MSc Global Economic Governance and Policy

The MSc in Global Economic Governance and Policy is a new Masters programme designed for professionals and postgraduate students, with or without a prior background in economics, who wish to gain a focused and in-depth understanding of contemporary economic governance and policy debates from an Economics perspective.

The MSc is taught through four dedicated core modules. The first, Global Production and Industrial Policy (15PECH027), introduces students to the analysis of the global production (and trade) system, its evolution, structure and interdependencies, as well as the ways in which industrial policies have an impact on these systems. International economics, theories of the growth of the firm and industrial organisation, technological change and innovation, are selectively introduced to disentangle value creation, capture and distribution dynamics both within and across countries. The economics of industrial policy (its designing principles, governance mechanisms and evaluation techniques) are analysed in a comparative framework by reviewing the global (and historical) variety of industrial policy approaches, models and packages. Particular emphasis is assigned to the study of technology and financial infrastructures.

The second module, Global Economic Policy Analysis (15PECC063) introduces students to core policy debates on global economic governance and different theoretical perspectives on economic policy design. Students will achieve a thorough understanding of different theoretical perspectives on economic policy tools and processes, the history of international policy regimes and of core areas of current global economic policy debates.

The third module, Political Economy of Institutions (15PECC020), introduces students to the economics of institutions and the role of political economy in understanding institutional performance in developing countries. This covers the growing interest and literature on institutions and institutional economics,, the institutions of capitalism and the transition to capitalism, the role of property rights, firms and property right stability during this transition. The course will deal with both the “new institutional economics” approaches to these questions and alternative approaches based on a comparative historical analysis and the implications for institutional policy in transition and developing countries.

Finally, the fourth module, Institutions and Governance (15PECC064), is designed to make students aware of the policy implications of current institutional economics and governance debates on issues affecting catching-up economic development and global growth based on a thorough understanding of the theoretical underpinnings of competing policy positions. Topic covered will include the role of the state, rents in economic development, different strategies of catching up, the role of democracy and of authoritarianism in economic transitions, problems of corruption and anti-corruption strategies. Core learning outcomes include a thorough understanding of competing policy positions on these aspects of global economic governance and the underlying theoretical underpinnings of these positions.

In addition, students will choose up to four optional modules (depending on the weight of the options, see the list below), from across a range of SOAS departments plus a 10,000 word dissertation.

Students can, but do not have to, choose a course structure that, in addition to the programme’s focus on policy analysis and training, provides research methods training, for instance if they are interested in doing a PhD. If students are interested in this “research track”, among their four optional modules they have to choose the following two: Statistical Research Techniques (15PECC039); Research Methods (15PECC040).

• Global Production and Industrial Policy
• Global Economic Policy Analysis
• Institutions and Governance
• Political Economy of Institutions
• Dissertation in Global Economic Governance and Policy

MSc GEGP students will be eligible to take any of the post-graduate courses offered in the Economics Department, pending permission by the course convenors on the basis of the students’ prior academic qualifications in economics.

MSc GEGP students can choose either from a combination of 30 credit modules or 15 credit modules from the following list of modules by department to make up a total of 60 credits. The availability of open option courses in other FL&SS departments from the below list is conditional on the approval of individual course convenors as well as the usual restrictions with regard to pre-requisites, timetable compatibilities and availability of individual courses in any one academic year. Students should note that some courses are capped in terms of student numbers, and that students from home departments will be given priority in case the relevant caps are reached. All law courses are open only for students with an LLB or who take the Law pre-sessional course offered by the School of Law at SOAS.

• Applied economics of the Middle East 2
• China's Economic Transformation
• China and World Development
• Economic Development of Japan
• Economic development of South Asia a) the macroeconomy
• Economic Development of South Asia B) Major Sectors & The International Economy
• Economic development of the Asia Pacific region 2
• Economic development of the Asia Pacific region
• Economics of Environment and Development
• Financial Systems and Economic Development
• Growth and Development
• Research Methods
• Statistical Research Techniques
• Theory of financial institutions & policy
• Limits to Growth? (PG)

• Aid and Development
• Agrarian Development, Food Policy and Rural Poverty
• Borders and Development
• Civil society, social movements and the development process
• Development Practice
• Energy Transition, Nature, and Development in a Time of Climate Change
• Famine and food security
• Issues in Forced Migration
• Gender and Development
• Global Commodity Chains, Production Networks and Informal Work
• Global Health and Development
• Migration and Policy
• Natural resources, development and change: putting critical analysis into practice
• Problems of Development in the Middle East and North Africa
• Security
• The Working Poor and Development
• Understanding Economic Migration: Theories, Patterns and Policies

• International human resource management
• International management
• International Marketing
• Management in China 1 - domestic perspectives
• Management in China 2 - international perspectives
• Management in Japan I
• Risk management
• Topics in the Chinese economy
• Foundations of International Law
• Conflict, rights and justice
• International Politics of Human Rights
• State and Society in Central Asia and the Caucasus
• The Law & Politics of State Violence: An Interdisciplinary Perspective

• The economic development of South East Asia

• Political economy of violence, conflict and development
• Theory, policy and practice of development

• Law, Environmental and Sustainable Development in a Global Context
• Multinational Enterprises and The Law
• Law and Natural Resources

• Government and politics in Africa
• Government and politics of modern South Asia
• Government and politics of modern South East Asia
• International politics of East Asia
• International politics of the Middle East
• Northeast Asian politics: Japan, Korea and Taiwan
• Politics of Globalisation and Development in Asia and Africa
• State and society in the Chinese political process
• State & society in Asia & Africa
• Taiwan's politics and cross-strait relations

If you are a current student you can find structure information on Moodle or through your Department.

• MSc Global Economic Governance and Policy programme specification 2017-18 (pdf; 136kb)

Important notice regarding changes to programmes and modules