Political economy (2022/2023)

Course code
4S000930
Name of lecturers
Roberto Ricciuti, Emanuele Bracco
Coordinator
Roberto Ricciuti
Number of ECTS credits allocated
5
Academic sector
SECS-P/02 - ECONOMIC POLICY
Language of instruction
Italian
Location
VERONA
Period
Anno accademico 2022/2023 Dottorato di ricerca dal Oct 1, 2022 al Sep 30, 2023.

Lesson timetable

Go to lesson schedule

Learning outcomes

The course aims to expose the students to some topics of current interest in political economy (i.e., state capacity, at electoral and political systems, and accountability).

Syllabus

Module A – 10 hours (Roberto Ricciuti)
This module introduces state capacity a topic of current research in political economy. In particular, it deals with:
1. Development clusters, 2. Fiscal capacity, 3. Legal capacity, 4. Political violence, 5. Development assistance
The main refence is Besley and Persson (2011), Pillars of Prosperity. Princeton University Press.
Module B – 10 hours (Emanuele Bracco)
This module looks at electoral and political systems, and accountability.
• Morelli, M., “Party Formation and Policy Outcomes under Different Electoral Systems,” Review of Economic Studies, 2004.
• Myerson, R., “Theoretical Comparisons of Electoral Systems: 1998 Schumpeter Lecture,” European Economic Review, 1999.
• Lizzeri, A. and N. Persico [2001], “The provision of public goods under alternative electoral incentives”, AER 91, 225-245.
• Rogoff, Kenneth. “Equilibrium Political Budget Cycles.” The American Economic Review, vol. 80, no. 1, 1990, pp. 21–36.
• Persson, Torsten, et al. “Comparative Politics and Public Finance.” Journal of Political Economy, vol. 108, no. 6, 2000, pp. 1121–1161.

Reference books

See the teaching bibliography

Assessment methods and criteria

Essay: it could be either a survey of the literature (4000 words) or (preferably) an empirical application on a relevant economic issue (3000 words).

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