74638 - Globalization, States and Markets

Learning outcomes

The course explores changes in the international economy and their effects on domestic politics and economics. At the end of the course, students will be able to analyze issues in political economy such as: - Is globalization really a new phenomenon? - Is it irreversible? - What are the effects on wages, inequality, social safety nets, production, innovation and competition? - How does globalization affect democracy? - Are markets beyond the control of political institutions?

Course contents

 

Globalization, states and markets

This course explores changes in the international economy and their effects on domestic politics and economy. Some of the key issues that will be explored include:

• Is globalization really a new phenomenon?
• Is it irreversible?
• What are the effects on wages and inequality, on social safety nets, on production, and innovation?
• How does globalization affect democracy?

1. 28-29 September

Globalization: A New Economic Order? The Historical Antecedents.

Domestic and International Economies in the 19th Century

Polanyi, Karl. The Great Transformation. Boston, MA: Beacon Press, 2001, chapters 3-6, 12, and 21.

Berger, S. Puzzles from the first globalization, in M.Kahler and D. Lake eds. Politics in the new hard times, Cornell University Press, 2013, pp. 150-167.

Eichengreen, Barry J. Golden Fetters: The Gold Standard and The Great Depression, 1919-1939. New York, NY: Oxford University Press, 1992, chapters 1-3.

Briggs, A. The welfare State in Historical Perspective, in C. Pierson, F., Castles and I.K.Naumann eds.The welfare state reader, Polity Press, 2014

2. 5-6 October

Globalization before 1915 : the debate

Hirst, P., Thompson, G. and S. Bromley, eds Globalization in Question. Malden, MA: Polity Press, 2009,3rd ed. chapters 1-2.

Eichengreen, Barry J. et al. Is Globalization Today Really Different than Globalization 100 years ago? NBER Working Paper No. 7195, 1999.

3. 19-20 October

Spatial and sectoral interpretations

Frieden, Jeffery. Invested Interests: The Politics of National Economic Policies in a World of Global Finance. International Organization, 45, 1991, pp. 425-442.

Mann.M. Has globalization ended the rise and rise of the nation-state? Review of International Political Economy, 4, 1997.

4 26-27 October

Comparisons: methods and varieties of capitalism I. Comparing nations and evidence.

Sartori, G. Compare Why and How. Comparing, miscomparing and the comparative method, in Dogan,M. K e Kazancigil, A. (eds.) 1994, Comparing nations: concepts, strategies and substance, Oxford, Basil Blackwell (also in Journal of theoretical politics, 1991).

Atkinson, A. (2000)The economic consequences of rolling back the welfare state, MIT Press, chps.1,2.

5. 2-3 November

Comparisons: methods and varieties of capitalism II. Comparing varieties of capitalism

Hall, P. and Soskice, D. (eds.) Introduction, Varieties of Capitalism. The institutional foundations of comparative advantage. Oxford, Oxford University Press, 2001, pp. 1-70.

Streeck, W. and Thelen, K. Institutional Change in Advanced Political Economies, in B. Hanké, (ed.) 2009, Debating varieties of capitalism. A Reader. Chp. 3.

R. Westra, D. Badeen, and R.Albritton eds.The future of capitalism after the financial crisis : the varieties of capitalism debate in the age of austerity London ; New York : Routledge, 2015

6. 9-10 November

Revision and Mid-term exam

7. 16-17 November

Creating the global economy: trade and politics

Gourevitch, P. Politics in Hard Times. Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press, 1986, chps 1-4.

Pontusson, J. and D. Raess, How (and Why) Is This Time Different? The Politics of Economic Crisis in Western Europe and the United States, Annual Review of Political Science, 15, pp. 13-33, 2012.

Kahler, M. and Lake, D.A. (eds.), Politics in the New Hard Times, The Great Recession in Comparative Perspective, Cornell University Press, 2013, Introduction.

8. 23-24 November

The Great Recession and the welfare state

Armingeon. K. Breaking with the Past? Why the Global Financial Crisis led to Austerity Policies but not to Modernization of the Welfare State, in Pierson, C. Castles, F. and I.K. Naumann, The welfare state reader, Polity Press, 2014

Gourevitch, P.A. Yet More Hard Times? Reflections on the Great Recession in the Frame of Earlier Hard Times, in Kahler, M. and Lake, D.A. (eds.), Politics in the New Hard Times, The Great Recession in Comparative Perspective, Cornell University Press, 2013, Afterword.

Hall, P. The political origins of our economic discontents. Contemporary Adjustment Problems in Historical Perspective, in Kahler, M. and Lake, D.A. (eds.), Politics in the New Hard Times, The Great Recession in Comparative Perspective, Cornell University Press, 2013, chp 5.

Iversen, T. and D. Soskice, Modern Capitalism and the Advanced Nation State: Understanding the Causes of the Crisis, in B. Hanké et al.(ed.) 2009, Beyond varieties of capitalism. Chp. 2.

9-10. 30 November-1 December and 7 December

Students’ presentations

Does Globalization Destroy the Power of the State? Are Reforms and Redistribution Still Possible? Does Globalization Increase Unemployment and Inequality?

* All students should read: Lijphart, A. Patterns of democracy. Government forms and performance in thirty-six countries. Yale University Press, New Haven 3° ed. 2012 chps 1-2.

Bourguignon, F. Globalization and the Forces behind the Rise in Inequality, in Bourguignon, F. The Globalization of Inequality, Princeton University Press, 2015, pp. 75-116.

Rodrik, D. Has Globalization Gone Too Far? Washington, DC: Institute for International Economics, 1997.

Swank, D. Globalization, the welfare state and Inequality, in Pierson, C. Castles, F. and I.K.Naumann eds. The Welfare State reader, Polity Press, 2014 3rd ed.

Atkinson, A.B. Inequality. What can be done? chp 10 Globalisation prevents action? Harvard, Harvard University Press, 2015

Scharpf, F. Negative Integration: States and the Loss of Boundary Control, in Castles, F. and C. Pierson, eds.The welfare state reader, Polity Press, 2000

Estevez-Abe, M. T. Iversen, D. Soskice, Social Protection and the Formation of Skills: A Reinterpretation of the Welfare State, in Hall, P. and Soskice, D. (eds.). Varieties of Capitalism. The institutional foundations of comparative advantage, Oxford, Oxford University Press, 2001, pp. 145-183.

Mares, I. Firms and the Welfare State: When, Why and How Does Social Policy Matter to Employers? In Hall, P. and D. Soskice (eds). Varieties of Capitalism. The institutional foundations of comparative advantage. Oxford, Oxford University Press, 2001, p. 184-212.

Readings/Bibliography

 

 

 

 

Teaching methods

Lectures are interactive. Students are expected to participate in the discussions and in the question-answer sessions. Each week students should prepare 1/2 questions for discussion.

Students present papers previously agreed with the lecturer.

Assessment methods

Participation 25%

Mid-term exam 50%
Final exam 25%
Attendance is compulsory (70%)

Office hours

See the website of Rosa Mulè