Political Economy of Capitalism | University of Geneva

The master is designed for students who are seeking a solid foundation in political economy rather than a multidisciplinary programme. Unique in Europe, it goes well beyond the limits of traditional teaching in mainstream economics.

How does the programme provide content to ensure students achieve an understanding of a reasonably diverse set of perspectives on understanding economies?

The curriculum is organised around a core group of obligatory courses that will give students a solid grounding in the political economy of capitalism. Students then develop basic knowledge and skills in three areas of inquiry by choosing from a selection of courses in comparative political economy, economic history and international economics. The programme is enriched by perspectives from other social sciences, notably from sociology, political science and history, but only to the extent that they are concerned with economic phenomena such as the social relations that incorporate a trade or monetary dimension, that influence the distribution of economic resources or that shape the allocation of power.

How does the programme ensure students understand the interaction between economic and ecological systems?

The ecological issue is transversely integrated to the programme. Moreover student can improve their understanding of the interaction between economic and ecological systems by opting for electives classes such as " Social and environmental dilemmas in capitalism", "environmental economics" and courses dedicated to water policies.

How does the programme ensure students understand how to critically explore real-world evidence, both qualitative and quantitative?

Beyond mandatory classes in political economy and quantitative methods, students may choose from a selection of courses in comparative political economy, economic history and international economics. They also have the opportunity to tailor their programme to their own interests by choosing from a list of optional courses.

What pedagogical approaches does the programme use to ensure that students examine the historical context, assumptions and values in all economic thinking?

As an integral element of their Master's degree, students will write a dissertation based on their own original research in political economy, conducted under the supervision of an instructor in the programme, with the option of continuing their research in political economy by writing a doctoral dissertation being available to excellent students.

How does the department ensure that the teaching culture and capacity to deliver economic pluralism are continually improving?

The courses in the master are taught by scholars widely recognized in the field of Political Economy. You’ll thus have access to the most recent development and debates in the academic communities. In particular you’ll have the possibility to follow seminars in Political Economy with leading scholars in the field. Moreover, the programme proposes a fine balance between the technicalities of the discipline and the opening to the real-world issues that motivate you