Dr L Phillips, D415

This course is compulsory for the MSc International Political Economy (Research). It is optional for students on MSc International Political Economy, MPA Public and Economic Policy/MPA Public Policy and Management/MPA International Development/MPA European Public and Economic Policy, MSc Political Science and Political Economy, MSc Management and LSE-PKU Double Degree in MSc International Affairs. Also available to students taking MSc International Relations or MSc International Political Economy as part of the LSE-Sciences Po Double Degree in Affairés Internationales programme. MSc Global Politics and other interested MSc students may also apply, with enrolment subject to staffing resources, the completion of an application form and permission of the teacher responsible.

The comparative study of democratic institutions and economic policy choice.

This course will investigate how theories emphasising distributional interests and domestic institutions can explain economic policy choices. Particular emphasis will be placed on giving students an understanding of the use of quantitative methods in political economy research. A third main objective will be to show how similar theories of political economy can be applied to both OECD and developing country cases. While there will be no formal pre-requisite for the course, it would be preferable for students to have already completed an introductory sequence in microeconomics and macroeconomics. Students without a previous background in quantitative methods should attend lectures from MI451 and MI452.

Twenty one-hour lectures and 20 one-and-a-half-hour seminars, including two revision sessions. commencing in week one of MT. . Students will be required to submit three 2,000-word essays over the course of MT and LT.

The bulk of this course will be taught using journal articles. In addition, students will find it useful to consult several overview texts in political economy. James Morrow, Game Theory for Political Scientists; Allan Drazen, Political Economy in Macroeconomics; Stephen Haggard & Mathew McCubbins, Presidents, Parliaments and Policy; Adam Przeworski, Susan Stokes & Bernard Manin, Democracy, Accountability, and Representation.

There is a three-hour formal examination in the ST on the full syllabus of the course. Candidates are required to answer three out of 12 questions.