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Instructors: Prof. Dr. Vera Eva Tröger
Event type:
Interactive class
Displayed in timetable as:
22-40.080
Hours per week:
3
Credits:
6,0
Language of instruction:
English
Min. | Max. participants:
- | 45
Comments/contents:
Institutions figure prominently as causes and/or effects in both economics and political science. This course will review major theories and research findings on institutions within these two disciplines, focusing primarily on international institutions. Among the topics addressed will be foundational theories as to why institutions emerge and what functions they (are expected to) serve; how to assess and explain their impact on behavior and outcomes in a diverse range of issue areas, including economic development, trade, security, and human rights; and aspects of institutional resilience and change, such as path dependence and institutional drift.
Learning objectives:
The goal of the course is to equip students with theoretical tools from economics and political science to engage in institutional analysis of their own.
This module aims to:
1. provide a rich understanding of the origins, processes, and consequences regarding (political) Institutions,
2. increase student’s interest in rigorous political economic analysis,
3. discuss how institutions emerge, change and what effects they have on outcomes,
4. provide students with a firm knowledge of major applications at the intersection of
economics, political science, and political economy,
5. develop students abilities to conduct rigorous analyses in political economy,
6. enable students to organize their written texts in way that mirrors scholarly work.
By the end of the module, students will be able:
1. to understand the basic logic of the economics and politics of institutions, that is: learnhow institutions emerge, change, and their effects on political and economics outcomes as well as behavior,
2. to use the fundamental concepts and tools of political economy appropriately,
3. to understand the general logic of institutional economics,
4. to summarize the various themes and problems analyzed in the current comparative politics and economics of intitutions,
5. to understand how political decision-making on different levels is related,
6. to gather and analyze qualitative and quantitative empirical information on comparative institutional analysis.
The module also enables students to acquire the following generic and transferable skills:
1. Library and Internet research
2. Data collection, presentation, and analysis
3. Exposition and argumentation in a structured fashion
4. Working independently and as part of a group
5. Presenting verbal argument to classroom peers
6. Production of short well-researched essays and reports
7. Structuring and organizing ‚scientific’ texts.
8. Working to deadlines
9. Conducting oneself in a scholarly and professional manner
10. Applying economic concepts and methods to the study of institutions
Key Skills
On this module students will need, use and improve the following key skills:
systematic thinking: All theories and explanations in comparative and international political economy make assumptions about important actors, their utility function, and the structure in which social interaction takes place, especially a globalizing economy. The module will improve the student’s ability to identify crucial assumptions and discuss how arguments are related to assumptions.
analytical tools: applying game theory and statistical analysis to the study of institutions.
transfer of ideas and arguments: Students will apply theoretical arguments to issue-areas, in which these theories have not been developed.
improving own learning and performance: Students will learn how to simplify complicated arguments to the core of the underlying logic.
communication: Students will use and exercise open-mindedness in oral presentation and discussion.
Didactic concept:
The module runs for 1 semster.
There will be a 90 minutes provision of background information by the lecturer, presented in
the way of a discussion between the lecturer and the students. This is followed by 60
minutes open (but structured) discussion of the issues discussed in the lecture and/or in the
texts, problems sets, and student presentations. Regular attendance in the class is essential
for satisfactory attainment on the module.
There will be a corresponding course on OpenOlat to provide materials and furher information .
Literature:
To get a flavor of the topics addressed in the class, students may wish to consult the following:
S. Voigt, Institutional Economics, An Introduction. CUP (2019)
D. Acemoglu & J.A. Robinson, Why Nations Fail: The Origins of Power, Prosperity and Poverty (2012)
R.A.W. Rhodes, S. A. Binder & B. A. Rockmann, eds., The Oxford Handbook of Political Institutions (2006)
R. Richter & E. Furubotn, Institutions and Economic Theory: The Contribution of the New Institutional Economics (2005)
Most of the readings used for the course will be available in PDF format through the university library network.
Additional examination information:
Obtaining credit for the course requires participation in in-class group work and successfully
passing a final written exam.
Each session 1-2 students pick an empirical paper from the reading list and present it in
class.
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