Economics and Politics of International Financial Organizations

Abstract

The policies and politics of international organizations like the United Nations and, most notably, the Bretton Woods Institutions affect an ever-increasing number of people. To understand these effects, we need to study the decision-making processes and patterns of policy making of these organizations in a systematic and detailed fashion.

Objective

In this course, we will apply economic principles and political-economy approaches to international organizations such as the International Monetary Fund, the World Trade Organization, the World Bank, the UN and similar institutions. Students will receive a rigorous training in the functioning and particularly the political economics governing selected international organizations. They will explore the main debates in international governance enabling them to evaluate contending arguments on the achievements and failures of international organizations in a scientific way. While modern economic, political-economic, and international relations theories will be discussed, the main focus of the lecture is on the discussion of applied, policy-relevant research.

Content

1. Normative and positive Theory of International Organizations 2. International Monetary Fund 3. United Nations 4. World Bank Group (IBRD, IDA, IFC, MIGA) 5. World Trade Organization 6. European Community/ Union

Resources