PSC 315—American Political Economy

This course considers the dynamic relationship between the political and economic systems of the United States. The initial focus will be on government regulation of the economy and the trade-offs between the economic efficiency and income redistribution consequences of alternative methods of regulation. The course will then explore the interactions among politics and the economy more broadly, discussing topics such as the political business cycle, economic voting, and the impact of international trade on domestic politics. While an emphasis will be placed on understanding theoretical arguments about the US political economy, the implications of such theories will be illustrated with contemporary examples.