Political economy

Who is the university certificate suitable for?

Are you interested in economic policy decisions and their social consequences, and would you like to have a well-founded say when it comes to the distribution, regulation and control of economic processes? Then this certificate is just right for you.

You will expand your analytical and practical skills, especially if you are interested in business-related political strategies or work in an economic policy environment yourself. Take the opportunity to sharpen your specialist profile through a practice-oriented and academically sound further education course, flexibly and alongside your career.

The most important things at a glance:

  • Duration of study: 6 months + 6 months free extension
  • ECTS credit points: 10 ECTS credit points
  • Examination form: Portfolio assignment (term paper and presentation)
  • Admission requirements: Knowledge of scientific work
  • Start of studies: at any time
  • Creditability: M.A. Business Education
  • Tuition fees: EUR 165 per month, EUR 990 in total

Think economics and politics together - with the University Certificate in Political Economy

Global crises, economic policy decisions and social inequality show: Economics is never neutral, but always political. Anyone taking on responsibility in politics, administration, business or civil society today must be able to understand and critically reflect on the reciprocal relationships between political processes and economic dynamics.

The University Certificate in Political Economy offers you a scientifically sound, interdisciplinary approach to the analysis of economic systems and provides you with the central foundations to be able to classify economic policy developments in a national, European and global context.

Understanding the interplay between political and economic processes

The certificate focuses on the fundamental interdependencies between politics and economics. You will learn how economic structures influence political decisions and, conversely, how political action shapes economic conditions. You will deal with central concepts and issues of economic theory and economic policy, from market mechanisms to state regulation.

A particular focus lies on the examination of the classics of political economy, including Adam Smith, Karl Marx and John Maynard Keynes, as well as positions of the New Political Economy, which analyzes economic decision-making processes with the help of modern political science methods.

You will also deal with current socio-economic challenges such as growing inequality, inflation, globalization and ecological transformation. You will learn not to view these problems in isolation, but as the result of complex interactions between economic interests, political structures and social power relations.

Another component of the certificate is the theoretical and methodological foundations of European policy and economic analysis. You will gain insights into European political economic research and understand how economic policy management works at EU level, from monetary policy to fiscal policy.

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