Office hrs.: 8-8:25, 9:30-10:20 MWF, or by appointment--Waters 312 (except no office hours on exam day, Friday, March 12).

ECON 536 Comparative Economics (3) II. Capitalism in the United States, Japan, and Germany; transition by Russia, Poland, the Czech Republic, and Hungary to market economies; economic reform in China, India, Mexico, and East and Southeast Asia; African economic development; and the Marxian critique of capitalism. Pr.: Econ 110 or 120. The course is a university general education course and counts for the international studies secondary major.

Objectives:

The major objectives of the course are for students to be able to: (1) analyze and compare the United States's and Japan's capitalist economic developments and compare them to other capitalist economies; (2) analyze the reasons for the collapse of state socialism and the problems of the transitions of socialist to market economies; (3) discuss and analyze the transitions to the market in Russia, the former Soviet Union, and Eastern and Central Europe; (4) discuss and analyze the problems of economic reform and liberalization in developing countries such as China, India, Mexico, and East and Southeast Asia; (5) sketch an analysis of the economic development of Africa, Asia, and other developing regions; (6) understand the basics of Marxian economics, how Marxist economists analyze the political economy, and the contrasts between the approaches of Marxism and Western standard economics, and (7) generally compare economic systems and ideas.

To attain the background essential to meet these objectives, you need to read the readings and attend lectures and class discussions.

Required text:

Martin C. Schnitzer, Comparative Economic Systems, 7th ed. (Cincinnati: South-Western, 1997).

The Schnitzer text is required and its reading is assumed in examination questions, but the lecture-discussion outline will not always parallel the reading. If any changes or deletions are made in readings during the course of the semester, they will be announced in class.

Grades:

I plan three one-hour examinations, each to be given a weight of one unit, and a final examination, weighed two units. I have indicated tentatively the coverage of each one-hour examination (the readings and corresponding lectures just before the listing of the examination). The exam is essay/problem, with an occasional short identification or explanation question (see library reserve desk for old exams). Please bring a blue book for each examination.

Alternative to the Second, Third, and/or Fourth Exams:

For any or all of the second, third, and fourth exams, the student may write a paper instead of taking the exam (the paper must be a topic related to the readings and material to be covered on the exam), provided the student notifies the instructor in writing (e.g., on a 3" by 5" card) what topic he or she is presenting a paper on by the second class after the previous exam; notifies the instructor in writing of any changes in the topic; attends class regularly; and hands in the paper before or at the time of the exam. (In the past, one student both took the exam and wrote the paper, enabling that student to get the better of the two grades!). The average length of the paper is about 7-12 pages. You are expected to use standard bibliographical and citation procedures (if in doubt, use the procedures of a recent American Economic Review). Feel free to hand in an earlier draft so that I can give you comments that will allow you to improve your paper (but give me a few days to respond), or ask questions about your progress at earlier stages of work on your paper.

For any or all of the second, third, and fourth exams, the student may present a 20-minute or so talk instead of taking the exam or writing a paper, as long as the student notifies the instructor as indicated in the previous paragraph. In addition, the student must arrange with the instructor in advance to present the talk near the time the subject is discussed in class.

No alternative is possible for the first exam or for the final exam, Thursday, May 13, 11:50-1:40, in Waters 333. All students are required to take these exams.

Plagiarism:

University policy is: "Plagiarism and cheating are serious offenses and may be punished by failure on the exam, paper, or project; failure in the course; and/or expulsion from the university." For more information refer to "Academic Dishonesty," http://www.ksu.edu/uauc/fhbook/fhxf.html.

1. The Triumph of Capitalism (for Wednesday, January 20)

2. What is Capitalism? ( for Friday, January 22)

3a. Marxian Economics

3b. Socialism

4. Comparative Capitalism

Swedish Capitalism
European Capitalism
East and Southeast Asia

5. U.S. Capitalism

EXAMINATION, mid-February

6. Japan

7. Germany

8 (& pp. 236-42, ch. 10). Czarist Russia and Soviet Communism (F26-M3)

9 (& pp. 243-61, ch. 10). Transition in Russia

EXAMINATION, Friday, March 12

11. Poland, the Czech Republic, and Hungary

12. Developing Countries

13. China

14. India

EXAMINATION, mid-April

15. Mexico

16. African Economic Development

EXAMINATION, Friday, April 30

17, 18. Economic Development and the International Economic Order

FINAL EXAMINATION, THURSDAY, May 13, 11:50-1:40, WATERS 333