Political Economy Courses
POLECON 85 What Is Political Economy and How Should We Do It?
Prof. Richard Ashcroft
M, W, F 4:00 pm – 4:59 pm
Class #: 34257
3 units
POLECON C160 Origins of Capitalism
Prof. Trevor Jackson
Tu,Th 11:00 am – 12:29 pm
Class #: 33872
4 units
This is a survey of the economic and social origins and development of the modern economy, beginning in early modern Europe and extending until the construction of the global capitalist system in the late nineteenth century. It attends to scholarly disputes over the origins of the distinctive economic features of capitalism: private property, the international monetary system, free wage labor and slavery, commodification and cultures of consumption, credit and banking, crises and inequality, as well as industrialization and economic growth. This course is a companion to the ideas studied in History 159B and is intended to lead in to the material covered in History 160. No prior quantitative methods training is required, or assumed.
POLECON 156 Silicon Valley and the Global Economy
Prof. Crystal Chang
Tu,Th 11:00 am – 12:29 pm
Class #: 24481
4 units
This course investigates the historical origins and institutional ecosystem of Silicon Valley by identifying key factors in the development of Silicon Valley, as well as political circumstances and cultural conditions that have sustained its important role in the global economy. Questions like these will be addressed: Will Silicon Valley and artificial intelligence render workers irrelevant? Have the region’s tech giants like Google, Apple and Facebook become the monopolists of the new Gilded Age, and should they be broken up? Has Silicon Valley peaked? Is the “Silicon Valley model” unique or can it be replicated elsewhere? Lectures are discussion-driven, interactive, and will be complemented by films, debate, and group work.
POLECON 107 Intermediate Macroeconomic Theory
Prof. Mario Muzzi
Tu,Th 8:00 am – 9:29 am
Class #: 23895
4 units
This course is designed as a comprehensive overview of intermediate macroeconomic theory focusing on economic growth and international economics. It covers a number of topics including history of economic growth, industrial revolution, post-industrial revolution divergence, flexible-price and sticky-price macroeconomics, and macroeconomic policy. Course is structured for majors in Political Economy and other non-economic social science majors.
POLECON 100 Classical Theories of Political Economy
Prof. Clare Talwalker
Tu,Th 2:00 pm – 3:29 pm
Class # 22703
4 units
One-semester lecture course offered each semester. In-depth analysis of the classical political economy literature, including such authors as Locke, Smith, Marx, Mills, and Weber to Veblen and Polanyi. Strong emphasis is placed on providing appropriate background for understanding the evolution of the literature that has emanated from the various social science disciplines which forms the basis of modern political economy.
POLECON 101 Contemporary Theories of Political Economy
Prof. Khalid Kadir
Tu,Th 2:00 pm – 3:29 pm
Class #: 22696
4 units
This course is designed to introduce students to modern theoretical works of central intellectual debates on 20th century international political economy. The course explores alternative explanations for inequality in economic development among nations and economic declines of of the dominate powers. It will also examine tensions between the increasing “globalization” of that economy and continued fragmentation of the international political system in nation-states.
POLECON H195 001 Honors Seminar
Prof. Tiffany Page
Th 11:00 am – 1:59 pm
Class #: 14318
4 units
Honors students are required to research and write a thesis based on the prospectus developed in International and Area Studies 102. The thesis work is reviewed by the honors instructor and a second reader to be selected based on the thesis topic. Weekly progress reports required.
International Area Studies Courses
IAS C118 Introductory Applied Econometrics
Prof. Jeremy R Magruder
M, W, F 12:00 pm – 12:59 pm
Class #: 21684
4 units
Formulation of a research hypothesis and definition of an empirical strategy. Regression analysis with cross-sectional and time-series data; econometric methods for the analysis of qualitative information; hypothesis testing. The techniques of statistical and econometric analysis are developed through applications to a set of case studies and real data in the fields of environmental, resource, and international development economics. Students learn the use of a statistical software for economic data analysis.
IAS C176 Climate Change Economics
Prof. David Anthoff
M, W, F 10:00 am – 10:59 am
Class #: 23110
4 units
This course is a self-contained introduction to the economics of climate change. Climate change is caused by a large variety of economic activities, and many of its impacts will have economic consequences. Economists have studied climate change for more than two decades, and economic arguments are often powerful in policy decisions. The course will familiarize students with these arguments and equip them with the tools to participate in discussions of climate change policy through an economic lens.