Admission
This course assumes knowledge of European economic integration (or international economics), quantitative research methods and socio-economic policy analysis at third-year bachelor level.
Description
Globalisation, ageing of populations and high levels of unemployment pose difficult dilemmas for policy-makers. On the one hand, policy-makers may pursue socio-economic reforms in order to increase a country’s competitiveness or to improve the functioning of the labour market. On the order hand, the reality is that such socio-economic reforms are politically challenging.
In this course, we study this type of dilemmas at the intersection of economics and governance from an international comparative perspective. Questions that we address are for example: How do policy-makers adjust social assistance and unemployment benefit schemes in times of increasing migration? To what extent do international trade and capital flows trigger reforms of corporate income taxes? What is the effect of globalization and technological change on income inequality? And how does this effect interact with public and private education systems? What is the role of global capital markets in the developments of housing prices?
Weekly overview:
1. Introduction to comparative political economy
2. Political parties, corporatism and socio-economic reforms
3. Globalisation I
4. Globalisation II
5. Migration
6. Income inequality
7. Political economy in the aftermath of the financial crisis
This course consists of seven interactive seminars. During a seminar, the theme of the week will be introduced. Subsequently, students will present, review and discuss the study materials themselves. For these activities, thorough preparation is required. The study materials contain several state-of-the-art studies in the field of comparative political economy on various topics.
Course objectives
Understanding of key issues in the field of international economic integration and socio-economic policy
Understanding of key theories and methods in the state-of-the-art academic research in the field of political economy of globalisation, European integration and socio-economic policy reforms
Ability to use and critically evaluate scientific research
Ability to build, present and defend well-grounded arguments in oral communication
Timetable
On the Public Administration front page of the E-guide you will find links to the website and timetables, uSis and Blackboard.
Mode of instruction
- Interactive seminars where students critically review research articles.
- Presentations.
- Self-study.
Attendance: Attendance during the seminars is not compulsory, but it is necessary though.
During the first seminar, we will make a presentation scheme for the rest of the course.
Presentations and active class participation are a substantial component of the assessment.
Course Load
Total course load: 140 hours
Contact hours: 24 hours
Self-study: 116 hours
Assessment method
- Written exam
75% of the final course grade
grade of 5.5 or higher is necessary to pass this course
re-take possible
- Presentations and class participation
25% of the final course grade
grade of 5.5 or higher is necessary to pass this course
re-take not possible
Blackboard
Yes, for further current information click here.
Reading list
Articles from international academic journals
Registration
Use both uSis and Blackboard to register for every course.
Register for every course and workgroup via uSis. Some courses and workgroups have a limited number of participants, so register on time (before the course starts). In uSis you can access your personal schedule and view your results. Registration in uSis is possible from four weeks before the start of the course.
Also register for every course in Blackboard. Important information about the course is posted there.
Contact
Prof. O. van Vliet O.P.van.Vliet@LAW.leidenuniv.nl