Politica economica

This course provides students with an introduction to the field of Political Economics. The goal is to analyze policy outcomes and political behavior in modern democracies, and to explain how political choices may differ according to different political systems. The core of the course focuses on the basic models of public choice theory, describing the decision making process in the political arena, and the interactions among stakeholders with different, and sometimes even diametrically opposed interests (Median Voter theorem, Probabilistic Voting Model, Lobbying etc.). The last part of the course will deal with the most recent empirical literature on Political Economics, using the context of Switzerland. Students will be encouraged to make group presentations based on a paper of their interest.

Advised Book
D. Mueller, Public Choice III