Prof Simon Hix CON3.07 and Dr Andrew Eggers CON5.08

This course is compulsory on the Executive MPA. This course is not available as an outside option.

There are no pre-requisites, but recommended advance reading is given below.

This course introduces a range of theoretical and empirical tools to analyse the politics of public policymaking. The main focus is on political institutions in modern democracies and how they relate to public policy. This includes topics such as elections, representation, bureaucracy, delegation, accountability, interest groups, legislatures, executives and decentralisation.

A one-week modular teaching block.

One mock examination will be provided.

Analyzing Politics: Rationality, Behavior and Instititutions by Kenneth Shepsle (W.W. Norton, 2nd edition, 2010) is an excellent starting point and reference for many topics. A full reading list will be distributed at the beginning of the course.

Essay (50%, 2000 words) and online assessment (50%).

Please note that online examinations take place on the third Friday after the module teaching concludes. Assessed essays are due on the sixth Friday after module teaching concludes. Further details will be provided at the Executive MPA programme induction.