Political Economy of Emerging Markets MSc

Overview

Our Political Economy of Emerging Markets MSc offers a distinctive approach to the study of development. We focus on the political economy of emerging markets, especially national development strategies and the underlying politics and institutions that underpin such strategies. The course also covers subjects such as development theory, business and state relations and public finance management. The programme allows you to develop your own research interests on particular countries and regions.

Course detail

Our course provides you with high-quality post-graduate teaching and training in the analysis of emerging economies. It offers a distinctive approach to the study of development by focusing on rising economic powers with a particular focus on national development strategies, economic and political institutions, and the political processes that influence economic reforms. We are based at King’s Department of International Development, which enables us to draw on social scientific expertise from across other departments in the faculties of Social Sciences & Public Policy and Arts & Humanities as well as King’s Global Institutes. The course critically assesses economic development theory to ask whether emerging economies offer a new model or models of development. Our main focus is examining the strategies that emerging economies have adopted to promote development. This includes asking how sustainable or enduring these new strategies are and how emerging markets solve the difficult problems of promoting growth over the longer term. To answer this last question, we investigate how emerging economies deal with the development and diffusion of technology, manage trade and financial flows, balance the role of the state and the market, and tackle problems of institutional underdevelopment and weak systems of law and accountability.

Teaching and assessment

We will use a delivery method that will ensure students have a rich, exciting experience from the start. Face to face teaching will be complemented and supported with innovative technology so that students also experience elements of digital learning and assessment. For every 15-credit module, we will typically provide 20 hours of lectures and seminars, and we will expect you to undertake 180 hours of independent study. For your dissertation, we will usually provide five hours of dissertation workshops, and five one-to-one or group meetings with supervisors. You will undertake 590 hours of independent study.

Career prospects

Our course provides you with high-quality graduate research training that will improve your prospects seeking employment in the development sector in the UK and other OECD countries and also in emerging economies, consultancy organisations, private sector companies with global operations and government offices. It’s an ideal course if you are an international student seeking specialist training and/or government employment.