course-details-portlet

EUR3411 - The Political Economy in European Integration History

About

Examination arrangement

Examination arrangement: Home examination
Grade: Letter grades

Evaluation Weighting Duration Grade deviation Examination aids
Home examination 100/100 6 hours

Course content

What is the economic logic behind progressive steps in European economic integration, developing from a free trade area to the internal market and monetary union? How have the economies of the European countries developed since World War II and to what extent did EU member states’ economic thinking and economies converge or diverge over time? What factors allowed for economic growth across Europe after the war? To what degree can the European sovereign debt crisis be attributed to flaws in the original construction of the Economic and Monetary Union? In short, what can a political economy perspective add to our understanding of the past and contemporary nature, the opportunities as well as the challenges of European integration?The course aims to introduce students to key aspects of the political economy of European integration and the European Union. It first examines, based on key macro-economic concepts and theories, the history of the political economy of European integration with a particular emphasis on its trade, monetary and growth dimensions as well as the degree of economic convergence that results from European integration. It then, in a comparative perspective, discusses the variety of capitalism existing in the EU utilizing the examples of France and Germany. The second block starts with an examination of the origin and set-up of the Economic and Monetary Union (Eurozone) and continues with an analysis of the sovereign-debt crisis, its origins, causes and development. In this context some light will be shed on the economic and monetary situation of several peripheral, crisis-ridden and small(er) member states, members that joined the EU and the Eurozone only fairly recently as well as several EU member states that do not participate in the Economic and Monetary Union. The course concludes with an overview of lessons learned from the crisis, the current state of the Eurozone and the possible need for institutional changes.

Learning outcome

Successful candidates are expected to have acquired the following knowledge and skills:

Knowledge

Candidates

  • have basic knowledge and understanding of the main historical and contemporary political economy issues of European integration
  • have a deepened understanding of the domestic economic changes resulting from European economic and policy integration and of the challenges of economic convergence/divergence within the EU
  • are familiar with the varieties of capitalist economies in Europe and how they affect economic integration in Europe
  • understand the functioning of the economic and monetary institutions and mechanisms of the European Union as well as their advantages and problems.

Skills

Candidates

  • are able to form balanced and critical assessments of the role of economics in the evolutionary process of European integration and of economic questions arising from the process of integration
  • apply their knowledge and conduct independent empirical research in European political economy to design and write a term paper on the economic development of a member state of the Eurozone.

Learning methods and activities

Lectures, with active student participation. It is expected that the semester assignment and the examination must be completed in English. Exceptions must be clarified with the course coordinator.

Compulsory assignments

  • Individual Assignment

Further on evaluation

Exam registration requires that the semester assignment is approved in the same semester. Compulsory activities from a previous semester may be approved by the Department of Historical and Classical Studies.

Course materials

Available at the start of the semester.

Credit reductions

Course code Reduction From To
EUR3405 7.5 AUTUMN 2017
EUR3412 7.5 AUTUMN 2017
More on the course

No

Facts

Version: 1
Credits:  7.5 SP
Study level: Second degree level

Coursework

Term no.: 1
Teaching semester:  AUTUMN 2024

Language of instruction: English

Location: Trondheim

Subject area(s)
  • European Studies
Contact information
Course coordinator:

Department with academic responsibility
Department of Historical and Classical Studies

Timetable

List view
Calendar view

Examination

Examination arrangement: Home examination

Term Status code Evaluation Weighting Examination aids Date Time Examination system Room *
Autumn ORD Home examination 100/100

Release
2024-11-27

Submission
2024-11-27


09:00


15:00

INSPERA
Room Building Number of candidates
Spring ORD Home examination 100/100

Release
2025-05-12

Submission
2025-05-12


09:00


15:00

INSPERA
Room Building Number of candidates
  • * The location (room) for a written examination is published 3 days before examination date. If more than one room is listed, you will find your room at Studentweb.
Examination

For more information regarding registration for examination and examination procedures, see "Innsida - Exams"

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