Dalyko (sando) aprašas
Course unit title
COMPARATIVE ECONOMICS
Name(s), surname(s) and title
of lecturer(s)
Level of course
Semester
ECTS kreditai (ECTS credits)
Working hours
Prof. dr. Linas Čekanavičius
Prerequisites
Language of instruction
Objectives of the course
Should match study program
objectives
Course aims to acquaint the
students with both the
descriptive and analytical
knowledge
about
the
historical, organizational and
institutional
settings
of
different economic systems
and their impact upon
system’s performance, and to
develop the ability to
critically assess the validity of
responses
to
different
economic developments in the
past and of today.
First cycle
6
5
Contact hours
48
Lectures 32
Seminars 12
Consultations 4
82
Individual work
Total 130
Microekonomics, Macroeconomics
English
Learning outcomes
A student’s assessments methods
A student’s knowledge,
In which activity study results are
comprehension and skills
demonstrated and proved
Understanding and
appreciation of the genesis
and logic of development of
different economic systems
Ability to evaluate
compatibility of the
institutional structures of
economic system and their
impact upon its performance
Ability to contrast and
compare economic systems
with regard to their
institutional settings, workings
and outcomes
Ability to critically assess
economic policies in the
context of a given economic
1
Comparative case analysis during
Midterm exam and Final exam
Comparative case analysis during
Midterm exam and Final exam;
Essay: Every student can expect that
at the end of any class he/she will be
among those invited to write 15-minute
essay on what he/she learned from the
earlier assigned reading material or
from the lecture.
Comparative case analysis during
Midterm exam and Final exam;
Essay: Every student can expect that at
the end of any class he/she will be
among those invited to write 15-minute
essay on what he/she learned from the
earlier assigned reading material or
from the lecture.
Comparative case analysis during
Midterm exam and Final exam;
Paper, based on additional research
which is to be carried out by teams of 2
students.
setting.
Case studies; Problem analysis; Individual reading of assigned
materials, preparing for the „moot court“ type of class discussions
It is evident that developed economies, although belonging to the
same general class of economic systems, represent various,
sometimes quite different types of organization and performance.
Why the economic systems are so markedly different? What are their
specific allocation mechanisms, forms of ownership, types of
incentives, role of planning, income distribution and redistribution
schemes, relation between politics and economics? Is there panacea
type of answer to the economic downturns? The course intends to
shed a light on these issues, heavily leaning on the case studies that
represent varieties of advanced market economies, as well as issues
of economic transition.
Teaching methods
Course unit content
Topic tittle
Contact hours
Individual work and hours
1. What the Comparative Economics is about :
Object , Goals and Methods of Study
2. American Capitalism: The Advanced
“Individualistic” Market Economy
2
-
3. Japanese Economy: “Economy of Traditions”
8
6
12
Individual study of assigned
materials
12
Individual study of assigned
materials
4. Swedish “Scandinavian Socialism”
6
12
Individual study of assigned
materials
5. British Economy : Glory, Fall and Resurrection
6
12
Individual study of assigned
materials
6. Germany: The Social Market Economy
6
12
Individual study of assigned
materials
7. The Socialist soviet-type economic system
6
10
Individual study of assigned
materials
8. China’s phenomenon: „socialist market
economy“
8
Total
Reading list
Publication
year
2009, 2000
2004
12
Individual study of assigned
materials
Authors and title
48
82
Publisher
Routledge, Dryden.
Gardner, H.S. Comparative Economic Systems.
Rosser J.B., Rosser M.V. Comparative Times Mirror Higher Education Group
Economics in a Transforming World Economy
(2nd ed.)
Additional reading
2
Publication
year
Authors and title
2003
Publisher
Gregory, Paul R., Stuart, Robert C. Comparing Economies in South Western
the Twenty First Century.
College,
2001
Anders Åslund: The Myth of Output Collapse after Communism, Post-Soviet Economies Project, Carnegie Endowment, Number
18, March 2001
http://www.carnegieendowment.org/files/18aslund.pdf
http://business.baylor.edu/Steve_Gardner/CES.HTM
http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/index.html
Assessment forms:
Assessment requirements
Mid-term and Final exam: closed-book, in-class, mostly open-endedquestions.
Paper: based on additional research which is to be carried out by
teams of 2 students. Generally, paper is expected to describe specific
economic system or discuss economic reforms in a selected country.
To qualify for the “pass” grade the weighted sum of accumulated
points has to be more that 45. There are no threshold levels
established for points obtained from particular assessment form.
Understanding of the historical, organizational and institutional
Assessment criteria
settings of different economic systems, their impact upon
system’s performance, validity of responses to various economic
developments in the past and of today, and an ability to express
one’s thoughts clearly and succinctly in writing. Student
performance is assessed on a 0-100 point scale.
Mid-term exam will carry 25% and Final exam, that will cover the
The composition of final
whole course, 50% of the final mark. Paper will represent another
accumulative mark
25% of the final mark. The best and most relevant papers might be
selected for class presentation, thus earning premium points (up to
20% of the paper grade).
Linas Čekanavičius, 2014-08-20
Course outline prepared by
Approved by the Study Program
Committee
3