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2011/2012  BA-PCP2  Comparative Political Economy

English Title
Comparative Political Economy

Course Information

Language English
Point 7,5 ECTS (225 SAT)
Type Mandatory
Level Bachelor
Duration One Quarter
Course Period Spring
Time Table Please see course schedule at e-Campus
Study Board
Study Board for BSc/MSc i International Business and Politics
Course Coordinator
  • Hubert Buch-Hansen - Department for Business and Politics
Main Category of the Course
  • International Political Economy
Last updated on 29 maj 2012
Learning Objectives
On completion of the course the student should be able to:
  • Classify and compare the key theories used to analyse and understand the statebusiness relations and welfare states regimes in advanced industrialized economies;
  • Discuss, via theoretical frameworks, how external pressures upon national economic systems are mediated by domestic actors.
  • Relate empirical knowledge of the main trends and dynamics in the transformation of different kinds of advanced industrial economies, primarily through comparative research from the student’s independent reading.
Comparative Political Economy:
Assessment Home Assignment
Marking Scale 7-step scale
Censorship Internal examiners
Exam Period April and August, The ordinary exam is in April. The re-exam is in August.
Aids Please, see the detailed regulations below
Duration Please, see the detailed regulations below
Examination
The exam is a home assignment (10 pages) graded by teacher and an internal examiner on the 7 point scale.

The re-examination is a four hour closed book exam.
Course Content
The course begins by introducing different theoretical approaches in the field of comparative political economy, most notably the ‘varieties of capitalism approach’ as well as constructivist and critical political economy perspectives. To assess the strengths and weaknesses of these theoretical approaches they are discussed in relation to actual national models of capitalism. Their different perspectives on how external pressures upon national economic systems are mediated by domestic actors will also be highlighted.
The course then moves on to consider the transformation of the welfare state and various ways of classifying and comparing welfare regimes. Then follow two workshop days that serve as preparation for the course assignment. This assignment will briefly be discussed during the second workshop day. In the last part of the course various topics of relevance to state-business relations are considered. These are housing markets, capitalism in East Asia, Corporate Governance, offshoring and competition policy. In the concluding lecture the future of capitalism is considered in the light of the current crises and the main theories and topics discussed during the course are summarised.
Teaching Methods
Lectures.
Literature
Litterature:
Important: You must read the Essential Readings prior to the lectures in order to engage in discussions!