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Capitalism is often depicted as a singular economic regime, an ideal-type that countries adhere to more or less closely. This course challenges that view. We take as our starting point that there are different typologies and legitimate models of capitalism that vary according to institutional factors. These variations can be found and studied in different Western European countries by looking at the institutional endowments of those countries in several key areas: business and labor, education and training, the welfare state, and corporate governance and finance. The theoretical inspiration for the course comes from the literature on the varieties of capitalism (VoC), and we will use that theory and its key elements both as a subject of study and a jumping off point to frame our critical exploration. Upon achieving a firm grasp of what makes capitalism varied, we will then look more closely through this lens at different member states and their institutions in an attempt to understand their enabling and constraining effects and the way in which they enact different varieties of capitalism.
The course is open only for students of master's degree programmes. updated 2026 Last update: Young Mitchell, M.A., Ph.D. (30.01.2026)
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The aim of the course is to familiarize the students with different approaches of West European governments towards economic development of their respective countries. The course will scrutinize individual forms of capitalism and analyze them from theoretical and practical angles. updated 2026 Last update: Young Mitchell, M.A., Ph.D. (30.01.2026)
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According to the Dean's provision, the teacher evaluates the student's performance in the percentages assigned to grades A to F (https://fsv.cuni.cz/opatreni-dekanky-c-20/2019):
updated 2026 Last update: Young Mitchell, M.A., Ph.D. (30.01.2026)
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see Syllabus section for required literature updated 2026 Last update: Young Mitchell, M.A., Ph.D. (30.01.2026)
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In-person course. The course is taught as a seminar. Student are responsible for actively engaging with the readings and being prepared to comment on them each week. Students will also be required to choose a European economy to apply the concepts to, and present that to the class. Use of generative AI tools: The use and citation of generative AI tools (such as ChatGPT or MS Copilot) in seminar papers and other coursework must comply with the decrees of the IMS Director No. 7/2023 and 9/2023. Generative AI tools may be used unless explicitly prohibited by the instructor. However, they may not be used to generate substantial sections of the text or replace the student’s own intellectual contribution. The student remains fully responsible for any content generated with assistance of AI tools. Presenting AI-generated content, whether verbatim, rephrased, or only slightly modified, as one’s own work constitutes plagiarism. Every submitted paper must include a transparent statement specifying which generative AI tools were used, in which stage of the work they were employed, and how they were used, or confirming that no generative AI tools were used. If this statement is missing or incomplete, the instructor is not permitted to accept the paper for evaluation. Unless the instructor explicitly prohibits the use of generative AI tools, the decision to use or not to use them rests fully with the student. The student has the right to request that the instructor does not use AI assistance for evaluating their work. updated 2026 Last update: Young Mitchell, M.A., Ph.D. (30.01.2026)
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Presentations: 50% Each student will be responsible for presenting in weeks 3, 5, 7, 9, 11 a short report on a country or set of countries institutional structure in the area of study for that week. Participation in class discussions: 30% On the weeks with readings, students are expected to have done the reading and come to class prepared to discuss them. You should come with questions and comments about your reaction to the text. Final Reflection Paper: 20% (deadline on May 31, 2025, 23.59), submissison via MOODLE: https://dl2.cuni.cz/mod/turnitintooltwo/view.php?id=185915
Students are allowed one excused absence. More than that will result in a grade reduction and possible failure of the course.
Grading:
Based on the Dean's Measure 20/2019: https://fsv.cuni.cz/deans-measure-no-20/2019 updated 2026 Last update: Young Mitchell, M.A., Ph.D. (30.01.2026)
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Course Outline and Readings Class 1: Introduction Class 2: Models of Capitalism / Varieties of Capitalism Hall, P. A. (2001). Varieties of capitalism. John Wiley & Sons, 1-68 Class 3: Presentation of States’ Economies Class 4: Welfare State Models Esping-Andersen (1991). Three worlds of welfare capitalism Pierson (2002) Coping with permanent austerity Class 5: Presentations – Welfare State Models Class 6: Industrial Relations Rubery (2010). 'Employment relations', in Morgan, G., Campbell, J., Crouch, C., Pedersen, O. K., & Whitley, R. (Eds.). The Oxford handbook of comparative institutional analysis. OUP Oxford. Thelen, K. (2001). ‘Varieties of Labor Politics in the Developed Democracies’ in Hall and Soskice, eds., Varieties of Capitalism: 71-103. Class 7: Presentations – Industrial Relations Classes 8: Training, Skills, and Innovation Thelen, K. (2007). “Skill Formation and Training”, in Jones and Zeitlin, The Oxford Handbook of Business History, 559-80. Lawton-Smith, H. (2006). Chapter 1 in Universities, innovation and the economy. Routledge. Classes 9: Presentations - Training, Skills, and Innovation Class 10: Corporate Governance and Finance Goyer, M. (2010). Corporate Governance in G., Campbell, J., Crouch, C., Pedersen, O. K., & Whitley, R. (Eds.). The Oxford handbook of comparative institutional analysis. OUP Oxford. Deeg (2010) Institutional Change in Financial Systems, Governance in G., Campbell, J., Crouch, C., Pedersen, O. K., & Whitley, R. (Eds.). The Oxford handbook of comparative institutional analysis. OUP Oxford. Class 11: Presentations - Corporate Governance and Finance
updated 2026 Last update: Young Mitchell, M.A., Ph.D. (30.01.2026)
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