Business-State Relations in the Advanced Industrial Countries

This seminar provides an introduction to debates in comparative political economy, focusing on the creation, evolution and reform of market institutions. Readings emphasize the affluent democracies, it covers debates that have direct implications for other regions, which be explored by interested students through related readings. We begin by surveying the classic works in political economy, including those of Smith, Marx, Polanyi, and Gerschenkron. We then examine the central historical challenges precipitated by economic growth over the last two centuries. Topics include the Great Depression, postwar reconstruction, inflation, corporate governance, social protection, economic development, post-socialist transformation, and the globalization of competition.