Institutional Analysis and Development: Micro
Professor Elinor Ostrom
3:30 – 5:30 Tuesday at 513 N. Park
This seminar introduces students to the study of networks across the social sciences, especially in political science and economics. The main goal of the seminar is to explore the feasibility of integrating relational theories and methods with extant institutional approaches in the study of: (1) Political Organizations, including questions about multi-level governance and polycentricity; (2) Political Economy of Institutions, addressing topics such as informal institutions and clientelism; and topics in (3) International Development such as microfinance, social capital, and policy networks.
Enrollment in this seminar requires a commitment to present a relevant research paper at a mini-conference to be held on December 14-15, 2009. In order to assist students in formulating and implementing their own research projects, the seminar will also offer a brief survey of various network-analytic methodologies, including experimental, game-theoretic, and experimental approaches. Prerequisites: previous courses on institutional analysis or graduate-level coursework in social sciences and a basic understanding of game theory and statistics. One course, Y673 (Micro Institutional Analysis and Development), is especially recommended. Note that the focus of this seminar will be on theory building and research design using the concept of networks rather than on a specific methodological approach. Students who want to learn more about social network analysis, especially from a statistical perspective, should plan on taking S651 (Social Network Analysis) separately.
Training scholars is a part of the Workshop's educational mission. The culmination of each seminar is a mini-conference where each participant's paper is presented before their colleagues, by another colleague. There are two mini-conferences: one in fall and one in spring.
Papers for the current mini-conference are only available to participants. Selected papers from previous mini-conferences are available here.
