Academic staff

Roberto Ricciuti, Emanuele Bracco

Referent

Roberto Ricciuti

Credits

5

Language

English

Class attendance

Free Choice

Location

VERONA

Moodle Seminars 0

Learning objectives

The course aims to expose the students to some topics of current interest in political economy (i.e., state capacity, at electoral and political systems, and accountability).

Prerequisites and basic notions

Microeconomics, Game theory

Program

Module A – 10 hours (Roberto Ricciuti)
This module introduces state capacity a topic of current research in political economy. In particular, it deals with:
1. Development clusters, 2. Fiscal capacity, 3. Legal capacity, 4. Political violence, 5. Development assistance
The main refence is Besley and Persson (2011), Pillars of Prosperity. Princeton University Press.
Module B – 10 hours (Emanuele Bracco)
This module looks at electoral and political systems, and accountability.
• Morelli, M., “Party Formation and Policy Outcomes under Different Electoral Systems,” Review of Economic Studies, 2004.
• Myerson, R., “Theoretical Comparisons of Electoral Systems: 1998 Schumpeter Lecture,” European Economic Review, 1999.
• Lizzeri, A. and N. Persico [2001], “The provision of public goods under alternative electoral incentives”, AER 91, 225-245.
• Rogoff, Kenneth. “Equilibrium Political Budget Cycles.” The American Economic Review, vol. 80, no. 1, 1990, pp. 21–36.
• Persson, Torsten, et al. “Comparative Politics and Public Finance.” Journal of Political Economy, vol. 108, no. 6, 2000, pp. 1121–1161.

Bibliography

Didactic methods

Frontal lectures, but active engagement from the students is highly encouraged.

Learning assessment procedures

Essay: it could be either a survey of the literature (4000 words) or (preferably) an empirical application on a relevant economic issue (3000 words).

Assessment

Ability to identify a viable research question. Ability to critically summarize existing literature. Ability to frame a suitable econometric methodology and to obtain empirical results.

Criteria for the composition of the final grade

100% essay.