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1. ANTH 242AE: The Anthropology of Business and Finance
Instructor: Chris Kortright, PhD
Office: CL 334
Email: Chris.Kortright@uregina.ca
Lecture Times: 11:30 am - 12:45 pm Tuesday and Thursday
Classroom: Classroom Building 435
Office Hours: 4:30 - 5:30 Tuesday and 1- 2 Thursday or by appointment
Course Description
This course reconsiders common understandings of politics and the economy by exploring how
the latter is practiced and created. How is local debt located within transnational economic
flows? How is debt and finance transferred between individuals, institutions and nations? What
mechanism are in place that allow debt and finance to reinforce structural injustice on
marginalized groups? The language of responsibility and crisis becomes central to many of these
questions. Looking at different articulations of finance and debt, this class looks at the how
“crisis” (manifested in different forms such as student loans, subprime rates, and international
loans) is articulated and achieved. Mixing theory and ethnography, it introduces students to
anthropological ways of seeing the present economic world and how it affects them.
Course Organization and Format
The structure of this class is mix of a teacher/lecture driven model and one geared towards a
discussion and seminar-style of instruction. The class will requires students to actively engage
the material and class discussion. There will be in class exercises done in working groups (of 5
individuals). In these working groups you will be graded on your individual assignment and your
engagement with the exercise and your group.
Course Requirements
Students will be required to attend class regularly, to arrive on time and come prepared to discuss
class material. There will be five assignments that will inform the final essay (six assignments
total including the final essay). Students will also gain points for their level of participation in the
class.
Required Text
The class will have only one assigned book: Liquidated: An Ethnography of Wall Street by Karen
Ho. In addition to this book there will be readings made available on the UR Courses.
Learning Contract and Objectives
The class objective is that by the end of the semester each student will: 1) have an understanding
of key concepts in the anthropology of finance; 2) have an understanding of social relationships
that produce finance and debt; 3) enhanced writing and analysis skills. The overall goal is for
student to have an engaged academic experience that is a meaningful contribution to their overall
education and research interests as they relate to the topic of the course.
Services for Students with Disabilities
As the University strives to be an inclusive and supportive educational environment, many

2. services are available to assist students in achieving their academic goal(s). To that end, students
that require assistance with a disability should contact the Disability Resource Office to allow for
accommodations to be coordinated with their instructor. Students are encouraged to contact the
office as early as possible to be sure appropriate accommodations and assistance are in place to
assist them in achieving their academic goals in the class: Disability Resource Office, Room 251,
Dr. William Riddell Centre, University of Regina, Regina, SK S4S 0A2. Phone (voice/TTY):
306-585-4631.
Academic Integrity
A respectful classroom presumes that all students are operating with a strong sense of academic
integrity. Integrity is at the center of all academic ventures. Students are asked to work closely
with one another and share their insights with the understanding that these collaborations will
allow students to further develop their own understandings of the course material and to gain a
richer insight into the problems discussed. Students will work collaboratively in the class but
each student will submit and individually authored final paper. Academic integrity includes
honesty in examination and paper writing. These expectations will be reviewed in class briefly.
Students that are unsure about correct citation style and practice are encouraged to speak directly
with the instructor. For a discussion of student academic responsibilities and academic integrity
please consult the “Attendance, Evaluation, Discipline and Appeals” Section of the 2012-2013
Undergraduate Calendar: http://www.uregina.ca/gencal/ugcal/attendanceEvaluation/index.shtml.
Academic integrity goes hand in hand with mutual respect. Students must adhere to this learning
contract and the requirements as outlined in the Academic Calendar.
Assignments
All assignments must be emailed to the instructor by the due date and time as a PDF file. All
assignments will be emailed back to you with comments embedded in the PDF. The formatting
for written assignments should be (a) single spaced (b) 12 point Times (c) 1 inch margins on all
sides (d) paginated (e)the top left corner of the first page should be your first and last name and
the assignment title. No late assignments will be excepted unless there is a documented and
acceptable reason. Make sure to give yourself enough time to turn your assignment into a PDF
and emailed it by the date and time deadline (this will be discussed in class to be sure every
student is clear on what is expected). The time is based on the U of R web-site time.
1) Glossary Assignment: 20%
Because this is an introduction to the anthropology of finance, it is important to put particular
emphasis on the key concepts used by the authors. More generally it is important for you to have
a deep grasp of the text we are studying. You will be compiling a glossary of terms used in the
texts. There will be two types of terms that you will write down: 1) words that you are not
completely sure of their meaning and 2) concepts and terms you see consistently emerging
between the different texts. You will write down the terms from your reading each week and look
up what the concept mean in two different sources (which you cite) and write down a definition
in your own words. This is an ongoing assignment which you are expected to do throughout the
semester as you are doing the reading. The terms should be in alphabetical order. You will be
handing in your glossary a few times throughout the semester. You will need a minimum of 5
entries each week.

3. 2) Newspaper Assignment #:1 10%
You will bring an article from about international debt from a newspaper which you have read.
You will take notes on the article specifically thinking about the key concepts we have covered in
class. Bring the notes and the article to class for group discussion. After class you will write a
one-page response paper engaging the class material and group discussion.
3) Newspaper Assignment #2: 10%
You will bring an article about financial crisis from a newspaper which you have read. You will
take notes on the article specifically thinking about the key concepts we have covered so far.
Bring the notes and the article to class for group discussions. After class you will write a one
page response paper using the class material and your group discussion.
4) Newspaper Assignment #3: 10%
You will bring an article about student debt/student loans in Canada from a newspaper which you
have read. You will take notes on the article specifically thinking about the key concepts we have
covered in class. Bring the notes and the article to class for group discussions. After class you
will write a one-page response paper engaging the class material and group discussion.
5) Student Debt Research Report: 20%
You will conduct independent research about student debt in Canada. You will then write a four-
page paper that describing what your research revealed. Material from class should guide your
analysis. A rubric will be distributed prior.
6) “Student Debt” Position Paper: 20%
This is your final exam It is a take home assignment, so you do not show up to the final exam,
but the paper must up emailed no later than noon on December 18th which is the end of
your exam period. This essay is based on your research about student debt. You will write a 3-4
page analysis of student debt in Canada. It must have an argument and supporting evidence.
Based on the your researcher and the class readings make a claim about the student debt and
using the empirical material from your research argue for your position. A rubric will be
distributed prior.
Grade Breakdown
Glossary Assignment ................................ 20%
Newspaper Assignment #1 ...................... 10%
Newspaper Assignment #2 ....................... 10%
Newspaper Assignment #3 ....................... 10%
Student Debt Research ............................. 20%
“Student Debt” essay ............................... 20%
Class Participation ................................... 10%
______________________________________
Total ....................................................... 100%
Grading Scale for Assignments
The following grading scale is taken from the Faculty of Arts Handbook.

4. 90-100: An outstanding performance with very strong evidence of:
an insightful and comprehensive grasp of the subject matter; a clear ability to make sound and
original critical evaluation of the material given; outstanding capacity for original creative and/or
logical thought; an excellent ability to organize, to analyze, to synthesize, to integrate ideas, and
to express thoughts both in speech and in writing.
80-89: Very good performance with strong evidence of:
a comprehensive grasp of the subject matter; an ability to make sound critical evaluation of the
material given; a good capacity for original, creative, and/or logical thinking; a very good ability
to organize, to analyze, to synthesize, to integrate ideas, and to express thoughts both in speech
and in writing.
70-79: Above average performance with evidence of:
a substantial knowledge of the subject matter; a good understanding of the relevant issues and a
good familiarity with the relevant literature and techniques; some capacity for original, creative,
and/or logical thinking; an above-average ability to organize, to analyze and to examine the
subject material in a critical and constructive manner, and to express thoughts both in speech and
in writing.
60-69: A generally satisfactory and intellectually adequate performance with evidence of:
an acceptable basic grasp of the subject material; a fair understanding of the relevant issues; a
general familiarity with the relevant literature and techniques; an ability to develop solutions to
moderately difficult problems related to the subject material; a moderate ability to examine the
material in a critical and analytical manner, and to express thoughts in writing.
50-59: A barely acceptable performance with evidence of:
a familiarity with the subject material; some evidence that analytical skills have been developed;
some understanding of relevant issues; some familiarity with the relevant literature and
techniques; partially successful attempts to solve moderately difficult problems related to the
subject material and to examine the material in a critical and analytical manner; basic
competence in writing.
0-49: Unacceptable performance.
Class Schedule
September 6
Introduction to Class: go over syllabus and assignments
September 11
Reading: Michel Callon (1998) “An Essay on Framing and Overflowing: Economic Externality
Revisited by Sociology” in Laws of the Market ED. Michel Callon pp. 244-269
September 13
Reading: Andrew Berry and Don Slater (2002) “Technology, Politics and the Market: an
interview with Michel Callon” Economy and Society 31(2): 285-306

5. September 18
Reading: Donald MacKenzie (2009) “Ten Precepts for the Social Studies of Finance” in Material
Markets: How Economic Agents are Constructed pp. 8-36
In Class: watch American Casino (2009)
Assignment: Using UR Courses, email a copy of your Glossary by September 18 at 10 am.
September 20
Reading: Iain Hardie and Donald MacKenzie (2007) “Assembling an Economic Actor: the
agencement of a Hedge Fund” The Sociological Review 55(1): 57-80
September 25
Reading: Timothy Mitchell (2005) “The Work of Economics: How a Discipline Makes its
World” European Journal of Sociology 46(2): 297-320 and Timothy Mitchell (2008) “Rethinking
Economy” Geoforum 39(3): 1116-1121
September 27
Reading: Edward LiPuma and Benjamin Lee (2012) “A Social Approach to the Financial
Derivatives Markets” South Atlantic Quarterly 111(2): 289-316
In Class: Newspaper discussion #1
Assignment Due: Using UR Courses, email a copy of your Newspaper Assignment #1 October
1 at 10 am
October 2
Reading: Bill Maurer (2002) “Repressed Futures: Financial Derivatives’ Theological
Unconscious” Economy and Society 31(1): 15-36
October 4
Reading: Alan Klima (2006) “Spirits of ‘Dark Finance;’ in Thailand: A Local Hazard for the
International Moral Fund” Cultural Dynamics 18(1): 33-60
In Class: watch Ghosts and Numbers (2009)
October 9
Reading: Christian Marazzi (2010) “The Violence of Financial Capitalism” in Crisis in the
global economy: financial markets, social struggles, and new political scenarios Ed. Andrea
Fumagalli and Sandro Mezzadra pp 17-60
October 11
Reading: Douglas Holmes and George Marcus (2006) “Fast Capitalism: Para-Ethnography and
the Rise of the Symbolic” in Frontiers of Capital: Ethnographic Reflections on the New
Economy Ed. Melissa Fisher and Greg Downey pp 33-58
In Class: Newspaper discussion #2
Assignment Due: Using UR Courses, email a copy of your Newspaper Assignment #2 October
15 at 10 am
October 16

6. Reading: Liquidated: Introduction and Chapter 1
October 18
Reading: Liquidated: Chapter 2
Assignment: Using UR Courses, email a copy of your Glossary October 18 at 10 am
October 23
Reading: Liquidated: Chapter 3 and Melissa Fisher (2012) “Careers, Networks and Mentors” in
Wall Street Women pp. 66-94
October 25
Reading: Liquidated: Chapter 4
October 30
Reading: Liquidated: Chapter 5 and Chapter 6
In Class: watch Inside Job (2010)
November 1
Reading: Liquidated: Chapter 7
In Class: finish watching Inside Job (2010)
November 6
Reading: David Graeber (2010) “Primordial Debt” in Debt: The First 5,000 Years pp 43-71
In Class: Newspaper discussion #3
Assignment Due: Using UR Courses, email a copy of your Newspaper Assignment #3
November 10 at 10 am
November 8
Reading: Melinda Cooper and Angela Mitropoulos “The Household Frontier” Ephemera: Theory
and Politics in Organization 9(4): 363-368 and Maya Gonzalez (2010) “Notes on the New
Housing Question: Home-Ownership, Credit and Reproduction of Post-War US Economy”
Endnotes #2 Misery and the Value Form pp. 52-65
Assignment: Using UR Courses, email a copy of your Newspaper Assignment #3 November 10
at 10 am Glossary November 8 at 10 am
November 13
Reading: Bob Meister (2011) “Debt and Taxes: Can the Financial Industry Save Public
Universities” Representations 116(1): 128-155 and Bob Meister (2011) “Financializing Public
Universities” Rethinking Capitalism Newsletter #1 pp 17-20
November 15
Class is Canceled
Independent Research on “Student Debt”
November 20
Class is Canceled

7. Independent Research on “Student Debt”
Assignment: Using UR Courses, email a copy of your Student Debt Research due November
20 at Midnight
November 22
Reading: Melinda Cooper (2011) “Complexity Theory After the Financial Crisis: The Death of
Neoliberalism or the Triumph of Hayek?”Journal of Cultural Economy 4(4): 371-385
November 27
Reading: Hirokazu Miyazaki and Annelise Riles (2005) “Failure as an Endpoint” in Global
Assemblages: Technology, Politics, and Ethics as Anthropological Problems Ed. Aihwa Ong and
Stephen Collier pp. 320-332
November 29
Reading: Kaushik Sunder Rajan (2012) “Pharmaceutical Crisis and the Question of Value:
Terrains and Logics of Global Therapeutic Politics” South Atlantic Quarterly 111(2): 321-34
Assignment: Using UR Courses, email a copy of your Final Draft of Glossary is November 29
at 10 am
December 4
In Class: Watch Nova: Trillion Dollar Bet (2000)
December 18
There Is No In Class Final Examination.
Assignment: Using UR Courses, email a copy of your “Student Debt” Position Paper is due at
noon