific, gender, money and religion, flybys and debt.
The course considers contemporary uses of money too, for example crypto currencies like Bitcoin, mobile investment and payment apps and startups, the cost of living crisis, and relationships between money and radical political change. One of the major areas in this paper concerns money and crime. Why do people commit crime for money? In this part of the course, we look at drug trafficking, transactional sex work (prostitution), money laundering, people smuggling and home invasions.
About this paper
| Paper title | Anthropology of Money |
|---|---|
| Subject | Anthropology |
| EFTS | 0.15 |
| Points | 18 points |
| Teaching period | Semester 1 (On campus) |
| Domestic Tuition Fees ( NZD ) | $1,103.10 |
| International Tuition Fees | Tuition Fees for international students are elsewhere on this website. |
- Prerequisite
- 18 200-level ANTH points or 108 points
- Schedule C
- Arts and Music
- Contact
- More information link
Please visit the Programme of Social Anthropology
- Teaching staff
- Paper Structure
Assessment: To be confirmed at the start of the semester.
- Teaching Arrangements
Lectures and Tutorials
Tutorial Participation
Essays and written assignments
- Textbooks
Textbooks are not required for this paper.
- Graduate Attributes Emphasised
- Cultural understanding, Ethics, Research
view more information about otago's graduate attributes. - Learning Outcomes
Students who successfully complete this paper will:
- Have an ability to use 'problem-based learning' skills to critically assess data, evidence and argument
- Deepen skills in critical reading and interpreting diverse information, data, arguments and media
- Further improve writing skills that demonstrate an ability to make concise arguments and reinforce these with an appropriate selection of ethnographic and empirical evidence and a critical interpretation of that data
Overview
An introduction to the anthropological understanding of money, drawing on contemporary case studies from Indigenous (often non-cash) societies, globalising industrial societies, and classical ethnographies of money.
This paper looks at how people use money. It considers how people spend, save and get into debt with money as well as use it for crime. These areas are considered cross-culturally. The anthropology of money and its use has implications for understandings of religion and belief, risk, wealth, poverty, inequality, AI and sustainability.
This paper begins by exploring the relationship between money and culture. This includes exchange networks in the Pacific, gender, money and religion, flybys and debt.
The course considers contemporary uses of money too, for example crypto currencies like Bitcoin, mobile investment and payment apps and startups, the cost of living crisis, and relationships between money and radical political change. One of the major areas in this paper concerns money and crime. Why do people commit crime for money? In this part of the course, we look at drug trafficking, transactional sex work (prostitution), money laundering, people smuggling and home invasions.
About this paper
| Paper title | Anthropology of Money |
|---|---|
| Subject | Anthropology |
| EFTS | 0.15 |
| Points | 18 points |
| Teaching period | Semester 1 (On campus) |
| Domestic Tuition Fees | Tuition Fees for 2027 have not yet been set |
| International Tuition Fees | Tuition Fees for international students are elsewhere on this website. |
- Prerequisite
- 18 200-level ANTH points or 108 points
- Schedule C
- Arts and Music
- Contact
- More information link
View more information on the Programme of Social Anthropology website.
- Teaching staff
- Paper Structure
This course comprises lectures and tutorials.
- Teaching Arrangements
- Lectures and tutorials
- Tutorial participation
- Essays and written assignments
- Textbooks
Textbooks are not required for this paper.
- Graduate Attributes Emphasised
- Cultural understanding, Ethics.
View more information about Otago's graduate attributes. - Learning Outcomes
Students who successfully complete this paper will:
- Have an ability to use "problem-based learning" skills to critically assess data, evidence and argument.
- Deepen skills in critical reading and interpreting diverse information, data, arguments and media.
- Further improve writing skills that demonstrate an ability to make concise arguments and reinforce these with an appropriate selection of ethnographic and empirical evidence and a critical interpretation of that data.
- Assessment details
Assessments:
- Essay 1 (25%)
- Essay 2 (25%)
- Tutorial participation (10%)
- Final exam (40%)