pART 1. foundations (WEEKS 1-3)

The focus of these weeks is conceptual and theoretical. It provides a solid foundation for the later sections of the course that are applied.

Week 1. Comparative Economic Systems as an Area of Knowledge

In this week we look at the concept of an economic system and the benefits of comparative political-economic analysis. We then examine four different governance types: social, command, market and polycentric. This is followed by an examination of different property institutions: private, state, worker-owned/managed, and ‘the commons.’ The lecture concludes with an examination of the activities of investment, consumption and resource maintenance.

Week 2. CAPITALIST Versus Socialist Economic Systems 

In this week examine various competing conceptions of what constitutes a capitalism versus a socialist system. Key questions examined include:

• What are in the differences that delineate capitalism from socialism? 
• What is the status ‘social democracy’ and the ‘mixed economy’ in relation to capitalism and socialism?
• To what extent can any current or past self-identified ‘socialist’ economy claim to be socialist?
• Is there a difference between socialism and communism?
• Are there multiple diverse economies within, and across, nation-states?
• Would ‘post-capitalism’ necessarily be some type of socialism?

Week 3. INtellectual Underpinnings of Capitalism and socialism   

In this week we look at key ideologies and ideas that provide support for both capitalist and socialist systems. This involves engagement with the ideas of Adam Smith, Karl Marx, Friederich Hayek, Elinor Ostrom, Ronald Coase, J K Galbraith.

Part 2. Models and Cases (weeks 4 to 7)  

The focus on these weeks is on classic models and cases: command socialism, market socialism, social-democratic capitalism and neoliberal capitalism.

Week 4. Command Socialism 

Command Socialism in characterised by government ownership of nearly all the means by which things are produced. Prices are set by a central agency and much production and distribution is exercised via administrative command. China, and particularly, the former USSR, adopted command socialism at particular periods of their existence, though there was significant hybridity and evolution. We examine command socialism as both a theoretical system, but also examine it in practice by looking at command socialism Mao’s China which was initially modelled on Stalinist command socialism but which evolved into its own variant of socialism.

Week 5. MARKET SoCIALISM  

Market socialism is characterised not by state ownership but instead but by worker ownership and self-management under a system of market relations. We look at various models of market socialism (there are several) before undertaking a case study of market socialism in the former Yugoslavia. Given that worker cooperatives also exist under capitalism we examine why they are currently they are not all the common and what could or should be done to increase the presence of worker owned and managed firms. 

Week 6. SOcial DEMOCRATIC CAPITALISm 

Social democratic capitalism is a mode of capitalism most closely associated with the Scandinavian Countries, particularly during 1950-70’s. Its key features include Keynesian demand management in order to promote full employment, centralised wage determination, extensive redistribution and welfare services, including heavily subsidised education and health care. We examine social democracy as a general model and then undertake a case study of Swedish social democracy.

Week 7. Neoliberal CAPITALISM

Neoliberalism is a variant of capitalism that emerged during the 1970’s and 80’s and has remained dominant ever since. Its characteristic features include a strong emphasis on market governance and privatisation. We examine neoliberalism as a general module before undertaking an analysis of neoliberalism in Australia.

Part 3. Future Economic Systems (Weeks 8-10)   

The final two weeks of the subject look at how capitalist and socialist system might respond to the pressing challenges of the 21^st century.

Week 8. Capitalism in the 21st Century   

Challenges of the 21^st century include climate change and biodiversity loss, increasing inequality, unemployment and insecurity. Can capitalist systems respond to these challenges? If so, what changes would need to occur and how might they be achieved? Issues discussed include ecological modernisation, green growth, de-growth and steady-state.

Week 9. SOCIALISM in the 21st Century   

What would a viable and desirable 21^st Century Socialism look like? Is there a form of socialism that might respond effectively to contemporary economic, social and environmental challenges and also avoid the often serious failings of 20^th Century Socialism? We address this question by looking and Eric Olin-Wrights Realisable Utopias and Alec Nove’s The Economics of Feasible Socialism – amongst others.