GOVT220 - American Political Economy

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Academic Year 2005/2006

American Political Economy
GOVT 220 SP

Political economy addresses a wide range of issues, including the ways in which public policies and institutions shape economic performance and the distribution of income and economic power; the impact of public policies on the evolution of economic institutions and relationships over time; and the ways in which economic performance impinges upon governmental decision making and political stability. This course examines the American political economy. We are thus concerned with examining the above-mentioned issues to better understand how patterns of state-economy relations have changed over the course of the past century and the ways in which this evolutionary process has affected and reflected the development and expansion of the American state. A special emphasis will be placed on economic globalization in the contemporary period. We will explore a number of questions, including: How does the contemporary wave of corporate restructuring and the emergence of global production networks impact on the income and job security of workers in the United States? How can one reconcile the heightened insecurity faced by workers with recent welfare reform efforts and the lack of a coherent fiscal policy? How does global production in a free trade regime impact on environmental quality and the efficacy of existing environmental regulations? Can we adjust existing policies and institutions to better manage the tensions inherent in the contemporary political economy?

MAJOR READINGS

Primary readings in the field.

EXAMINATIONS AND ASSIGNMENTS

Exam and paper.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS and/or COMMENTS

Although there is no prerequisite for this course, students will find previous exposure to courses in American politics, economics, and quantitative methods an asset. Students who wish to be eligible to register for the course during Drop/Add should add themselves to the enrollment request system during on-line registration. Enrollment request preference rankings will be one factor the professor will consider in making Drop/Add period registration decisions.

COURSE FORMAT: Lecture

REGISTRATION INFORMATION

Level: UGRD Credit: 1 Gen Ed Area Dept: NONE Grading Mode: Graded

Prerequisites: NONE

SECTION 01

Instructor(s): Eisner,Marc A.

Times: .M.W.F. 09:00AM-09:50AM; Location: PAC001;

Reserved Seats: (Total Limit: 25)

SR. major: 9 Jr. major: 9

SR. non-major: 2 Jr. non-major: 2 SO: 3 FR: X

Special Attributes:

Curricular Renewal: Quantitative Reasoning

Links to Web Resources For This Course.

Last Updated on MAR-30-2006