This course looks at how economic outcomes can be affected by politics and the institutional structure underlying it. Topics such as hetrogeneity of interests, electoral competition, partisan politics, fiscal and monetary policy, institutional design, political business cycles, politics and growth are addressed. Students are expected to have a firm grasp of microeconomic and macroeconomic concepts, at least at the advanced undergraduate level.

A student successfully completing this course should be able to:
• Understand key issues and questions in political economy.
• Develop some idea about how to think about and analyze situations where political and economic outcomes are intertwined.
• Understand the connection between assumptions made and the conclusions drawn.
• Appreciate the shortcomings of models and to provide alternative improvements.
• Construct logical arguments and provide politico-economic explanations consistent with the  workings of the model used.

Problem sets (40%) plus a final examination (60%).

3 contact hours per week plus private study time.

At least an average of 65% (or equivalent) in the final two years of an Australian undergraduate degree with introductory level courses in Economics, Statistics and Econometrics.

Please see Course Website