EC9C2: Topics in Empirical Political Economy
Principal Aims
EC9C2-12 Topics in Empirical Political Economy
Principal Learning Outcomes
Have a strategic overview and a detailed understanding of complex issues in advanced empirical political economy
Develop a critical knowledge of recent research in some key areas of empirical political economy
Enable students to autonomously pursue their own research agenda in the forefront of the empirical political economy field.
Syllabus
The core topics in the syllabus will typically include:
Topic 1: Voting Models and Empirical Testing
Background. Median Voter Theorem, Downsian Model, Probabilistic voting models, Citizen Candidate Model. Empirical tests: (i) testing predictions, Downsian Model vs Citizen Candidate Model; (ii) Testing assumptions: rationality, retrospective voting, gender differences in voting.
Topic 2: Political Agency and Electoral Control
Introduction, Benchmark model of political agency, Empirical evidence , Extended model accounting for clientelism and targeted policies , Extended model accounting for voters’ information.
Topic 3: Politics and the Media
Introduction: Information and mass media, Media capture and media bias.Determinants of Media Bias. Empirical evidence of supply-driven bias. Does slanted media affect voting?
Topic 4: Political Persuasion
Propaganda. Fake News and Fact Checking. Political effects of the interenet and social media.
Topic 5: Populism
Introduction. Definitions. Party Classifications. Historical Precedents and Recent Trends. Economic Origins; Short-Term, Medium-Term. Non-Economic Origins. Impact of Populism
Topic 6: Cultural Economics
Overview. Interaction between Culture and Institutions. Effects of Trust and Social Capital on Compliance. Political Economy of Pandemics.
Topic 7: Supply Side Political Economy
Who becomes a politician? Political Selection and Quality of Politicians.
Context
- Optional Module
- L1PL - Year 2
- Pre or Co-requisites
- Satisfactory completion of MRes year 1
Assessment
- Assessment Method
- Coursework (100%)
- Coursework Details
- Assessment 1 (50%) , Assessment 2 (50%)
- Exam Timing
- N/A