| EC 852 Economics |
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Fall 2009
GMU: Robinson B202 |
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Professor: Roger
D. Congleton
Office : 11 Carow Hall |
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| Office Hours: | Monday and Wednesday 2:00 - 3:30, and most other times by appointment | |
| Class Time and Place |
.Robinson
B202 / Thursdays 4:30-7:10 |
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| Recommended Texts: |
Mueller, D. C. (2003) Public Choice III. Cambridge: Cambridge
University Press. Persson, T. and Tabellini, G. E. (2000) Political Economics: Explaining Economic Policy. Cambridge Mass: MIT Press. Congleton, R.D. and B. Swedenborg (2006) Democratic Constitutional Design and Public Policy. Cambridge Mass: MIT Press. |
J-Stor Journals Public Choice Society FEC US Constitution / Constitutions Elections Market Gallup RDC1.Net |
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| Dates | Lectures | Text Readings (See Syllabus for complete reading list) |
| 9/3 | I. An Overview of Public Choice and
Theories of Governance |
M: 1-2, 18; PT: 2, CS: 1 |
| A.
Rational Choice and Democratic Governance |
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| 9/10 | II. Elected Governments | M: 7;
PT: 3; CS: 1 |
| 9/17 | III. The Median Voter and Public Policy
MVtr |
M: ch 11, 13 ; PT: Ch 6, 12 |
| 9/24 | IV. Democractic Cycles and Public Policy | M: 5; PT: 16 |
| 10/01 | V. Elections, Interest Groups,
and Public Policy |
M: 20, PT: 4 |
| 10/8 | First
Take Home Exam Distributed (pdf,
rtf)
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(link
to useful math notes) |
| 10/8 |
Lecture postponed / to be made up in December |
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| 10/15 | VI. How Efficient is Democracy? RDCppt | M: 6, 23; PT: 9; CS: 6 |
| B. Rational Choice, Interest Groups, and
Collective Action |
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| 10/22 | VII. Classic Interest Group Models: Collective Action, Capture, and Rent Seeking |
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| 10/22 |
First Take Home Exam Collected | |
| 10/29 | VIII. The Logic of Rent Seeking and Rent-Seeking Losses | M: 2, 19; PT:
14 |
| 11/5 | IX. Regulation: Public Interests vs Rent-Seekers: Analysis and Evidence | M: 16,17; PT: 4; CS: 8 |
| 11/12 | X.
International
Political Economy: Nations as Interest Groups |
M: 22; PT: 18; CS: 11 |
| C. Rational Choice and Constitutional Design |
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| 11/19 | XI. Foundations of CPE: Political
Institutions and Public
Policy |
CS: 1-5 |
| 11/19 | Second Take Home Exam Distributed ( pdf, rtf
) |
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| 11/26 | Thanksgiving
Break: No Class |
Suggested Paper Topics |
| 12/3 | XII. Political Institutions, Public Policy, and Economic Development | M: 22; PT: 14; CS: 10 |
| 12/3 |
Second Take Home Exam Collected | |
| 12/5
makeup lecture in Carrow Hall, 10:00 am |
XIII. Constitutional Reform and Evolution: Gains to Trade in Divided Governments | CS: 12, 13, Perfecting Parliament |
| 12/10 | XIV. Overview of Course and Introduction toVirginia Political Economy: |
Virginia
Political Economy and JMB GTs CPE |
| 12/17 | FINAL PAPERS DUE AT CAROW HALL (E-mail Is Preferred) | |
| Course Grades :
10-15 page final
paper 30% |
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