EC9C2: Empirical and Behavioral Political Economy
Helios Herrera
Module Leader
Mateusz Stalinski
Module Lecturer
Introduction
EC9C2-12 Topics in Empirical Political Economy
Principal Aims
The module aims to develop the level of skills and knowledge of empirical political economy necessary for a career as an academic economist and in all areas where advanced research skills in political economy are required. Specifically, it aims to teach the students to understand, appreciate, and ultimately contribute to, frontier research. It is intended to be comparable to modules taught in the best research universities in the USA and elsewhere in Europe.
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:
Weeks 1-5
Topic 1: Political Persuasion
Propaganda. Political effects of the internet and social media. Fake News and Fact Checking.
Topic 2: Populism
Definitions. Party Classifications. Historical Precedents and Recent Trends. Economic Origins; Short-Term, Medium-Term. Non-Economic Origins. Impacts of Populism
Topic 3: Climate Change Politics
Political economy of environmental policy and protection. Partisan perceptions of climate change.
Weeks 6-10
Topic 4: Election Turnout and Voting Preferences
Determinants of election turnout. Pivotal vs. expressive voting (including empirical strategies to estimate their shares). Voting to tell others. Impacts of election closeness on voter behavior. Turnout and persuasion effects of political advertisement.
Topic 5: Behavioral Political Economy
Political identity and ideology. Politically motivated reasoning. Behavioral effects shaping political behavior (including cognitive dissonance). Moral universalism and political outcomes. Social norms. Social learning vs. social utility. Political polarization, trust, and market outcomes.
Topic 6: Digital Platforms and Political Discourse
The role of digital platforms in shaping polarization trends. Hate crime and xenophobic attitudes. Censorship and self-censorship. Social sanctions and justifying dissent. Online toxicity and hate speech: drivers, consequences, and policy. Online networks (including the impact of homophily).
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