1 - 10 of 18 results for: POLECON

Preference to sophomores. Rational choice methodology in political science. Why have third-party candidates been unsuccessful in the U.S. when other countries often have numerous political parties? Does racial gerrymandering contribute to Republican control of the House of Representatives? Why do people vote, despite the slim chance that a single vote determines an election? Is there a difference between policy outcomes under unified government versus divided government.

This course addresses managerial issues in the social, political, and legal environments of business. Cases and readings emphasize strategies to improve the performance of companies in light of their multiple constituencies. Cases are set in both international and U.S. environments. Topics include integrated strategy, activists and the media, legislation affecting business, regulation and antitrust, intellectual property, and international trade policy.

This course introduces students to the core issues of law and economics and their applications to managerial strategy. Markets and the legal environment are increasingly interrelated: issues such as antitrust, intellectual property, privacy rights, product regulation, and torts affect firms' profitability both directly through legal action and indirectly by determining the "rules of the game." Nor are companies simply reactive to legal and political forces; actions taken by managers in firms often propel issues before the public eye. For instance, electronic collection and collation of personal data has stimulated new concerns about privacy, while court decisions, new legislation, and public opinion have all played roles in determining what is acceptable. Such legal and political forces invariably necessitate changes in corporate strategy, and the effectiveness of corporate strategy often rests on managers' ability to anticipate, rather than simply react to, developments in the nonmarket environment. nnnCases and readings consider specific legal principles and how executives can anticipate, and take effective action with regards to, the threats and opportunities they present. The course will focus on legal doctrine within the United States, but will also consider the legal ramifications of corporate actions with regards to other nations and international law. The course also considers other important nonmarket issues, such as responding to pressure from independent interest groups and understanding how firms may influence the legislative process, though in less depth than Nonmarket Strategy.nnnStudents are expected to come to class with a thorough understanding of the both the legal issues involved and the economic considerations of the case under discussion. By the end of the course, students will have acquired a thorough understanding of the legal principles covered, as well as a strategic acuity regarding the appropriate market and nonmarket responses. Grades will be based on student's demonstration of this understanding through class participation and a final exam.

This course addresses managerial issues in the social, political, and legal environments of business. Cases and readings emphasize strategies to improve the performance of companies in light of their multiple constituencies. Cases are set in both international and U.S. environments. Topics include integrated strategy, activists and the media, legislation affecting business, regulation and antitrust, intellectual property, international trade policy, and business ethics and corporate social responsibility.

This course uses novels and plays as a basis for examining the moral and spiritual aspects of business leadership and of the environment in which business is done. On the one hand literature is used as the basis for examining the character of business people, while on the other hand literature provides illumination of the cultural contexts of values and beliefs within which commercial activities take place in a global economy. The course is organized around the interplay of religious traditions and national identities. Classes are taught in a Socratic, discussion-based style, creating as much of a seminar atmosphere as possible. A two-text method is used, encouraging students to examine their own personal stories with as much care as the stories presented in the literature. This four unit course will be graded on the basis of class participation and a final paper. There will be no exam.

Need approval from sponsoring faculty member and GSB Registrar.

This is an advanced applications class on nonmarket strategy. The topics covered in this class are similar to those covered in the entry-level foundations class ( POLECON 230): media relations, strategic interactions with activists, political coalition formation, strategic lobbying, regulation, antitrust policy, intellectual property, and the politics of international trade. nnnCompared to the entry-level class, POLECON 530 places less emphasis on introducing basic facts and frameworks for understanding the nonmarket environment. It places more emphasis on introducing students to foundational research in political economy. This research is then applied to specific strategic situations that companies face when dealing with activists, governments, and regulation. The class is taught using a combination of lectures, cases, and projects.nnnPOLECON 530 is most appropriate for students who have worked in the media, NGOs (in a political capacity), governments, or government relations, as well as those who have studied political science, law, or public policy.

This course explores the impact intellectual property rights have on business decisions. We begin with a general background of intellectual property law including copyright, trademark, patent and trade secret. We will also cover quasi property rights such as database and privacy. Each of these distinct rights will be examined through a case methodology affording students an opportunity to gauge the relative strengths and weaknesses of a particular form of protection. As the value of intellectual property rises, the avenues of economic return increase. We will analyze various methods of maximizing such economic returns. Focus for this course is on the impact both technological innovation and intellectual property law have on business strategies. This is not a class designed to teach students the law of intellectual property. Rather, this course educates business decision makers on the impact intellectual property can have on the bottom line. This course employs a mixed lecture/case discussion format. We will have several sessions with lectures by visiting industry experts.

The course deals with the recent (post war) sustained high growth in the developing world and its likely evolution and impact in the future. How are these kinds of growth rates possible? What accounts for the absence of growth in a part of the developing world? What are the key political ingredients? Attention will be given to the evolving global landscape surrounding this growth. What is the impact of this widening pattern of growth and are there natural brakes that may slow the process down or make it difficult for the non-G20 developing countries and their 1/3 of the world's population to start or sustain the high growth process. The class will attempt to identify and assess the impact of important global trends and challenges. Included in the latter will be governance issues. We will spend a little time on the impact of the 2008-2009 crisis, the transmission channels and lessons learned from the vantage point of developing countries.