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Political Economy of Institutions and Development

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Political Economy of Institutions and Development

Instructor: Richard Thomas Griffiths

33,918 already enrolled

10 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

391 reviews

Beginner level

No prior experience required

Flexible schedule

2 weeks at 10 hours a week

Learn at your own pace

99%

Most learners liked this course

10 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

391 reviews

Beginner level

No prior experience required

Flexible schedule

2 weeks at 10 hours a week

Learn at your own pace

99%

Most learners liked this course

Skills you'll gain

Details to know

Shareable certificate

Add to your LinkedIn profile

Assessments

9 assignments¹

AI Graded see disclaimer

Taught in English

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There are 10 modules in this course

This course is part of the SDG initiative <http://www.sdginitiative.org/> addressing the UN Sustainable Development Goals, specifically for the following SDGs [1, 8, 10 and 16]. We hope you will join in our efforts to reach the SDG’s in small but measurable and actionable ways, cooperating with Development Done Differently. Expand your impact. You can create a better world.

In today’s world, politics and economics are interconnected, but what is the nature of this connectivity? What are the power relationships that shape the world economy today and create new challenges for international institutions facing globalization? What makes some countries wealthier than others? Do we face cultural diversity or fragmentation? Does the type of governance effect economic development and social change or is it the other way around? How do we measure it and how trustworthy is the data? These issues and many more will be examined in this course along with a wide library of sources and a biting criticism.

Welcome to this course! Here we present the instructor and his team, what we will do in the upcoming modules, and what is exactly Political Economy. You play an important role in this module. We would also like to hear who you are and what are your expectations from this course. Don't forget to read before that our academic standards and tips and tricks that will help you succeed in this course. Good luck!

What's included

4 videos5 readings2 discussion prompts

4 videos Total 22 minutes

Trailer 2 minutes
Introduction to Political Economy 6 minutes
The Evolution of Political Economy 7 minutes
International Political Economy 7 minutes

5 readings Total 55 minutes

Welcome to Leiden University 5 minutes
Meet the instructor & his team 5 minutes
Community Guidelines & Academic Toolkit 10 minutes
Tips for studying online 5 minutes
Reading for International Political Economy 30 minutes

2 discussion prompts Total 60 minutes

Introduce yourself 30 minutes
Look at your own area or country through the lens of international political economy 30 minutes

Basic Data. Reviews the basic data of population, output and development used to make international comparisons between countries.

What's included

11 videos1 reading1 assignment2 discussion prompts

11 videos Total 59 minutes

Mapping the World 6 minutes
Visualization: World Maps 4 minutes
Political Economy and Data 6 minutes
Population 7 minutes
Visualization: World Map of Population 3 minutes
Output (GDP current values) 7 minutes
Visualization: World Map of GDP (Current Values) 3 minutes
Output (GDP PPP) 8 minutes
Visualization: World Map of GDP PPP 3 minutes
Poverty 8 minutes
Visualization: World Map of Human Development Index 3 minutes

1 reading Total 30 minutes

Reading for Data in Political Economy 30 minutes

1 assignment Total 30 minutes

Data used in Political Economy 30 minutes

2 discussion prompts Total 30 minutes

Do you know an interesting map? 10 minutes
How does your area or country compare? 20 minutes

Trust. Argues for the centrality of trust in explanations of differences in wealth and poverty between nations but highlights difficulties in measuring it and in explaining the direct of causality.

What's included

6 videos1 reading1 assignment1 discussion prompt

6 videos Total 44 minutes

Trust and Social Capital 7 minutes
Measuring Trust 9 minutes
Trust results and Criticism 9 minutes
Visualization: World Map of Trust 3 minutes
Causes and Consequences 8 minutes
Correlation and Regression 8 minutes

1 reading Total 30 minutes

Reading for Trust 30 minutes

1 assignment Total 30 minutes

Trust 30 minutes

1 discussion prompt Total 45 minutes

How does trust measure in your area or country? 45 minutes

Inequality and Fragmentation. Examines how society can be fragmented along lines of religion, language, ethnicity and income

What's included

9 videos1 reading1 assignment1 discussion prompt

9 videos Total 52 minutes

Ethnic Fragmentation 9 minutes
Visualization: World Map of Ethnic Fragmentation 2 minutes
Linguistic Fragmentation 8 minutes
Visualization: World Map of Linguistic Diversity 3 minutes
Religious Fragmentation 7 minutes
Visualization: World Map of Religious Diversity 2 minutes
Income and Wealth Inequality 9 minutes
Visualization: World Map of Income Inequality 4 minutes
Inequality, Fragmentation and Trust 8 minutes

1 reading Total 30 minutes

Society and Fragmentation 30 minutes

1 assignment Total 30 minutes

Society and Fragmentation 30 minutes

1 discussion prompt Total 30 minutes

Is your area or country fragmented in any way? 30 minutes

Governance. Argues that good governance provides a transparent and stable environment for risk assessment and decision-making and contributes to welfare and growth. The question is how to get it.

What's included

8 videos1 reading1 assignment1 discussion prompt

8 videos Total 45 minutes

Good Governance 8 minutes
Measuring Governance 7 minutes
Democracy and Growth 8 minutes
Visualization: World Map of Democracy 3 minutes
Rule of Law and Growth 6 minutes
Visualization: World Map of Rule of Law 3 minutes
Corruption and Growth 9 minutes
Visualization: World Map of Corruption 2 minutes

1 reading Total 30 minutes

Reading for Governance 30 minutes

1 assignment Total 30 minutes

Governance 30 minutes

1 discussion prompt Total 30 minutes

How is the governance where you live? 30 minutes

Development Assistance. Assesses the motivations for development assistance but raises doubts about the extent to which it can overcome local issues.

What's included

4 videos1 reading1 assignment1 discussion prompt

4 videos Total 28 minutes

State Failure 7 minutes
Who Gives Foreign Aid, to Whom, and Why 6 minutes
The Real Aid Givers 7 minutes
Aid Effectiveness 7 minutes

1 reading Total 30 minutes

Reading for Economic Development 30 minutes

1 assignment Total 30 minutes

Economic Development 30 minutes

1 discussion prompt Total 30 minutes

Do you give money to foreign charities? 30 minutes

Let us now focus on the international context of the elements we've seen so far. Globalisation - what is it really? What are the benefits it is supposed to confer and what is the role, if any, left for national governments in today's world?

What's included

8 videos1 reading1 assignment1 discussion prompt

8 videos Total 53 minutes

Globalisation. The Debate 8 minutes
World map of economic globalisation 4 minutes
Trade 7 minutes
World map of trade 6 minutes
Foreign Direct Investment 7 minutes
FDI modules 4 minutes
Financial Markets 7 minutes
The Globalised World Economy 11 minutes

1 reading Total 10 minutes

Globalisation Discourse 10 minutes

1 assignment Total 30 minutes

Globalisation 30 minutes

1 discussion prompt Total 10 minutes

Do you notice globalisation in your culture? 10 minutes

International organization. What role do they play in the world economy?

What's included

4 videos1 reading1 assignment1 discussion prompt

Even though they do not belong to any establishment or an institution, certain non- governmental institutions can have a lot of power and influence. Who are those actors? How much power do they really have? We will dive into these question in this module!

What's included

8 videos2 readings2 assignments1 peer review1 discussion prompt

8 videos Total 61 minutes

Cities 9 minutes
Big Business 8 minutes
Transnational Advocacy Groups 8 minutes
Supra-State Actors 9 minutes
The SDG initiative and your case study 6 minutes
Defining your case study 7 minutes
What effects the sustainability of your project 7 minutes
The form of your assignment 8 minutes

2 readings Total 20 minutes

New Actors 10 minutes
SDG initiative and SDG talk - Learn. Act. Impact. 10 minutes

2 assignments Total 60 minutes

Non - Governmental Organizations 30 minutes
Final Exam 30 minutes

1 peer review Total 60 minutes

Configure your own world 60 minutes

1 discussion prompt Total 10 minutes

Can you think of the challenges that non governmental organizations are facing today 10 minutes

Not for the test - but very good for your general knowledge!

What's included

12 videos

12 videos Total 47 minutes

The Invisible Hand - Adam Smith 4 minutes
Utilitarianism - Jeremy Bentham 3 minutes
Relative Backwardness - Alexander Gerschenkron 4 minutes
Classical Liberalism - Friedrich August von Hayek 4 minutes
Keynesianism - John Maynard Keynes 4 minutes
Critical Political Economy - Robert Cox 4 minutes
The Take Off - Walt W. Rostow 4 minutes
Marxism - Karl Marx 4 minutes
Small States - Peter Katzenstein 4 minutes
World Systems Theory - Immanuel Wallerstein 4 minutes
New Institutional Economics- Ronald Coase 4 minutes
Economic Structuralism- Raúl Prebisch 4 minutes

Instructor

Instructor ratings

(85 ratings)

Richard Thomas Griffiths

Universiteit Leiden

4 Courses 55,795 learners

Offered by

Universiteit Leiden

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Reviewed on Jan 16, 2018

It was really an amazing course. I like Prof Griffith's approach and his diligence. I have learnt a lot and the course helped me to sharpen my understanding about political economy. Thanks a lot.

Reviewed on Aug 17, 2024

The course and the professor is nice and good but the data and information is quite outdated.

Reviewed on Oct 25, 2021

The topics covered were very interesting and applicable to modern problems! It gives you some fundamental understanding to begin pursuing a career covering social issues.

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Frequently asked questions

The book 'Configuring the World. A critical Political Economy approach' (April 2016) was written by Prof. Richard Griffiths and is available through all online bookshops (recommended ebook price is $5,95).

10% revenues will go to Handicap International for whom his daughter works in West Africa.

To access the course materials, assignments and to earn a Certificate, you will need to purchase the Certificate experience when you enroll in a course. You can try a Free Trial instead, or apply for Financial Aid. The course may offer 'Full Course, No Certificate' instead. This option lets you see all course materials, submit required assessments, and get a final grade. This also means that you will not be able to purchase a Certificate experience.

When you purchase a Certificate you get access to all course materials, including graded assignments. Upon completing the course, your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile.