Introduction to Political Economy  2021
BMI 231

Economics and Politics are intertwined, and each is driven by economic and political theory as well as social and environmental changes. This course is designed to provide you with an introduction to some major concepts and theories to help you better understand the world we live in.     
Evaluation: Mid-term test (50%). Final exam (50%)
Secretary: Aurélie Gigout



Lesson 1.
Date:
Introduction to IPE
(International Political Economy)
Lesson 2.
Date:
Political ideology: Theory, Concept and History
Lesson 3.
Date:
Government Policy:
Creating a budget
Lesson 4.
Date:
Macroeconomic data and historical trends

 Introduction and individual research.
Currency value. Interest rate (10Y bonds). Inflation. Growth. Unemployment. Balance of Payments. Deficit. Debt.
Lesson 5.
Date:
Wealth and its Distribution

 Introduction and individual research
GDP. Green GDP. HDI. Gini.
Lesson 6.
Date:
Debt
 National debt. Private debt.
Debt as control
Lesson 7.
Date:
Crashes and Crises

 The weaknesses of Capitalism
Lesson 8.
Date:
John Maynard Keynes
 The Versailles Treaty
The Bretton Woods Agreement
The Bancor and the ICU
Lesson 9.
Date:
The European Union and the Euro
 Fixed or floating currencies?
Lesson 10.
Date:
Investment or Speculation?

 Speed trading
The multiplier effect (ME)
The prorensity to consume (PC) and to 'invest' (PI)
A French Universal Pension analysed using ME, PC and PI