EU443      Half Unit
European Models of Capitalism

This information is for the 2014/15 session.

Teacher responsible

Dr Robert Hancke COW 2.09

Availability

This course is available on the MPA in European Public and Economic Policy, MPA in International Development, MPA in Public Policy and Management, MPA in Public and Economic Policy, MPA in Public and Social Policy, MSc in China in Comparative Perspective, MSc in European Studies: Ideas and Identities, MSc in European Studies: Ideas and Identities (LSE and Sciences Po), MSc in Global Politics, MSc in Global Politics, MSc in International Employment Relations and Human Resource Management, MSc in Management, MSc in Management (CEMS MIM), MSc in Political Economy of Europe, MSc in Political Economy of Europe (LSE and Sciences Po), MSc in Public Administration and Government (LSE and Peking University), MSc in Public Policy and Administration and MSc in Public Policy and Administration (Research). This course is available with permission as an outside option to students on other programmes where regulations permit.

Students on the MSc in Global Politics who wish to take this course must seek approval from the teachers responsible. Students are required to obtain permission from the teaching department to take this course.

Course content

The course consists of two parts. In the first part we will discuss the basic arguments and methodological considerations of the Varieties of Capitalism literature and conduct a comparative analysis of the core issue areas in the political economy of contemporary capitalism: how capital, labour and product markets are structured. The second part will build on these thematic treatments to discuss the structure of and dynamics of the main Western, Southern and Central European models of capitalism. In week 2 of the summer term, there will be a review lecture and seminars.

Teaching

2 hours of lectures and 20 hours of seminars in the MT. 1 hour of lectures in the ST.

2 x 1 hour lecture (week 1, MT); 10 x 2 hour seminars (weeks 1-10 MT); 1 x 1 hour revision lecture (ST).

Indicative reading

Peter A Hall & David Soskice (Eds), Varieties of Capitalism: The Institutional Foundations of Competitiveness. Oxford University Press, 2001; Hancké, Bob, Martin Rhodes and Mark Thatcher (eds.) 2007. Beyond Varieties of Capitalism: Conflict, contradiction and complementarities in the European Economy. (Oxford UP 2007) (henceforth HRT); Crouch, Colin, Capitalist Diversity and Change, Oxford University Press, 2005; Hancké, Bob (ed.), 2009, Debating Varieties of Capitalism: A Reader, Oxford UP.

Assessment

Essay (100%, 5000 words) in the ST.

Student performance results

(2010/11 - 2012/13 combined)

Classification % of students
Distinction 18.4
Merit 68.4
Pass 13.3
Fail 0

Key facts

Department: European Institute

Total students 2013/14: 40

Average class size 2013/14: 13

Controlled access 2013/14: No

Lecture capture used 2013/14: No

Value: Half Unit

Guidelines for interpreting course guide information

Personal development skills

  • Self-management
  • Team working
  • Problem solving
  • Communication