Configuring the World, part 1: Comparative Political Economy: Free Online Course from Coursera

In today’s world, politics and economics are interconnected, but what is the nature of this connectivity? What are the power relationships that shape the world economy today and create new challenges for international institutions facing globalization? What makes some countries wealthier than others? Do we face cultural diversity or fragmentation? Does the type of governance effect economic development and social change or is it the other way around? How do we measure it and how trustworthy is the data? These issues and many more will be examined in this course along with a wide library of sources and a biting criticism.

Syllabus

Introduction into this course
Introduction to this course, the instructor and his team. We would also like to hear from you. In addition we introduce Political Economy. Provides a framework for analysing the interface between choices made in politics and economics and the nature of power in each

Data used in Political Economy
Basic Data. Reviews the basic data of population, output and development used to make international comparisons between countries.

Trust
Trust. Argues for the centrality of trust in explanations of differences in wealth and poverty between nations but highlights difficulties in measuring it and in explaining the direct of causality.

Society and Fragmentation
Inequality and Fragmentation. Examines how society can be fragmented along lines of religion, language, ethnicity and income

Governance
Governance. Argues that good governance provides a transparent and stable environment for risk assessment and decision-making and contributes to welfare and growth. The question is how to get it.

Economic Development
Development Assistance. Assesses the motivations for development assistance but raises doubts about the extent to which it can overcome local issues.

Final
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Configuring the World, part 1: Comparative Political Economy