Comparative Capitalisms of Western Europe - JTM043

• Title: Comparative Capitalisms of Western Europe
• Guaranteed by: Department of European Studies (23-KZS)
• Faculty: Faculty of Social Sciences
• Actual: from 2023
• Semester: summer
• E-Credits: 6
• Examination process: summer s.:
• Hours per week, examination: summer s.:1/1, Ex [HT]
• Capacity: 10 / unknown (10)
• Min. number of students: unlimited
• 4EU+: no
• Virtual mobility / capacity: no
• State of the course: taught
• Language: English
• Teaching methods: full-time
• Teaching methods: full-time
• Note: course can be enrolled in outside the study plan; enabled for web enrollment; priority enrollment if the course is part of the study plan
• Guarantor: PhDr. Pavel Szobi, Ph.D.
• Teacher(s): PhDr. Pavel Szobi, Ph.D.
• Class: Courses for incoming students

Annotation

Last update: Mgr. Jan Váška, Ph.D. (20.02.2024)

Capitalism is often depicted as a singular economic regime, an ideal-type that countries adhere to more or less closely. This course challenges that view. We take as our starting point that there are different typologies and legitimate models of capitalism that vary according to institutional factors. These variations can be found and studied in different Western European countries by looking at the institutional endowments of those countries in several key areas: business and labor, education and training, the welfare state, and corporate governance and finance. The theoretical inspiration for the course comes from the literature on the varieties of capitalism (VoC), and we will use that theory and its key elements both as a subject of study and a jumping off point to frame our critical exploration. Upon achieving a firm grasp of what makes capitalism varied, we will then look more closely through this lens at different member states and their institutions in an attempt to understand their enabling and constraining effects and the way in which they enact different varieties of capitalism.

Aim of the course

Last update: Mgr. Jan Váška, Ph.D. (20.02.2024)

The aim of the course is to familiarize the students with different approaches of West European governments towards economic development of their respective countries. The course will scrutinize individual forms of capitalism and analyze them from theoretical and practical angles.

Course completion requirements

Last update: Bc. Sára Lochmanová (05.02.2024)

According to the Dean's provision, the teacher evaluates the student's performance in the percentages assigned to grades A to F (https://fsv.cuni.cz/opatreni-dekanky-c-20/2019):

• 91% and more   => A
• 81-90%             => B
• 71-80%             => C
• 61-70%             => D
• 51-60%             => E
• 0-50%               => F

More in SMĚRNICE S_SO_002: Organizace zkouškových termínů, kontrol studia a užívání klasifikace A–F na FSV UK.

Literature

Last update: Mgr. Jan Váška, Ph.D. (20.02.2024)

see Syllabus section for required literature

Teaching methods

Last update: Mgr. Jan Váška, Ph.D. (20.02.2024)

In-person course.

 

The course is taught as a seminar. Student are responsible for actively engaging with the readings and being prepared to comment on them each week. Students will also be required to choose a European economy to apply the concepts to, and present that to the class.

Requirements to the exam

Last update: PhDr. Pavel Szobi, Ph.D. (08.02.2024)

Presentations: 50%

Each student will select a country to study and will be responsible for presenting in weeks 3, 5, 7, 9, 11 a short report on that country’s institutional structure in the area of study for that week.

Participation in class discussions: 30%

On the weeks with readings, students are expected to have done the reading and come to class prepared to discuss them. You should come with questions and comments about your reaction to the text.

Final Reflection Paper: 20% (deadline on May 31, 2024, 23.59), submissison via MOODLE: https://dl2.cuni.cz/mod/turnitintooltwo/view.php?id=185915

 

Students are allowed one excused absence. More than that will result in a grade reduction and possible failure of the course.

 

Grading: 

• 91% and more    =>         A
• 81-90%             =>          B
• 71-80%             =>          C
• 61-70%             =>          D
• 51-60%             =>          E
• 0-50%                =>         F

Based on the Dean's Measure 20/2019: https://fsv.cuni.cz/deans-measure-no-20/2019

Syllabus

Last update: Mgr. Jan Váška, Ph.D. (20.02.2024)

Course Outline and Readings

Class 1: Introduction

Class 2: Models of Capitalism / Varieties of Capitalism

Hall, P. A. (2001). Varieties of capitalism. John Wiley & Sons, 1-68

Class 3: Presentation of States’ Economies

Class 4: Welfare State Models

Arts and Gelissen (2002). Three worlds of welfare capitalism or more?

Pierson (2002) Coping with permanent austerity

Class 5: Presentations – Welfare State Models

Class 6: Industrial Relations

Rubery (2010). 'Employment relations', in Morgan, G., Campbell, J., Crouch, C., Pedersen, O. K., & Whitley, R. (Eds.). The Oxford handbook of comparative institutional analysis. OUP Oxford.

Thelen, K. (2001). ‘Varieties of Labor Politics in the Developed Democracies’  in Hall and Soskice, eds., Varieties of Capitalism: 71-103.

Class 7: Presentations – Industrial Relations

Classes 8: Training, Skills, and Innovation

Thelen, K. (2007). “Skill Formation and Training”, in Jones and Zeitlin, The Oxford Handbook of Business History, 559-80.

Lawton-Smith, H. (2006). Chapter 1 in Universities, innovation and the economy. Routledge.

Classes 9: Presentations - Training, Skills, and Innovation

Class 10: Corporate Governance and Finance

Goyer, M. (2010). Corporate Governance in G., Campbell, J., Crouch, C., Pedersen, O. K., & Whitley, R. (Eds.). The Oxford handbook of comparative institutional analysis. OUP Oxford.

Deeg (2010) Institutional Change in Financial Systems, Governance in G., Campbell, J., Crouch, C., Pedersen, O. K., & Whitley, R. (Eds.). The Oxford handbook of comparative institutional analysis. OUP Oxford.

Class 11: Presentations - Corporate Governance and Finance

Class 12: Wrap-up