THRÁINN EGGERTSSON

Teaching at NYU

Department of Politics

Spring semester 2008
Thursdays 9:30-12:00 (25 West 4th Street, room C-7)

Field Seminar: Politics and Economics of Institutions (V53.0595.003)

Overview: The seminar introduces you to theoretical and empirical studies in New Institutional Economics. NIE is an interdisciplinary field for studying how frameworks of regulations, laws, social norms and beliefs shape economic systems. We begin by looking at basic theoretical issues, including the relationship between property rights, transaction costs, and incentives. We are particularly concerned with: (1) How imperfect institutions limit economic progress; (2) The political roots of imperfect economic institutions; (3) The concept of social equilibrium and its relationship to economic reform and technological change; the possibilities and limits of reform.

Syllabus

Office hours: Thursdays, 12:15-1:15 p.m. and by appointment