Time Schedule:
Victor A. Menaldo
POL S 588
Seattle Campus
Examination of current topics in the theory and practice of comparative political economy. Content varies according to recent developments in the field and research interests of the instructor.
Class description
This course is an introduction to the political economy of development. The questions that will be examined are: What is the role of politics in shaping economic development across countries and within countries? What political institutions matter for explaining variation in economic development, why do these institutions matter, and where did they come from? How does politics indirectly influence development through culture, education, inequality, access to finance, corruption and the provision of public goods? What is the role of international factors? The major methodological themes include motivating theories of development with micro-foundations of individual decision-making and behavior and a focus on sound causal inference achieved through advanced econometric techniques and experimental and quasi-experimental methods.
Student learning goals
General method of instruction
Recommended preparation
Class assignments and grading
