Political Economy (POEC) 393
Canada and the Global Political Economy

>> Overview | Outline | Evaluation | Course Materials | Course Fees | Course Availability

Overview

Countries everywhere are looking for ways to compete and increase their global share of exports. One of the most common "buzzwords" in the contemporary Canadian political lexicon is "global competitiveness." But what is meant when people say that Canada must be more competitive? Are there different ways to compete? What should the role of governments be in the quest for global competitiveness? Is free trade the best way to increase our share?

POEC 393, written by leading Canadian political economist Professor Daniel Drache, is designed to give students the analytical tools they need to consider such questions. The course examines the rise of globalization and the institutional arrangements it has initiated in a worldwide and North American context.

POEC 393 discusses a number of debates about the best ways to "compete," many of which rely on the "market" or cooperative and state-aided industrial strategies. Students learn to analyse these broad issues, and formulate policy-related initiatives for Canadian cases.

Outline

The course consists of the following four units.

• Unit 1 Globalization and Competitiveness: State Policy and Market Power
• Unit 2 To Trade or Not to Trade?
• Unit 3 Is a Zero-trade Tariff Policy a Viable Goal for Canada?
• Unit 4 Competing Globally: Getting the Most from Markets

Evaluation

To receive credit for POEC 393, students must achieve a course composite grade of at least "D" (50 percent). The weighting of the composite grade is as follows:

Course Materials

Textbooks

Crane, D. 1993. The Dictionary of Canadian Business Economics. Toronto: Stoddart.

Drache, Daniel, ed. 1992. Getting on Track: Social Democratic Strategies for Ontario. Montreal: McGill-Queen's University Press.

Drache, Daniel, and Meric S. Gertler, eds. 1991. The New Era of Global Competition: State Policy and Market Power. Montreal: McGill-Queen's University Press.

Other Material

The course materials include a study guide, a student manual, and a book of readings.

Three-year BA concentration in Political Economy
Four-year BA major in Political Economy

Athabasca University reserves the right to amend course outlines occasionally and without notice.
Courses offered by other delivery methods may vary from their individualized-study counterparts.


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This page was updated by G. Zahara