Comparative Public Policy

Course Description

The seminar will focus on the factors that explain political outcomes and their consequences in comparative perspective. Three basic issues we explore are: 1) How do policies differ?; 2) Why do policies differ?; and 3) What impact do the different policies have? Scholars have divergent views regarding which factors account for different policies and analyses of their impact is regularly colored by ideological position that may or may not have anything to do with the real policy goals. The topics that we will study include: What is the role of political leaders during transitions to democracy or during the passage of difficult legislation in democratic polities? Under what circumstances can a corrupt polity be prosperous and an honest one poor? Is there a relationship between religion and a country's economic success? Are diamonds and oil a blessing or a curse for a country's economy? Why did some mature economies respond differently to the global financial crisis of 2007-2009? Some of the countries we will be studying include: Chile, England, France, Spain, Singapore, United States, and Venezuela.

Code

POLS 2255

Credits

3

Subject

POLS

Programs That Include This Course

• Minor Minor in International Communication
• Minor Minor in Public Policy