It focuses on the following topics:
- The measurement of norms and institutions;
- The problem of social order: Thomas Hobbes and the emergence of norms by design;
- Processes of spontaneous norm emergence. The emergence of conventions;
- Externalities, second-order public goods and the emergence of norms: norms as solutions of collective action problems;
- Path dependence and critical junctures as conditions for the emergence of norms and institutions;
- When do norms and institutions emerge or decline spontaneously or by human design?;
- The effects of norms and institutions: when do norms and institutions influence behavior, expectations, and preferences? The New Institutionalisms: what are the theoretical innovations?
Period
19-08-2013 - 29-08-2013 (2 weeks)
Target group
Advanced undergraduate business and economics majors/ minors (after two years of study).Proof of English proficiency (TOEFL ibt 96 or equivalent) is required.
Course aim
This course provides a critical introduction to and discussion of the major theories in the social sciences about the emergence and effects of norms and institutions. The questions we will be focusing on are:
(1) When do norms and institutions come into being?
(2) If norms and institutions exist:
(a) when do they change or remain stable, and
(b) what intended and unintended effects do they have? These effects may refer to the behavior or other properties (like preferences and beliefs) of individual actors or to the likelihood that other norms, institutions, organizations etc. change or emerge.
Students who have taken the course should be able to apply the theories to analyze the emergence and effects of specific kinds of norms and institutions. The class will also contribute to enhance the ability to critically discuss social science literature.
Credits
6.0 ECTS credits
After succesfully completing the programme, international students receive an academic transcript where the course title(s), the ECTS credits earned and the final grades appear on.
Course fee
EUR 1100: The programme fee includes accommodation (in double room), public transportation ticket within and around Cologne, course materials, welcome and farewell event, language and cultural orientation, company visit, city tour, teambuilding event, wireless internet on campus, access to University's computer pools and libraries, access to subsidized food at the Universitys restaurants and cafs.
EUR 1400: The programme fee includes accommodation (in single room), public transportation ticket within and around Cologne, course materials, welcome and farewell event, language and cultural orientation, company visit, city tour, teambuilding event, wireless internet on campus, access to University's computer pools and libraries, access to subsidized food at the Universitys restaurants and cafs. The course is offered as part of the Cologne International Summer University (CISU). If you decide to participate at two sessions (4 weeks in total), the prize is EUR 1500 (double room) or EUR 2000 (single room).
Course leader
Prof. Dr. Karl-Dieter Opp
University of Cologne Faculty of Managment, Economics and Social Sciences
Address: International Relations Center (ZIB-WiSo), Albertus Magnus Platz, Cologne
Postal code: 50937
City: Cologne
Country: Germany
Website: http://www.cisu.uni-koeln.de/
E-mail: wiso-cisu@uni-koeln.de
Phone: 0049-221-470-7702
