DSPO 25A47 - The Anglo-Saxon Economic Model. An Interdisciplinary Evaluation

The course will introduce students to the ‘Anglo-Saxon’ economic model as it exists in the UK, US, Ireland, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, and to a lesser extent in countries such as India, Singapore and Hong Kong tied historically to the UK. It will adopt a social sciences/inquiry-led approach, based on varying theoretical approaches to assessing how and why Anglo-Saxon countries have developed their economies in the way they have done. Case studies will be primarily from the UK and USA, and the reading and sources will largely be based on these two countries. In the case of the UK, extensive reference shall be made to the UK’s relationship with the European Union (EU) and the role of the EU/UK in nurturing/promoting ideas associated with the Anglo-Saxon economic model, such as, in the case of the EU, the UK-led promotion of the Single Market (1986+). I intend to explore how the Single Market may have laid some of the foundations for the eventual electoral fall-out of Brexit in 2016. The first three lectures will explore what the Anglo-Saxon economic model is, with the next three assessing why this economic model has emerged and is branded/stereotyped in this way. The next five lectures shall examine the effects of the Anglo-Saxon model on : macro-economic stability ; equality and equality of opportunity ; infrastructure ; public sector investment ; and the environment. The final lecture shall be a plenary.

Introductory knowledge of economic theory, political science and modern British and American history would be beneficial. High School - IB Economics at Standard/Higher Level, A Level Economics etc - or an Undergraduate course in Economics would be highly desirable. A high level of fluency in academic English is essential. The course can be taken jointly with my other Undergraduate course ‘Public Policy Failure and the British State : A History in Twelve Case Studies’.

20% - Summative Essay 1,500-1,750 words long from a topic of the candidate’s choice

20% - Presentation to class

50% - End of Term Exam

10% - Class Verbal Participation Score