EU443      Half Unit
European Models of Capitalism

This information is for the 2016/17 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, Ideologies and Identities, MSc in European Studies: Ideas, Ideologies and Identities (LSE and Sciences Po), MSc in Global Politics, MSc in Global Politics, MSc in Human Resources and Organisations (International Employment Relations and Human Resource Management), MSc in Management, MSc in Management (CEMS MIM), MSc in Management (MiM Exchange), 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 three 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 the final part of the course, we will examine policy areas from a comparative capitalism perspective.

Teaching

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

Students on this course will have a reading week in Week 6, in line with departmental policy.

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 LT.

Student performance results

(2012/13 - 2014/15 combined)

Classification % of students
Distinction 31.2
Merit 58.7
Pass 10.1
Fail 0

Key facts

Department: European Institute

Total students 2015/16: 48

Average class size 2015/16: 16

Controlled access 2015/16: No

Value: Half Unit

Guidelines for interpreting course guide information

Personal development skills

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