Simply put, risk is 'the possibility of something bad happening.' Defined in this way, increased attentiveness to risk has the potential to be paralyzing because it is present in nearly every aspect of human existence. This course, organized by the Duke Center on Risk, capitalizes on this ubiquity by bringing together ideas and approaches from all corners of the university. A unifying perspective is the recognition that risk involves elements of both chance ('possibility') and value ('something bad'). Therefore, students will learn the languages of probability and economics within the cultural settings of public policy, law, engineering, business, and medicine.
Economics Department