Political Economy I

This first course in political economy provides theoretical and empirical coverage of the application of economic analysis to political behavior and institutions. This course is designed for students wishing to specialize in political economy but may also be useful for students specializing in related areas, such as development economics and macroeconomics. After starting with a basic overview of candidates and voters, we then turn to specific topics in the areas of electoral systems, legislatures and legislative bargaining, the role of the media, local public finance, and fiscal federalism.