Pol 575 Web Page

This is the web page for the course:

POL 575 Formal Political Analysis 1

taught by Adam Meirowitz

x4859

ameirowi@princeton.edu

This course is an introduction to mathematical or formal models of politics.  It has the following goals:

• Provide an introduction to the technical apparatus used in formal modeling
• Introduce some of the research traditions that apply these techniques to substantive problems in politics
• Provide training in reading articles that use formal models
• Train insight about strategic interaction.

This course will serve as an introduction to individual choice theory, social choice theory and non-cooperative game theory.  Other (non pejorative) names for this material are: political economy, public choice, positive political theory.

The emphasis will be on conceptual rather than purely technical matters.  Nevertheless, the nature of this material requires some concentration on technique.  Students who desire a deeper understanding of the power and limitations of formal modeling, wish to answer the formal theory question in the qualifying exam, or wish to produce formal theoretic papers should devote extra time to mastering technique.

The course requirements include four or five problem sets, a take-home midterm and a final examination.  The final examination will represent 50% of the course grade, the mid term 40%, and problem sets 10%.   

Syllabus

Lecture Notes 

Assignments

Many of the readings can be found at

http://www.jstor.org