Introduction to Political Economy

Folks

I am uploading some lecture notes and slides from last class, on unemployment and business cycles.

lecture 14 (pdf)

lecture 14 slides (pdf)

Folks

Since we are behind schedule, the dates given in the syllabus are no longer accurate. Here is the revised plan for the next few classes.

Oct 28: Business Cycles and Competition

Oct 30: Class Discussion: Political Economy and the Presidential Election

Nov 4:  Competition and Investment

Nov 6: Government

Nov 13: Finance

Nov 15: Gender and Race

Folks

Here is a study guide I prepared for the Midterm next Thursday (Oct. 23). As a reminder I won’t be holding office hours this week, but I have regular as well as extra office hours next week (see post below).

Midterm Exam Study Guide

Folks

I have uploaded some notes on the two chapters from Karl Polanyi, that we discussed in class on Thursday.

Lecture 12 notes (PDF)

Hello folks
For those of you who missed class on Thursday here are some important
announcements I made:
1. There is no class on Tuesday, Oct. 14.

2. There will be a video screening on Thursday, Oct. 16. I will not be present,
but I have arranged for someone to come and screen it. It is about one hour long
(two talks) and there is a short quiz based on the talks which will also be
distributed in class. Its an easy way to collect 25 points. The content of these
talks is also part of the syllabus for the midterm.

3. Since I am out of town this coming week, there will be no office hours all
week. Hence I am moving the midterm from Tue, Oct. 21 to Thu, Oct. 23. This
gives you some time to come see me before the exam. I will have extra office
hours on Tuesday, Oct 21 (12-3) and Wednesday, Oct 22 (10-12).

4. I am preparing a study guide for the midterm. It should be ready by this
coming Wednesday. I will put it up on the website and the blog.

5. Finally, assignment #2 which was handed out this week is now due on the day
of the midterm (Oct 23rd) so you have plenty of time to do it.

Folks

This week we will finish our discussion of the market system (including the Polanyi reading) and start on the next topic “Unemployment and Business Cycles.

Assigned readings are either in E4E or the Field Guide or on the course website (“Readings” tab).

Folks

I am posting some lecture notes and slides from the last three lectures (lectures 7,8,9). The material covers the labor theory of value, the circuit of capital and some slides I showed last lecture on wealth distribution in the US and elsewhere.

Lecture 7 notes (labor theory of value)

Lecture 8 notes (the circuit of capital)

Lecture 9 slides

Folks

Next week we will finish the section on Bosses and Workers. I will discuss the Braverman readings and other related issues on Tuesday. Also by next Tuesday I will upload some typed-up notes on the material we covered this week (labor theory of value and circuit of capital).

On Thursday we should hopefully move on to a discussion of the market system. Readings for “The Market System” are now available at the Readings page on the course website. You can access them the same way you did, the Braverman chapters.

Video on worker-owned and operated businesses (also known as worker co-operatives)

“Democracy in the Workplace” (27 min.)

Optional readings for this lecture and the next one can be found here:

Frederick Taylor- Principles of Scientific Management

Karl Marx- Capital Vol. 1, Ch. 10, The Struggle for the normal working day

Folks,

I am uploading the slides I showed in class this Tuesday and Thursday. Also pelase note that the first assignment is due next Thursday. In case you lose your paper copy, a PDF is available for download at the course website (click on the “assignments” tab).

Lecture Five Slides (PDF)

Lecture Six Slides (PDF)

Also as I announced in class, the reading by Harry Braverman (selections from his book “Labor and Monopoly Capital”) can be downloaded from the course website also (click on “readings” tab). I announced the username and password in class and will also email it to you soon.