EU455 Half Unit
Concepts in Political Economy
This information is for the 2013/14 session.
Teacher responsible
Dr Waltraud Schelkle COW 1.06
Availability
This course is available on the MPA in European Public and Economic Policy, MPA in International Development, MPA in Public Policy and Management, MPA in Public and Economic Policy, MPA in Public and Social Policy, MPhil/ PhD in European Studies, MSc in Management, MSc in Management (CEMS MIM), MSc in Political Economy of Europe and MSc in Political Economy of Europe (LSE and Sciences Po). This course is available with permission as an outside option to students on other programmes where regulations permit.
Course content
The aim of the course is to engage students with relevant concepts in political economy and their main applications in European studies. The course will anchor the degree in historical and current debates about the nature of political economy, the role of institutions and the pros and cons of different methodological approaches taken by political economists. The aim of the lectures is to outline key political economy concepts and their theoretical background while the seminars explore the uses and limits of the respective concepts through the systematic analysis of relevant research papers.
This course is particularly recommended for students who wish to pursue a research path in political economy.
Among the topics covered are: The nature and scope of political economy; Rational choice and positive political economy; Constructivism and normative political economy; Institutions: Path-dependence, institutional choice, institutional change; Veto players and joint-decision traps.
Teaching
10 hours of lectures and 15 hours of seminars in the MT. 1 hour of lectures and 1 hour and 30 minutes of seminars in the ST.
Formative coursework
Two formative essays, each of 1,500 words. One of these essays will consist of the analysis of a research paper.
Indicative reading
Caporaso, J and Levine, D (1992) Theories of Political Economy, Cambridge; Weingast, B.R. and Wittman, D.A (eds) (2006) The Oxford Handbook of Political Economy, Oxford University Press.
Assessment
Exam (100%, duration: 2 hours) in the main exam period.
Student performance results
(2009/10 - 2011/12 combined)
Classification | % of students |
---|---|
Distinction | 12.2 |
Merit | 63 |
Pass | 21.7 |
Fail | 3.2 |
Key facts
Department: European Institute
Total students 2012/13: 6
Average class size 2012/13: 7
Value: Half Unit
Personal development skills
- Self-management
- Team working
- Communication
Course survey results
(2010/11 - 2012/13 combined)
1 = "best" score, 5 = "worst" scoreThe scores below are average responses.
Response rate: 96%
Question |
Average | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Reading list (Q2.1) |
2.1 | ||||||
Materials (Q2.3) |
1.9 | ||||||
Course satisfied (Q2.4) |
2 | ||||||
Lectures (Q2.5) |
2.2 | ||||||
Integration (Q2.6) |
2.1 | ||||||
Contact (Q2.7) |
2 | ||||||
Feedback (Q2.8) |
2.2 | ||||||
Recommend (Q2.9) |
|