COMPARATIVE POLITICAL ECONOMY

This seminar provides a broad survey of major debates in comparative political economy, focusing on the creation and evolution of market institutions.  The course begins by examining classic works in political economy, including those of Smith, List, Marx, and Polanyi.  In analyzing the significance of institutions in political life, we draw on contending perspectives from history, sociology, and economics as well as political science.  We then proceed through a selective survey of literature on the political economy of Western Europe, Japan, the newly industrializing powers of East Asia and Latin America, the developing world, and the post-socialist economies.