Political Economy

Political economy: actors, institutions, growth and development The section welcomes papers from subfields of political economy. Thematically this session is interested in research dealing with the interrelation between development, growth and politics, focusing on institutions’ and actors’ decisive role in outcomes. Submissions can be based both on quantitative and qualitative research methods, while the section also welcomes proposals that address new methodological and theoretical challenges in the study of political economy and development. Moreover, the section is also open to research on the linkages between economic development and politics internationally and comparatively. The section would focus specifically on the issues of: 1. Institutions in structuring politics, policy making, and policy outcomes 2. 2. Rent-seeking, corruption and patronage 3. 3. Sustainability, energy and natural resource governance issues 4. 4. Urban and rural inequalities and poverty 5. 5. Crisis management and innovative policy solutions to developmental barriers Overall the section should aim to encompass more prominent topics in the field of political economy, with emphasis on both the developing and developed world, as well as drawing on lessons and conclusions drawn from interdisciplinary research. The section would encompass five panels: Panel 1: Encourages papers thematically dealing with institutions in structuring politics, policy making and policy outcomes and its interplay with state and other actors. Panel papers should discuss key elements of political systems such as regimes, elections, governments, parties and changes within or pressures from outside the system that impact public goods provision, employment, health and education policy, fiscal regimes and business climate. Panel 2: Deals with classical, yet very prominent topics of measurement, analysing forms, institutionalization and impact of corruptive and rent-seeking practices in welfare politics, public offices, and the business sector. Moreover, the panel encourages comparative analysis of institutional and legislative frameworks, their bidirectional relation with legal and illegal rent-seeking and the impact on economic as well as policy and political aspects of society. Panel 3: Would include papers dealing with issues of sustainable development, including both renewable and finite resources, as well as governance issues occurring in the process of production, taxation, utilization and export. The panel welcomes work on the interplay between type of resources, energy distribution influence and impact on politics, growth and sustainability. Panel 4: Would encompass a wider array of papers dealing with issues of inequalities and poverty but also with a focus on regional and intraregional differences and cooperation, as well as issues of local, regional and central level policy and politics on growth and potential for development. The panel would especially draw on the difference between overall growth and specific development, as well as structures which deliver growth without development. Panel 5: Focuses on policy and institutional innovations in the aftermath of economic, natural and political crises with an emphasis on possible obstacles in adapting to the ever-changing world. The panel welcomes papers researching applicability of transplanted policy solutions in promoting growth, but also papers analysing the dynamics of relationships between international and domestic actors. Endorsed by Standing Group:: Political Economy