Fall/Winter Timetable

POL443H1S L0101

Graduate Course Code: POL2322H1S L0101

Topics in Comparative Politics II

Globalization, Democracy and Growth

Themes

Comparative political economy is the study of how political context influences economic policy choice and economic performance. It has been one of the most active research areas in political science over the past twenty years, as scholars in have placed a renewed emphasis on the way in which political institutions influence outcomes. In this course we will first ask how representative democracy influences economic performance, and subsequently examine the effect on economic outcomes of specific democratic institutions, such as the separation of powers or delegation to unelected officials like central bankers. In so doing we will also inquire whether globalization has altered the relationship between democratic institutions and economic policy choices. Empirical studies in the field of comparative political economy are primarily quantitative, so familiarity with statistical approaches is recommended. We will also work through a few game theoretic models in class.

Texts

: Links to readings in the form of journal articles and working papers will be made available. The purchase of Drazen, Allan, (2000), Political Economy in Macroeconomics, Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, is recommended.

Format and Requirements

TBA

Prerequisites

2.0 credits in POL/ JPA/ JPF/ JPI/ JPR/ JPS/ JRA courses