Political Economy and the Welfare State

Undervisningsspråk

English

Krav til forkunnskapar

Fulfilment of general admission requirements.

Læringsutbyte

This course presents a rigorous survey of introductory and intermediate-level topics in the study of political economy. Following an introduction to rational choice theory, the course proceeds to survey some rival approaches to the study of the relationship between the state and the economy: neoclassical, Chicago School, Keynesian, and Marxian. Next, we study some varieties of fiscal and monetary public policies and their consequences. We also examine the manners in which the interests of political parties and politicians, as well as the nature of democratic political competition affect the types and forms of macroeconomic policy. Following this, we engage in a detailed study of the nature of the business cycle and economic downturns under capitalism. Special attention will be directed towards the financial crisis of 2007-2009, and its implications on a world scale. The final part of the course moves on to the study of social democracy and the welfare state, adopting a cross-national approach to discover general patterns in how the goals and policies of social democracy and the welfare state emerged and have transformed throughout the twentieth century.

Kontaktinformasjon

post@isp.uib.no / advice@isp.uib.no / +47 55583316

Undervisningssemester

Spring

Eksamenssemester

Spring

Undervisningsspråk

English

Krav til studierett

Open for all students who fulfill the general admission requirements.

Mål og innhald

This course presents a rigorous survey of introductory and intermediate-level topics in the study of political economy. Following an introduction to rational choice theory, the course proceeds to survey some rival approaches to the study of the relationship between the state and the economy: neoclassical, Chicago School, Keynesian, and Marxian. Next, we study some varieties of fiscal and monetary public policies and their consequences. We also examine the manners in which the interests of political parties and politicians, as well as the nature of democratic political competition affect the types and forms of macroeconomic policy. Following this, we engage in a detailed study of the nature of the business cycle and economic downturns under capitalism. Special attention will be directed towards the financial crisis of 2007-2009, and its implications on a world scale. The final part of the course moves on to the study of social democracy and the welfare state, adopting a cross-national approach to discover general patterns in how the goals and policies of social democracy and the welfare state emerged and have transformed throughout the twentieth century.

This course is divided into the following sections:

1. Introduction;
2. Rational Choice Theory in Political Economy;
3. Macroeconomics: Rival Perspectives on Fiscal and Monetary Policy (A. Principles; B. The Chicago School; C. Marxism; D. Keynes and Keynesianism);
4. Governments and Macroeconomic Policy;
5. Economic Crises on a World Scale;
6. Social Democracy and the Welfare State

Læringsutbyte/resultat

This course presents a rigorous survey of introductory and intermediate-level topics in the study of political economy. Following an introduction to rational choice theory, the course proceeds to survey some rival approaches to the study of the relationship between the state and the economy: neoclassical, Chicago School, Keynesian, and Marxian. Next, we study some varieties of fiscal and monetary public policies and their consequences. We also examine the manners in which the interests of political parties and politicians, as well as the nature of democratic political competition affect the types and forms of macroeconomic policy. Following this, we engage in a detailed study of the nature of the business cycle and economic downturns under capitalism. Special attention will be directed towards the financial crisis of 2007-2009, and its implications on a world scale. The final part of the course moves on to the study of social democracy and the welfare state, adopting a cross-national approach to discover general patterns in how the goals and policies of social democracy and the welfare state emerged and have transformed throughout the twentieth century.

Krav til forkunnskapar

Fulfilment of general admission requirements.

Tilrådde forkunnskapar

MET102, SAMPOL110, SAMPOL115.

Fagleg overlapp

Students may not earn credit for both SAMPOL213 and SAMPOL214.

Undervisning og omfang

Hours per week: approximately 4

Number of weeks: minimum 10

Obligatoriske arbeidskrav

None

Vurderingsformer

Six-hour written exam.

Karakterskala

Grading A-F

Læremiddelomtale

The curriculum is new, starting from spring 2010

Emneevaluering

This course is evaluated regularly.

Kontaktinformasjon

post@isp.uib.no / advice@isp.uib.no / +47 55583316