Admission requirements
This course can only be taken as part of the minor European Approaches to Societal Challenges.
Description
European countries are among the wealthiest in the world, yet their citizens and politicians increasingly worry about the continent's economic future. Waves of interconnected crises — from the global pandemic to Russia's invasion of Ukraine — have exposed deep vulnerabilities in energy, technology, and demographic sustainability. These pressures are rapidly changing how Europe thinks about the role of states and markets in the economy, and have triggered a historic return of industrial policy: deliberate use of public power to reshape the economy. This course examines that shift, asking whether Europe's policy responses can deliver simultaneously economic competitiveness, fairness, and reduced dependencies, and if not, how do we choose? By examining the existing institutional constraints and balance of interests, students learn to analyze the ongoing debates about growth and inequality in Europe and understand better the resulting policy outcomes.
Course objectives
Understand theoretical and policy debates surrounding the concept of industrial policy in the 21st century;
Be able to describe the key institutional constraints on European industrial policy - including state aid rules, limited fiscal instruments, and diversity of actors involved - and explain how these shape policy outcomes.
Critically apply the competitiveness/equity/security trilemma to analysis of concrete European policy responses.
Teaching method
Lectures, guest lectures and self-study
Assessment method
The final course grade is determined by a final exam. If the grade is insufficient, the final exam can be retaken.
Resit, review & feedback
The time and location of inspection and debriefing of the exam will be announced via Brightspace no later than the publication of the grades.
Reading list
t.b.a.
Registration
See general information about the minor.
Contact
For substantive questions, contact the lecturer(s) (listed in the right information bar). For questions about enrolment, contact the Student Services Centre: ssc@leiden.edu. For other questions related to the Minor, write to: minor.european.approaches@fsw.leidenuniv.nl.