Author: admin

We continue our work constructing the framework of our positive analysis:

• • Institutions 
  • Review of Dependence Theories
  • Modified Core-Periphery Model and Corporate Dependency
    • Declassified US planning documents: Memo PPS23 by George Kennan: Policy Planning Staff Files, Memorandum by the Director of the Policy Planning Staff (Kennan) to the Secretary of State and the Under Secretary of State (Lovett), TOP SECRET, [Washington,] February 24, 1948.
    • Crozier, Huntington, & Watanuki (1975). “The Crisis of Democracy,” Report on the Governability of Democracies to The Trilateral Commission. New York University Press.
    • Phongpaichit, P. (2016). Inequality, wealth and Thailand’s politics. Journal of Contemporary Asia, 46(3), 405-424.
    • Milton Friedman, “The Social Responsibility of Business is to Increase its Profits,” The New York Times Magazine, 13 Sep 1970.
    • Taylor Tepper, “Milton Friedman On The Social Responsibility of Business, 50 Years Later,” Forbes, 16 Sep 2020.
  • Discuss chapter 2, “The Pentagon-CIA Archipelago,”  in Chomsky, N. & Herman, E. S. (2015, 1979) The Political Economy of Human Rights Vol I: The Washington Connection and Third World Fascism. London: Pluto Press.
  •  Chomsky on Human Rights and US Aid (8:20-15:25); Post-WWII “Grand Area” planning – evolution of US foreign policy and evolution of ideology created by intelligentsia (15:34-28:33); Domestic debate on US foreign policy – orthodoxy (“state religion”) vs [tolerated] critics (realists or “doves”) (28:35-35:17); “Grand Area” – replacing British empire and French, Middle East – Saudi Arabian prize and Iranian coup (Mossaddegh), defense against internal aggression – militarily and ideologically (35:27-45:36); Propaganda systems in totalitarian states and democratic states; “The Crisis of Democracy” (45:38-56:55).
• For next week:
  • “Constructive Terror,” sections 4.1-4.3  in Chomsky, N. & Herman, E. S. (2015, 1979) The Political Economy of Human Rights Vol I: The Washington Connection and Third World Fascism. London: Pluto Press.
  • Video: John Pilger (2001) “New Rulers of the World” [Indonesia model]
  • Discussion questions

We still have quite a bit from last week to cover, so here we go:

• • Cover the topic of  institutions and discuss chapter 3, “The Making of Prosperity and Poverty,”  in Acemoglu, D. and Robinson, J.A. (2012) Why Nations Fail: The Origins of Power, Prosperity, and Poverty. New York: Crown Business.
    • “Economic Systems,” chapter 1 in Magnuson, J. (2011). Mindful economics: how the US economy works, why it matters, and how it could be different. Seven Stories Press.
  • Review of Dependence Theories
  • Modified Core-Periphery Model and Corporate Dependency
    • Declassified US planning documents: Memo PPS23 by George Kennan: Policy Planning Staff Files, Memorandum by the Director of the Policy Planning Staff (Kennan) to the Secretary of State and the Under Secretary of State (Lovett), TOP SECRET, [Washington,] February 24, 1948.
    • Crozier, Huntington, & Watanuki (1975). “The Crisis of Democracy,” Report on the Governability of Democracies to The Trilateral Commission. New York University Press.
    • Phongpaichit, P. (2016). Inequality, wealth and Thailand’s politics. Journal of Contemporary Asia, 46(3), 405-424.
    • Milton Friedman, “The Social Responsibility of Business is to Increase its Profits,” The New York Times Magazine, 13 Sep 1970.
    • Taylor Tepper, “Milton Friedman On The Social Responsibility of Business, 50 Years Later,” Forbes, 16 Sep 2020.
  • Discuss chapter 2, “The Pentagon-CIA Archipelago,”  in Chomsky, N. & Herman, E. S. (2015, 1979) The Political Economy of Human Rights Vol I: The Washington Connection and Third World Fascism. London: Pluto Press.
  •  Chomsky on Human Rights and US Aid (8:20-15:25); Post-WWII “Grand Area” planning – evolution of US foreign policy and evolution of ideology created by intelligentsia (15:34-28:33); Domestic debate on US foreign policy – orthodoxy (“state religion”) vs [tolerated] critics (realists or “doves”) (28:35-35:17); “Grand Area” – replacing British empire and French, Middle East – Saudi Arabian prize and Iranian coup (Mossaddegh), defense against internal aggression – militarily and ideologically (35:27-45:36); Propaganda systems in totalitarian states and democratic states; “The Crisis of Democracy” (45:38-56:55).
• For next week:
  • “Constructive Terror,” sections 4.1-4.3  in Chomsky, N. & Herman, E. S. (2015, 1979) The Political Economy of Human Rights Vol I: The Washington Connection and Third World Fascism. London: Pluto Press.
  • Video: John Pilger (2001) “New Rulers of the World” [Indonesia model]
  • Discussion questions

Optional, for those who would like more details about Sen’s “capabilities approach”:

• • Slides: Concept of Development & the Perspective of Freedom
  • Amartya Sen: The Ends and Means of Development | Poverty as Capability Deprivation | Markets, State and Social Opportunity

Today’s plan is as follows:

• • Discuss Sen, A. (1988). The concept of development. Handbook of development economics, 1:9-26. Here are the discussion questions.
  • Cover the topic of  institutions and discuss chapter 3, “The Making of Prosperity and Poverty,”  in Acemoglu, D. and Robinson, J.A. (2012) Why Nations Fail: The Origins of Power, Prosperity, and Poverty. New York: Crown Business.
  • Review dependence theories and start building on the core-periphery models and modify them with the class corrective.
  • Next week we will discuss chapter 2, “The Pentagon-CIA Archipelago,”  in Chomsky, N. & Herman, E. S. (2015, 1979) The Political Economy of Human Rights Vol I: The Washington Connection and Third World Fascism. London: Pluto Press.

Todays plan is as follows:

• • Important announcement: for full-time EBA students, please note that the pre-requisite for this course is Micro II (2952303), not micro I (2952301). I have been informed that the registrars office will enforce this, so if you have not yet satisfied this requirement, unfortunately this course will not count for credit. These terms should not affect exchange students.
  • Reminder: if you have not yet done so, please fill out the student details form.
  • We will start by finishing our discussion of the concept of development.
  • Next we will discuss Sen (1988)* and the ethical foundations of economic analysis.
  • Time permitting, we will begin discussing  institutions, review dependence theories, and start building on the core-periphery models and modify them with the class corrective.
  • Next week we will discuss chapter 3, “The Making of Prosperity and Poverty,”  in Acemoglu, D. and Robinson, J.A. (2012) Why Nations Fail: The Origins of Power, Prosperity, and Poverty. New York: Crown Business.
  • If you really want to get a head start on the readings, in three weeks we will likely discuss chapter 2, “The Pentagon-CIA Archipelago,”  in Chomsky, N. & Herman, E. S. (2015, 1979) The Political Economy of Human Rights Vol I: The Washington Connection and Third World Fascism. London: Pluto Press.

• • * Sen, A. (1988). The concept of development. Handbook of development economics, 1:9-26.

Course Syllabus | Fall Schedule

• • Welcome to all students!
  • Please fill out this student details form.
  • Today I will present the course overview and syllabus.
  • Begin the first topic  which introduces/reviews the concept of development.
  • For next week, please read: Sen, A. (1988). The concept of development. Handbook of development economics, 1:9-26.
  • Next week we will finish the remainder of the first topic, discuss Sen (1988), and discuss the ethical foundations of economic analysis.
  • In two weeks we will discuss chapter 3, “The Making of Prosperity and Poverty,”  in Acemoglu, D. and Robinson, J.A. (2012) Why Nations Fail: The Origins of Power, Prosperity, and Poverty. New York: Crown Business.
  • If you really want to get a head start on the readings, in three weeks we will likely discuss chapter 2, “The Pentagon-CIA Archipelago,”  in Chomsky, N. & Herman, E. S. (2015, 1979) The Political Economy of Human Rights Vol I: The Washington Connection and Third World Fascism. London: Pluto Press.