contemporary perspectives on ipe
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Contemporary Perspectives on IPE
Class 3 – Tuesday, 20 September 2011J A Morrison 1
Jerry Cohen Barry EichengreenLarry Summers
Contemporary Perspectives on IPE
I. Defining Our TermsII. IPE as a Social ScienceIII.IR “Schools”/“Theories”IV.Some Differentiating
QuestionsV. Reference to Empirics VI.Conclusion: How should we
study IPE? 2
Contemporary Perspectives on IPE
I. Defining Our TermsII. IPE as a Social ScienceIII.IR “Schools”/“Theories”IV.Some Differentiating
QuestionsV. Reference to Empirics VI.Conclusion: How should we
study IPE? 3
There are lots of “--isms” in the political
economy literature…
4
Autocracy
Socialism
LiberalismCommunism
DemocracyAuthoritarianism
Aristocracy
Capitalism
Since these terms are frequently used in
different ways, it will be valuable for us to be sure we use the terms in the same ways in this class.
5
I like to think about them as describing points along
various continua, as representing values for
particular variables.
6
I understand these terms in the context of the
following big questions…
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Regime Type: Who holds the reigns of power?
Many One
AutocracyDemocracy Aristocracy
Few
Negative Liberty: What restrictions are placed on government authority?
Many None
AuthoritarianLiberal
Political-Economic System: What is the level of government intervention
in the economy?
Low High
Socialist/Managed
Capitalist/Free-Market
“Communism,” for me, denotes the political-economic system that Marx predicted would follow inevitably from
capitalism.
11
Remember, these questions relate to
variables.
Over time, we have observed various
combinations of these different values.
12
Observed Combinations
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Country Regime-Type Liberality PE System
USSR (1945) Autocracy Authoritarian Socialist
China (Today) Aristocracy Authoritarian Mixed/Middle
US (Today) Democracy Liberal Capitalist
Venezuela Democracy Authoritarian Socialist
Sweden Democracy Liberal Socialist
Iraq (2000) Autocracy Authoritarian Capitalist
GB (1815) Aristocracy Liberal Managed
Of course, we might disagree about specific characterizations; but the point remains: different regime types, levels of liberality, and PE systems have been combined.
Theory versus Policy• Foreign Economic Policy (“FEP”)
– The policies designed to influence the relationship between the domestic economy and foreign markets and/or the global economy
– These are the policies that exist, not necessarily the theories
– Broad category: everything from tariffs to fertility policy
• Political Economic System (e.g. Mercantilist System)
– The proposed bundle of related theories concerning a state’s FEP
– Note: the proposed system may not always be fully adopted or implemented in practice; the PE systems are distinct from actual policy 14
Contemporary Perspectives on IPE
I. Defining Our Terms II. IPE as a Social ScienceIII.IR “Schools”/“Theories”IV.Some Differentiating
QuestionsV. Reference to Empirics VI.Conclusion: How should we
study IPE? 15
There’s a real question about the extent to which we do and should study
IPE as a science.
16
We’ll consider that question.
But, first, let’s discuss what it means to study
something “scientifically.” 17
Scientific study has several defining
features.
18
Scientific study is positive.
19
Concerned with what is (positive), not what ought to be (normative).
And scientific study relies on the
empirical testing of models to explain the relationship
between variables.20
Let’s unpack that.
21
Variables• Variables: factors of interest that
may vary in value• May be continuous, discrete, or a
“dummy” • Examples
– Volume of trade (continuous)– Type of Exchange Rate Regime
(discrete)– Status of membership in Int’l
Organization (dummy) 22
Theories and Models• Specify relationship between variables
– Value of independent (or “explanatory”) variable explains dependent variable
– E.g. Type of exchange rate regime (IV) explains the volume of trade (DV)
• May be correct or incorrect (i.e. may or may not align with reality)
• Endogenous: determined within the model
• Exogenous: determined outside of the model 23
Facts• Descriptions of reality• For our purposes, statements about
the value of variables• May be correct or incorrect• Examples:
– Hong Kong has a fixed exchange rate (correct)
– The volume of world trade has increased since 1945 (correct)
– The United States has a fixed exchange rate regime (incorrect) 24
Empirical Tests
• Theories/Models lead to testable hypotheses– E.g. Fixed exchange rate regimes lead to
greater volumes of trade.
• Hypotheses are predictions about the value of variables
• We test hypotheses by comparing predictions to observed reality– Do we observe that countries with fixed
exchange rate regimes have greater volumes of trade than countries with flexible exchange rate regimes?
25
Correlation ≠ Causation• Correlation: the values of two variables
vary together– E.g. When many students arrive to class
carrying umbrellas, overall attendance is poor
• Spurious correlation: correlation without causality– E.g. students do not avoid class because
they fear umbrellas!
• Or causality may be reversed– E.g. Perhaps high trade volumes lead to
fixed exchange rate regimes (rather than vice versa).
26
Scientific study relies on an
epistemology.
27
An understanding of what can be known and how to acquire knowledge.
Contemporary Perspectives on IPE
28
I. Defining Our Terms II. IPE as a Social ScienceIII.IR “Schools”/“Theories”IV.Some Differentiating
QuestionsV.Reference to Empirics VI.Conclusion: How should we
study IPE?
You hear a lot about the “schools” of IR
thought.
Realism, Constructivism, Idealism, Liberalism, Institutionalism, &c.
29
These terms, used tout court, mean almost nothing to
me.
30
There is simply too much variation
within these “schools” for these monikers to convey
much useful information.
31
Many of the “founders” of these
schools (Wendt, Mearsheimer) don’t even agree on who belongs where, let alone what defines
each school! 32
So, think in terms of either specific
theorists and/or specific theories—
meaning, responses to precise questions.
33
And think in terms of multiple
dimensions—not just a simple, one-dimensional continuum.
34
(Don’t think the way my mother does: “liberals” versus “conservatives.”)
Contemporary Perspectives on IPE
I. Defining Our TermsII. IPE as a Social ScienceIII.IR “Schools”/“Theories”IV.Some Differentiating
QuestionsV. Reference to Empirics VI.Conclusion: How should we
study IPE? 35
Here are some of the essential questions we
might ask.
Each question constitutes a dimension along which we might organize different
theorists & theories.36
IV. DIFFERENTIATING QUESTIONS
1. Where’s all the action?2. Does process matter?3. What makes us tick?4. What is the nature of our world?
37
The Levels (Images) of IP
• At what level should we look for the key variables?
• The Levels (Images)– Individual (1st): Hitler liked war– Unit/State (2nd): Germany was
Autocratic; Autocracies are bellicose– System (3rd): There wasn’t a hegemon
(single dominant power) to check Germany’s rise
38
The Primary Actors in IP
• Who are the primary actors in IP? What ought to be our “units of analysis”?
• Potential Units of Analysis– States– Individuals– International Institutions & Organizations– Interest Groups and NGOs– Socio-Economic Classes– Transnational Social Movements (e.g.
Feminism, Environmentalism, &c) 39
The Types of Variables• What types of variables matter?• Material Factors
– Power– Wealth– Geography– Material interests (income, &c)
• Ideational Factors– Values– Perceptions & Understandings– Assumptions, Expectations, & Identities
40
IV. DIFFERENTIATING QUESTIONS
1. Where’s all the action?2. Does process matter?– What makes us tick?– What is the nature of our world?
41
Static versus Dynamic Models
• Static Models– “Snapshot” of current situation– History, momentum, &c., do not matter– Many variables treated as exogenous
• Dynamic Models– Process matters– Virtually all variables could be
endogenous– E.g. The economic situation Obama faces
must be understood in the context of previous administrations
42
Why use static models at all?
parsimony—dynamic models are quite unwieldy. – E.g. Did Andrew Jackson’s administration
help to generate the current financial crisis?
- The question: which variables can we assume to be exogenously determined?
- Disagreement arises over answers43
IV. DIFFERENTIATING QUESTIONS
1. Where’s all the action?2. Does process matter?3. What makes us tick?– What is the nature of our world?
44
Logics of Human Behavior
• Consequentialist (Functionalist)– Actions chosen based on expected
consequences
• Appropriateness (Normative)– Actions chosen based on normative
standards of right & wrong
Which mode did Locke, Smith, & Marx use?
45
Narrowness of Our Interests
• Egoism– Almost total emphasis on one’s own
welfare
• Altruism– Considerable weight given to the
welfare of others
Which view did Locke, Smith, & Marx hold?
46
Source of Our Interests
• Rationalism– Preferences are exogenously
determined
• Constructivism– Preferences are endogenous to
interaction
Are we social or unitary/atomistic actors?
47
IV. DIFFERENTIATING QUESTIONS
1. Where’s all the action?2. Does process matter?3. What makes us tick?4. What is the nature of our world?
48
Do Markets Work?
• Market Failure– Without active management, markets
often produce suboptimal outcomes
• Invisible Hand– Markets produce best outcomes when
intervention is minimized (laissez-faire)
49
Compatibility of Interests• Mutual Benefit
– Pursuit of private interest serves public good– “Private vices are public benefits” (Mandeville)– E.g. Competition between producers better
products at lower prices
• Zero-Sum– Benefits can only come at others’ expense– E.g. Allocation of rival goods; pursuit of status
What areas of the market face which circumstance?
50
So…
There are a lot of different questions to consider; and there are a lot of different
ways to group scholars and approaches to IPE.
51
Contemporary Perspectives on IPE
I. Defining Our TermsII. IPE as a Social ScienceIII.IR “Schools”/“Theories”IV.Some Differentiating
QuestionsV. Reference to Empirics VI.Conclusion: How should we
study IPE? 52
Remember that our theories specify the relationship
between variables.
We test our theories using empirical evidence.
53
Throughout the term, we’ll rigorously examine a range
of empirical cases.
This will help you to build a universe of cases upon
which you can draw as you attempt to develop and test
theories about IPE.54
I’m going to talk a lot about the “Anglosphere”—the
English-speaking part of the world.
Here’s why…
55
Why focus on the Anglosphere?
1.Important– Historical influence of British state
and empire– Influence of British thinkers– Familiar case in the literature
• Accessible– Writing is in English– Rich array of sources,
perspectives on context, &c.– This is the case I know best!
56
Some of this you will have to know because that history
was influential.
But in this class—and every other—you should evaluate theory using the cases you
know best.
Combine what we study here with what you already know.57
Contemporary Perspectives on IPE
I. Defining Our TermsII. IPE as a Social ScienceIII.IR “Schools”/“Theories”IV.Some Differentiating
QuestionsV. Reference to Empirics VI.Conclusion: How should we
study IPE? 58
Today, I’ve tried to briefly introduce some of the major issues and perspectives in
the study of IPE today.
I want to emphasize, though, that there continues to be disagreement about how
(and what!) we should study in this field.
59
(Think: Cohen on the British & American Schools;
Eichengreen on Economics versus IR)
60
What should the study of IPE look like?
61
Should we consider normative questions? Or
just positive ones?
62
How scientific should our inquiry be?
How rigorous should our empirical standards be?
Should we only formulate refutable hypotheses?
63
Whom should we study?
How much emphasis should we place on the state
(versus individuals, NGOs, MNCs, &c)?
64
We’ll continue to engage these questions throughout
the term…
65
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