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Political Economy of Institutions and Development

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Political Economy of Institutions and Development

Instructor: Richard Thomas Griffiths

34,252 already enrolled

10 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

391 reviews

Beginner level

No prior experience required

Flexible schedule

2 weeks at 10 hours a week

Learn at your own pace

10 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

391 reviews

Beginner level

No prior experience required

Flexible schedule

2 weeks at 10 hours a week

Learn at your own pace

Skills you'll gain

Details to know

Shareable certificate

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Assessments

9 assignments¹

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Taught in English

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There are 10 modules in this course

This course is part of the SDG initiative <http://www.sdginitiative.org/> addressing the UN Sustainable Development Goals, specifically for the following SDGs [1, 8, 10 and 16]. We hope you will join in our efforts to reach the SDG’s in small but measurable and actionable ways, cooperating with Development Done Differently. Expand your impact. You can create a better world.

In today’s world, politics and economics are interconnected, but what is the nature of this connectivity? What are the power relationships that shape the world economy today and create new challenges for international institutions facing globalization? What makes some countries wealthier than others? Do we face cultural diversity or fragmentation? Does the type of governance effect economic development and social change or is it the other way around? How do we measure it and how trustworthy is the data? These issues and many more will be examined in this course along with a wide library of sources and a biting criticism.

Welcome to this course! Here we present the instructor and his team, what we will do in the upcoming modules, and what is exactly Political Economy. You play an important role in this module. We would also like to hear who you are and what are your expectations from this course. Don't forget to read before that our academic standards and tips and tricks that will help you succeed in this course. Good luck!

What's included

4 videos5 readings2 discussion prompts

4 videosTotal 22 minutes

Trailer2 minutes
Introduction to Political Economy6 minutes
The Evolution of Political Economy7 minutes
International Political Economy7 minutes

5 readingsTotal 55 minutes

Welcome to Leiden University5 minutes
Meet the instructor & his team5 minutes
Community Guidelines & Academic Toolkit10 minutes
Tips for studying online5 minutes
Reading for International Political Economy30 minutes

2 discussion promptsTotal 60 minutes

Introduce yourself30 minutes
Look at your own area or country through the lens of international political economy30 minutes

Basic Data. Reviews the basic data of population, output and development used to make international comparisons between countries.

What's included

11 videos1 reading1 assignment2 discussion prompts

11 videosTotal 59 minutes

Mapping the World6 minutes
Visualization: World Maps4 minutes
Political Economy and Data6 minutes
Population7 minutes
Visualization: World Map of Population3 minutes
Output (GDP current values)7 minutes
Visualization: World Map of GDP (Current Values)3 minutes
Output (GDP PPP)8 minutes
Visualization: World Map of GDP PPP3 minutes
Poverty8 minutes
Visualization: World Map of Human Development Index3 minutes

1 readingTotal 30 minutes

Reading for Data in Political Economy30 minutes

1 assignmentTotal 30 minutes

Data used in Political Economy30 minutes

2 discussion promptsTotal 30 minutes

Do you know an interesting map?10 minutes
How does your area or country compare?20 minutes

Trust. Argues for the centrality of trust in explanations of differences in wealth and poverty between nations but highlights difficulties in measuring it and in explaining the direct of causality.

What's included

6 videos1 reading1 assignment1 discussion prompt

6 videosTotal 44 minutes

Trust and Social Capital7 minutes
Measuring Trust9 minutes
Trust results and Criticism9 minutes
Visualization: World Map of Trust3 minutes
Causes and Consequences8 minutes
Correlation and Regression8 minutes

1 readingTotal 30 minutes

Reading for Trust30 minutes

1 assignmentTotal 30 minutes

Trust30 minutes

1 discussion promptTotal 45 minutes

How does trust measure in your area or country?45 minutes

Inequality and Fragmentation. Examines how society can be fragmented along lines of religion, language, ethnicity and income

What's included

9 videos1 reading1 assignment1 discussion prompt

9 videosTotal 52 minutes

Ethnic Fragmentation9 minutes
Visualization: World Map of Ethnic Fragmentation2 minutes
Linguistic Fragmentation8 minutes
Visualization: World Map of Linguistic Diversity3 minutes
Religious Fragmentation7 minutes
Visualization: World Map of Religious Diversity2 minutes
Income and Wealth Inequality9 minutes
Visualization: World Map of Income Inequality4 minutes
Inequality, Fragmentation and Trust8 minutes

1 readingTotal 30 minutes

Society and Fragmentation30 minutes

1 assignmentTotal 30 minutes

Society and Fragmentation30 minutes

1 discussion promptTotal 30 minutes

Is your area or country fragmented in any way?30 minutes

Governance. Argues that good governance provides a transparent and stable environment for risk assessment and decision-making and contributes to welfare and growth. The question is how to get it.

What's included

8 videos1 reading1 assignment1 discussion prompt

8 videosTotal 45 minutes

Good Governance8 minutes
Measuring Governance7 minutes
Democracy and Growth8 minutes
Visualization: World Map of Democracy3 minutes
Rule of Law and Growth6 minutes
Visualization: World Map of Rule of Law3 minutes
Corruption and Growth9 minutes
Visualization: World Map of Corruption2 minutes

1 readingTotal 30 minutes

Reading for Governance30 minutes

1 assignmentTotal 30 minutes

Governance30 minutes

1 discussion promptTotal 30 minutes

How is the governance where you live?30 minutes

Development Assistance. Assesses the motivations for development assistance but raises doubts about the extent to which it can overcome local issues.

What's included

4 videos1 reading1 assignment1 discussion prompt

Let us now focus on the international context of the elements we've seen so far. Globalisation - what is it really? What are the benefits it is supposed to confer and what is the role, if any, left for national governments in today's world?

What's included

8 videos1 reading1 assignment1 discussion prompt

8 videosTotal 53 minutes

Globalisation. The Debate8 minutes
World map of economic globalisation4 minutes
Trade7 minutes
World map of trade6 minutes
Foreign Direct Investment7 minutes
FDI modules4 minutes
Financial Markets7 minutes
The Globalised World Economy11 minutes

1 readingTotal 10 minutes

Globalisation Discourse10 minutes

1 assignmentTotal 30 minutes

Globalisation30 minutes

1 discussion promptTotal 10 minutes

Do you notice globalisation in your culture?10 minutes

International organization. What role do they play in the world economy?

What's included

4 videos1 reading1 assignment1 discussion prompt

Even though they do not belong to any establishment or an institution, certain non- governmental institutions can have a lot of power and influence. Who are those actors? How much power do they really have? We will dive into these question in this module!

What's included

8 videos2 readings2 assignments1 peer review1 discussion prompt

8 videosTotal 61 minutes

Cities9 minutes
Big Business8 minutes
Transnational Advocacy Groups8 minutes
Supra-State Actors9 minutes
The SDG initiative and your case study6 minutes
Defining your case study7 minutes
What effects the sustainability of your project7 minutes
The form of your assignment8 minutes

2 readingsTotal 20 minutes

New Actors10 minutes
SDG initiative and SDG talk - Learn. Act. Impact.10 minutes

2 assignmentsTotal 60 minutes

Non - Governmental Organizations30 minutes
Final Exam30 minutes

1 peer reviewTotal 60 minutes

Configure your own world60 minutes

1 discussion promptTotal 10 minutes

Can you think of the challenges that non governmental organizations are facing today10 minutes

Not for the test - but very good for your general knowledge!

What's included

12 videos

12 videosTotal 47 minutes

The Invisible Hand - Adam Smith4 minutes
Utilitarianism - Jeremy Bentham3 minutes
Relative Backwardness - Alexander Gerschenkron4 minutes
Classical Liberalism - Friedrich August von Hayek4 minutes
Keynesianism - John Maynard Keynes4 minutes
Critical Political Economy - Robert Cox4 minutes
The Take Off - Walt W. Rostow4 minutes
Marxism - Karl Marx4 minutes
Small States - Peter Katzenstein4 minutes
World Systems Theory - Immanuel Wallerstein4 minutes
New Institutional Economics- Ronald Coase4 minutes
Economic Structuralism- Raúl Prebisch4 minutes

Instructor

Instructor ratings

(85 ratings)

Richard Thomas Griffiths

Universiteit Leiden

4 Courses56,172 learners

Offered by

Universiteit Leiden

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Reviewed on Oct 25, 2021

The topics covered were very interesting and applicable to modern problems! It gives you some fundamental understanding to begin pursuing a career covering social issues.

Reviewed on Oct 1, 2023

It touched so many topics, I am amazed by how comprehensive the course was

Reviewed on Aug 14, 2025

I really appreciate this course and I would like to recommend. I love this course structure and delivering and terms.

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Frequently asked questions

The book 'Configuring the World. A critical Political Economy approach' (April 2016) was written by Prof. Richard Griffiths and is available through all online bookshops (recommended ebook price is $5,95).

10% revenues will go to Handicap International for whom his daughter works in West Africa.

To access the course materials, assignments and to earn a Certificate, you will need to purchase the Certificate experience when you enroll in a course. You can try a Free Trial instead, or apply for Financial Aid. The course may offer 'Full Course, No Certificate' instead. This option lets you see all course materials, submit required assessments, and get a final grade. This also means that you will not be able to purchase a Certificate experience.

When you purchase a Certificate you get access to all course materials, including graded assignments. Upon completing the course, your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile.