Political Economy

In this course we will study the interaction between political and economic forces to understand how they shape our society. We will explore a variety of topics including political business cycles, partisanship in economic policies, voting and political decisions in practice, the origins and effects of political polarization, political instability and economic growth, the rise of populism, and the political impact of immigration. Emphasis will be given to empirical research in political economy. Experience with statistical analysis is strongly encouraged. (ECON 0111 and ECON 0250 or IPEC 0240 required; ECON 0211 strongly recommended) 3 hrs. lect.