Prospectus

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States, Markets and Politics

Course
2019-2020

Description

The seminar focuses on the interrelations between states and markets from a broad social science perspective. Along with economic thinkers we will discuss states/politics and markets as opposite coordination and allocation mechanisms, study the key assumptions behind this approach, and examine its implications. Along with sociological and institutional theorists we will examine markets as social formations, embedded in their social environment. We will deepen our understanding of state-market interrelations by looking at the historical development of markets and examining the varieties of capitalism. From this analytical basis we will also discuss current policies that attempt to create public sector markets and the results and challenges of these efforts. The seminar aims at developing a deeper and complex understanding of state-market interrelations that is not only relevant for explaining broad social phenomena but that contributes to rigorous thinking about current public policy and management issues.

Course objectives

  • Understanding some key texts and arguments in the states vs markets discussion

  • Ability to contrast the assumptions and arguments related the topic from the perspective of economics, philosophy, sociology and political science

  • Ability to recognize the market vs state issues in the case of real life policies and strategies at the global, national, local and organisational level

  • Apply these different analytical frameworks on current policy problems

Timetable

On the right side of programme front page of the E-guide you will find links to the website and timetables, uSis and Blackboard.

Mode of instruction

The course consists of seminars and self study.

Course Load

Total study load: 140 hrs

  • Contact hours: 7 × 3hrs (21 hrs)

  • Self-study hours: 120 (preparing for classes ca 12 hrs x 7 weeks, take-home exam 40 hrs)

Assessment method

Take-home exam, essay questions, 100%, resit: new exam of the same format.
The deadline will be specified on the course Blackboard page.

More information about participation in exams can be found in the Rules & Regulations.

Blackboard

Yes, available the first day of the block.

Reading list

  • Sandel, M. (2012) What Money Can’t Buy. The Moral Limits of Markets. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux.

  • Academic papers (to be downloaded online via university library)

Registration

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

Dr. Maarja Beerkens m.beerkens@fgga.leidenuniv.nl
Tel: (0)71 527 3751