Instructor: Dr. Daniel W. Skubik, PhD JD
Office: J266 /
Voice: 951.343.4288 / Fax: 951.343.4520
Web: http://www.calbaptist.edu/dskubik
E-Mail: dskubik@calbaptist.edu
Political
Economy
POL 395
Tuesdays/Thursdays,
Fall Semester 2007
This
course in political economy explores the relationship between economics and
politics, and provides both a description and assessment of the national and
global economies. This entails an
overview of economic theory, macroeconomics, microeconomics, international
economics and globalization.
A combined socratic-seminar
format will be followed, allowing students to gain confidence in their knowledge
of political economy historical and contemporary context. Thus, by the end of this course,
students should be able to:
1) Discuss the contributions of economic theorists, such as Adam Smith, D. Ricardo, J. M. Keynes, F. A. Hayek, and other prominent scholars in the field of political economy.
2) Explain important macroeconomic concepts, such as inflation, unemployment, federal debt, fiscal and monetary policies.
3) Discuss essential microeconomic concepts, such as free markets, elasticity, marginal rates and taxes, and human capital.
4) Discuss some endogenous and exogenous barriers to economic development and identify possible remedies for each impediment.
5) Identify several factors that have contributed to globalization and discuss some possible reasons for supporting and opposing this phenomenon.
Required Texts
D.W. Drezner, All
Politics is Global: Explaining International Regulatory Regimes (Princeton
University Press, 2007, 0691096414, hardcover)
P. Rivoli, The Travels of a T-Shirt in the Global Economy: An
Economist Examines the Markets, Power, and Politics of World Trade (Wiley,
2006, 0470039205 paperback)
Robin Hahnel, The ABCs of Political Economy: A Modern Approach (Pluto Press, 2002, 0745318576
paperback)
The texts
are readily available, new & used, from web shops such as Amazon.com,
or Barnes & Noble, as well as from the CBU Bookstore.
Other books, handouts
and websites also may be referenced throughout the term, contents of which all
students will be responsible.
Readings & Assignments Schedule
|
Week #1 |
Introduction to course, requirements and
expectations |
|
Week #2 |
Read and Discuss – Hahnel,
ch. 1 |
|
Week #3 |
Read and Discuss – Hahnel,
ch. 2 |
|
Week #4 |
Read and Discuss – Hahnel,
ch. 3 & 4 |
|
Week #5 |
Read and Discuss – Hahnel,
ch. 5 & 6 |
|
Week #6 |
Read and Discuss – Hahnel,
ch. 7 & 8 |
|
Week #7 |
Read and Discuss – Hahnel,
ch. 9 & Legatum Prosperity
Index (pdf file on Bb) |
|
Week #8 |
MidTerm Examination
Week |
|
Week #9 |
Read and Discuss – Drezner,
ch. 1 |
|
Week #10 |
Read and Discuss – Drezner,
ch. 2 |
|
Week #11 |
Read and Discuss – Drezner,
ch. 3 |
|
Week #12 |
Read and Discuss – Drezner, ch. 5, Int’l Finance (Quiz 5) |
|
Week #13 |
Presentations |
|
Week #14 |
Presentations |
|
Week #15 |
Final
Examination, |
Assessment & Grading Scale
|
Review Essay = 20% |
90 - 100 = A range (90-94 = A-) |
|
Quizzes = 20% (4 @ 5% each) |
80 - 89 = B range (80-83 = B-
/ 87-89 = B+) |
|
MidTerm or Final Exam = 30% |
70 - 79 = C range (70-73 = C-
/ 77-79 = C+) |
|
Team Presentation = 30% |
60 - 69 = D range (60-63 = D-
/ 67-69 = D+) |
|
|
0 - 59 = F |
Review Essay
An individual essay is due through Blackboard no later
than the beginning of class, December 4th. The essay should address selected
key issues and personalities of the student’s choice involved in or surrounding
the Rivoli book—with the instructor’s prior input and
consent. The essay should run ~1800-2000 words (~7-8 pages in standard format).
N.B. You must sign up for a selection of issues
with the instructor no later than October 30th before you complete
this assignment; no more than four (4) students will be permitted to analyze
any single issues set. You can submit your essay before the due date for
extra credit: no later than beginning of class on November 20th earns
5% extra credit. Late submissions will not be accepted for grading.
Quizzes
There will be 5 quizzes given during the term, though
only your best 4 quizzes will count towards your final grade for the course.
Students will form small, stable study groups of 2-3 students each by the beginning
of the third week of classes, for the duration of the term. Quizzes will be
taken by each group as a group, with the quiz mark shared by those present and taking
the quiz at any particular time. The quizzes are objective in nature
(true/false, multiple choice, fill-in the blank, matching, etc), concerning readings
and discussions most recently covered in the previous class session. Make-ups
for missed quizzes ordinarily will not be arranged.
MidTerm & Final
Examinations
A MidTerm
and Final examination will be given per the syllabus schedule. You will elect
to take one of these exams, and must commit ahead of time to one no later than
Oct 11th. N.B. If you do not sign-up for the MidTerm, you
will not be permitted to take it and will be expected to take the Final. Neither can you sign-up for and then fail to take the MidTerm, and hope to take the Final. The exams are not
comprehensive, but will cover all the materials and discussions assigned from
Sep 6 – Oct 18 for the MidTerm, and Oct 30 – Dec 6
for the Final. Unlike the quizzes, the exams will be taken individually, not in
groups.
Specific guidance as to each
exam’s length and specific requirements will be proffered before the test dates.
Format generally will emphasize short answer and essay questions, requiring
application of cases, concepts and principles in relation to the topics covered
in class.
Each exam is closed book/open
notes. This means you are permitted to bring to the exam one standard-sized
page (8½” x 11”) of notes you have personally prepared, front and back, without
regard to print-size or margins. Other materials, such as website printings or
professionally prepared texts or notes, are not permitted. Make-ups for examinations ordinarily will not be
arranged.
Team Presentations
Students will self-select for teams
(each team comprising at least two students and no more than four students, and
need not equate with quiz groups), for preparation and presentation to class of
a research project in political economy (topic to be arranged with instructor).
Teams should be set, with topics and dates agreed with the instructor no later
than Nov 1st. The presentation should run ~20 minutes, and use of
audio-visual equipment/material is encouraged. The team should compose one copy
of a full-form outline for submission
to instructor to accompany the actual presentation. All team members must be
present at the presentation time to earn credit for the assignment, even if not
all team members are involved in its delivery. Each team member will earn the
same mark for assessment of the combined outline/presentation (10% outline +
20% presentation = 30% total). The instructor will solicit, and use as
discretion advises, class assessment of the presentation when preparing grades.
Extra Credit Work
Extra credit options can be made
available, either to replace a missed quiz or to replace a low-scoring quiz.
One opportunity is to attend the Comparative
Constitutions panel on Monday, Sep 17th, beginning at
CBU Statement on Academic Dishonesty
Faculty in the College of Arts &
Sciences (CAS) have been asked to
include the following statement in all our syllabi. Do speak with your
instructor if at any time you have questions or concerns about this statement
and its meaning for or application in your classes.
Academic dishonesty (cheating, plagiarism, copying,
and other forms) will be reported to the Dean of Students. Judicial sanctions
for offense [sic] are handled on a case-by-case basis depending on the
seriousness of the violation, prior violations and other factors. Judicial
sanctions may include, but are not limited to, loss of a letter grade or
failure in the course in which the offense occurred, suspension, and/or
dismissal from the University. A detailed discussion of academic dishonesty is
located in the Student Handbook.
Source: 2006-2007 Undergraduate Catalog, at p.80
Caveat
This syllabus schedule is composed in good faith, with
a schedule of readings and assignments that will guide us throughout the term.
Still, the instructor reserves the right to make adjustments to this schedule
as deemed necessary for the overall enterprise of the course. Any changes will
be communicated as far in advance as feasible, and you are responsible for
knowing if and when any changes have been made.