what is a politcal economy course like

by Ethyl Lebsack 10 min read

The major in Political Economy exposes students to the rich intersection between economics and politics. Students study the social, political, and economic factors that affect and are affected by systems of production, exchange, and distribution, as well as the mix of values reflected in them.

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What are the theories of Political Economy?

In Theories of Political Economy, first published in 1992, James A. Caporaso and David P. Levine explore some of the more important frameworks for understanding the relationship between politics and economics, including the classical, Marxian, Keynesian, neoclassical, state-centred, power-centred, and justice-centred approaches.

What are the principles of Political Economy?

The Principles are tedious at times, but provide a generally illuminating account of the ways nineteenth-century citizens reconciled themselves to an increasingly quantified world. Mill engages usefully with most major economic theories of his time, including inheritance rights, speculation, taxation, and the well-being of the working class.

Why study Political Economy?

Political economy is the study of how politics affects the economy and how the economy in turn shapes politics. Training in political economy can help students understand how societies work; a useful skill whether they seek to become better policy analysts or more effective social reformers ( Frieden 2020 ). Topics in political economy include ...

What are the characteristics of a political economy?

Key Takeaways

  • The field of political economy is the study of how economic theories such as capitalism or communism play out in the real world.
  • Those who study political economy seek to understand how history, culture, and customs impact an economic system.
  • Global political economy studies how political forces shape global economic interactions.

What do you study in political economy?

Political economy is the study of how politics affects the economy and how the economy in turn shapes politics. Training in political economy can help students understand how societies work; a useful skill whether they seek to become better policy analysts or more effective social reformers (Frieden 2020).

What jobs can you get with a political economics degree?

Example job titles of graduates with a bachelor's degree in philosophy, politics and economics:Junior risk analyst.Office assistant.Support consultant.Economic research analyst.Compliance coordinator.Project manager.

Does political economy have math?

You should also ensure that your math coursework is sufficient in your first year. MATH 130 (Calculus I) or the equivalent is a prerequisite for the POEC methodology requirement (POEC 253 or ECON 255). You might also consider taking STAT 161 or STAT 201 early on, as that would give you the option of taking ECON 255.

How much do political economists make?

Political/Economic Analyst SalariesJob TitleSalaryUnited States Federal Government Political/Economic Analyst salaries - 1 salaries reported$125,848/yrFormosan Association for Public Affairs Political/Economic Analyst salaries - 1 salaries reported$63,169/yr4 more rows•Dec 13, 2021

What is political economy?

Political economy is a social science that studies production, trade, and their relationship with the law and the government. It is the study of how economic theories affect different socio-economic systems such as socialism. Socialism vs. Capitalism In the study of economics, socialism vs. capitalism represent opposing schools of thought, ...

What is international political economy?

International political economy study, also known as global political economy, analyzes the relationship between economics and international relations. It uses ideas from economics, sociology, and political science. International political economy focuses on how states and institutions use global economic ...

What is political economy influenced by?

The study of political economy is influenced by game theory, Game Theory Game theory is a mathematical framework developed to address problems with conflicting or cooperating parties who are able to make rational decisions.The.

What are the three ideologies of economics?

Political Economy Theory. The modern economist’s theories are split into three ideologies, namely: 1. Liberalism. The liberal ideology stems from the concept of labor and exchange and the use of land, labor, and capital. Capital Capital is anything that increases one’s ability to generate value.

What is the belief that the state possesses all the power and that individuals should work to make use of the economic benefits

Economic nationalism. This is the belief that the state possesses all the power and that individuals should work to make use of the economic benefits. The ideology states that the government should control all resources and that individuals are ignorant and cannot create a cohesive society without a strong state.

What is capital in economics?

Capital Capital is anything that increases one’s ability to generate value. It can be used to increase value across a wide range of categories, such as financial, social, physical, intellectual, etc. In business and economics, the two most common types of capital are financial and human. to produce durable goods.

What do people in government do?

Individuals in government tend to promote their own economic and political interests that will help them retain power. People outside the government are often more concerned with the outcome of the economic policies implemented. 2. Ideas.

What is political economy?

Political economy is a branch of social science that studies the relationship that forms between a nation's population and its government when public policy is enacted. It is, therefore, the result of the interaction between politics and the economy and is the basis of the social science discipline. 1 .

What are the characteristics of a political economy?

Some of the characteristics or themes of a political economy include the distribution of wealth, how goods and services are produced, who owns property and other resources, who profits from production, supply and demand, and how public policy and government interaction impact society.

What type of economy promotes the idea that the production and distribution of goods and wealth are maintained and regulated by society

As mentioned above, there are several notable types of political economies: Socialism: This type of political economy promotes the idea that the production and distribution of goods and wealth are maintained and regulated by society, rather than a particular group of people.

Why do political economists study?

Research by political economists is conducted in order to determine how public policy influences behavior, productivity, and trade.

Why is socialism important?

Socialism aims to bridge the gap between rich and power, where one or more individuals don't have the majority of power and wealth. 2 .

What is the theory of capitalism?

Put simply, the idea behind capitalism is that private individuals and other actors are driven by their own interests— they control production and distribution, set prices, and create supply and demand. 3 .

What is international political economy?

The international political economy is ultimately concerned with how political forces like states, individual actors, and institutions global economic interactions.

What is political economy of migration?

Political Economy of Migration and Im/mobilities. Instructor: Deniz Duruiz. It has been nearly three decades since globalization was first lauded as a transition from a protectionist nation-state-based rule to a transnational interconnectedness marked by a free flow of services, commodities, people, and ideas.

What is the conceptualisation of work?

The conceptualisation of ‘work’ is central to questions of economic and social justice and to the fate of public policies, social welfare and public health, particularly in a changing economy characterised by processes of globalisation, digitalisation, economic integration and financialisation.

What is political economy?

Political economy is the study of trade, production, and the law or customs of different governing bodies surrounding these topics. It originated in the study of moral philosophy and how states maximize and share resources and encourage economic growth.

Learn political economy with edX

The edX platform offers access to quality education from the convenience of home. Students learn with a global cohort of peers and complete coursework on their own time. Courses are developed by leaders in the field of economics and are free to explore for personal growth.

Political economy courses and certificates

Students can begin with MITx's Political Economy and Economic Development. The course introduces fundamental concepts in the field as well as significant history and key players. Learners will apply key theories to coursework and look at what's in play for developing economies, as well as learn data analysis in R.

Explore the political economy

From special interest groups to economic theories of the future, the political economy field offers a close look at how government policies influence economic outcomes. With new fields like econometrics and data science, we're a long way from the early 18th to 19th century understanding of economic factors.

What is economic liberalism?

Economic liberalism holds that society is better off if people enjoy economic freedom. Its critics point to what they believe this position ignores or what it wrongly assumes, and hence, how it would make bad policy. This course explores the relationship between politics and economics by surveying influential works of political economy. Its first part examines major thinkers in relation to the historical development of capitalism in Western Europe and the United States: the classical liberalism of Adam Smith, Karl Marx's revolutionary socialism, and the reformist ideas of John Maynard Keynes. The second part considers mid-20th-century writers who revise and critique economic liberalism from a variety of perspectives, including Friedrich Hayek, Milton Friedman, Ronald Coase, Arthur Okun, and Albert O. Hirschman. The third part surveys significant recent contributions relevant to the themes of the course, with applications to current public policy issues, including topics such as: power relations and autonomy in the workplace; asymmetric information and social insurance; economic inequality and distributive justice; equality of opportunity; the economics of health care; positional goods and the moral foundations of capitalism; economic nationalism and new trade theory; behavioral economics; climate change and intergenerational equity; finance and financial crises; and rent-seeking. The combination of the historical focus of the early part of the course with discussion of modern policy issues and debates in the latter part of the course permits you to appreciate the ongoing dialogue between classical and contemporary views of political economy. [ more ]

What is POEC 250?

This course examines contemporary problems in political economy at and across diverse spatial scales. Using both Economics and Political Science methods of analysis, students will study the way societies respond to the myriad risks facing its citizens. The goal of this course is both to build upon theoretical debates encountered in POEC 250 as well as to prepare students for the public policy analysis they will do in POEC 402. [ more ]

How has modern life become less risky?

Modern life has, in some ways, become less risky. You are unlikely to be trampled by a mammoth. But social risk has not disappeared--you could lose your job, get into an accident, or find yourself plunged somehow into poverty. Most countries around the world have built elaborate institutions to ensure citizens' welfare by protecting some people from some risks, but not all people and not all risks. Moreover, these institutions vary considerably both over time and between countries. This course examines those institutions. Our goal is to explain how and why welfare states vary and why there is so much inequality in the distribution of risk. We will do so by investigating the different kinds of institutions that mediate risks throughout the lifecycle, from parental leave to old age pensions, and by comparing these institutions between different countries. While focusing primarily on the welfare states of Western Europe, we will also examine how the politics of social risk unfold around the world, extending our investigation to Africa, Asia, and Latin America. We will conclude by reflecting on what lessons the welfare state offers for managing this century's biggest social risk: climate change. [ more ]

What is political economy?

Political economy is fundamentally about how we organise our lives and provide for our basic (and more complex) needs. It makes a practical difference in people’s lives.

Why is political economy important?

Political Economy gives you the tools to understand the issues facing the world and allows you to focus on – and break down – those issues into their important components . It is one of the best things you can do for your analytical skills and knowledge. — Annie, Honours student.

What is the definition of economy?

Political economist Frank Stilwell defines the economy as: “the means whereby goods and services are produced, exchanged, and distributed among the members of society. Incomes and wealth are generated through these processes of production, exchange, and distribution”.

What is PE in economics?

PE teaches pluralism of approaches as opposed to Economics & Business which teaches THE economic truth. To learn about inequalities, the place of financial markets, the advantages and disadvantages of free trade, globalisation, and economic development, mainstream economics is not enough.

Who developed the Keynesian Revolution?

You’ll study the classical political economy of Adam Smith and David Ricardo, the radical critique of capitalism developed by Karl Marx, the dominant neoclassical school, the ‘Keynesian revolution’, and the analysis of power and institutions associated with economists like Thorstein Veblen and J.K. Galbraith.

What is political science?

A political science major will examine the nature of power and governments while building skills in analysis, research and more. Students who keep up with current events and have a penchant for debate might be interested in the major. With a degree in political science, you’ll be well-equipped to understand the forces that guide political processes.

What degree do you need to be a political science major?

Some programs also require or encourage students to enroll in a statistics course. Political science departments may offer Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degree options, with the latter likely involving more quantitative coursework.

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Components of Political Economy

Political Economy Behavior

  • Political economists are very interested in gains and losses incurred with the implementation of a certain policy. It gives them an idea as to which groups support the policy and which groups don’t. They also examine how individuals increase their utility by participating in political activity. Capital and labor are used to influence political proc...
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Interests

  • They include the interest of individuals and groups who are able to use their power to influence policy. Individuals in government tend to promote their own economic and political interests that will help them retain power. People outside the government are often more concerned with the outcome of the economic policies implemented.
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Institutions

  • There are political rules that include the Constitution and define how leaders are chosen and how a new policy can be implemented. Institutions help structure incentives facing individuals and groups within the economy.
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Related Readings

  • Thank you for reading CFI’s guide to Political Economy. To keep learning and advancing your career, the following CFI resources will be helpful: 1. Globalization 2. Legal Monopoly 3. Laissez-faire 4. Reaganomics
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What Is A Political Economy?

Understanding Political Economy

History and Development of Political Economy

Political Economy in Academia

Modern Applications of Political Economy

Political Economy FAQs

  • What does political economy mean?
    The term political economy refers to a branch of social sciences that focuses on relationships between individuals, governments, and public policy. It is also used to describe the policies set by governments that affect their nations' economies.
  • What is the primary concern of political economy?
    The main concern of political economy is to determine the relationship between governments and individuals, and how public policy affects society. This is done through the study of sociology, politics, and economics.
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