History of Capitalism: Critical and Comparative Perspectives on Development
BASIC DATA
course listing
A - main register
course code
MNI5210
course title in Estonian
Kapitalismi ajalugu: arengu kriitilised ja võrdlevad perspektiivid
course title in English
History of Capitalism: Critical and Comparative Perspectives on Development
course volume CP
-
ECTS credits
3.00
to be declared
yes
fully online course
not
assessment form
Pass/fail assessment
teaching semester
autumn
language of instruction
Estonian
English
Study programmes that contain the course
code of the study programme version
course compulsory
HAGM09/25
no
MARM06/25
no
Structural units teaching the course
MN - Ragnar Nurkse Department of Innovation and Governance
Course description link
Timetable link
View the timetable
Version:
VERSION SPECIFIC DATA
course aims in Estonian
Õppeaine üldeesmärk on:
- selgitada jõukate riikide majandussüsteeme, mis on taganud majandusliku, poliitilise ja tehnoloogilise ülemvõimu ning selgitada arengus mahajäävate piirkondade arengut pidurdavaid tegureid;
- anda ülevaade levinuimatest kapitalismi vormidest, mis on ajalooliselt tänaseks välja kujunenud;
- kajastada kapitalistlike tootmissüsteemide institutsionaalset, majandus-poliitilist ja tehnoloogilist kooslust ning nende omavahelist põimumist;
- analüüsida seoseid rahaliste vahendite, innovatsiooni ning majandusarengu vahel ehk anda põhjalik ülevaade rahanduse rollist arenguprotsessis ning arengu finantseerimise alternatiivsetest moodustest (kaubandus) ja allikatest (era- vs. avalikud investeeringud);
- selgitada finantspoliitikate olemust ja raha kui institutsiooni rolli ning mõju tootmiskapitali arendamisel;
- näidata võimalikke perspektiivseid majandusarengu rahastamise vorme ja lähiajaloo suundumusi antud vallas globaliseeruva majanduse taustal.
course aims in English
General objective of the subject is to:
- explain the economic systems of wealthy countries, which have ensured economic, political and technological supremacy, and to survey the factors inhibiting the development of lagging behind regions;
- give an overview of the most common forms of capitalism that have historically developed to date;
- reflect on the institutional, economic-political and technological architecture of capitalist production systems and their intertwining;
- analyze the connections between financial resources, innovation and economic development, i.e. provide a comprehensive overview of the role of finance in the development process and alternative ways of financing development and sources;
- explain the nature of financial policies and the role and influence of money as an institution in the development of production capital;
- show possible prospective forms of economic development financing and trends in recent history in this area against the background of a globalizing economy.
learning outcomes in the course in Est.
Õppeaine edukalt läbinud üliõpilane:
- klassifitseerib majandustegevused ja kirjeldab majandusarengu taga olevaid tegureid;
- tuvastab majandusliku mahajäämuse põhjused evolutsioonilise majandusteooria seisukohalt;
- selgitab riigi rolli majanduses ja toob välja peamised majandus(tööstus)poliitika meetmete hoovad majandusarengu toetamiseks;
- võrdleb erinevaid kapitalistlikke süsteeme ja neile iseloomulikke institutsionaalseid struktuure ning majandustegevusi;
- selgitab reaalmajanduse ja finantsmajanduse seoseid ning finantskriiside allikaid;
- määratleb finantsvahendite ja -poliitikate, sh finantsinstitutsioonide funktsioonid ning näitab nende mõju nii innovatsioonile kui ka majanduslikule arengule;
- formuleerib probleemid, mis seonduvad arengu finantseerimisega arengumaades;
- vastandab arengu finantseerimise alternatiivseid vorme ja allikaid, hinnates ühe või teise alternatiivi puudusi, ohte ning võimalusi kestlikkuse vaates.
learning outcomes in the course in Eng.
After successfully passing the subject, the student:
- classifies economic activities and describes the factors supporting economic development;
- identifies the reasons behind economic backwardness from the perspective of evolutionary economics;
- explains the role of the state in the economy and presents the main levers of economic (industrial) policy measures to support economic development;
- compares different capitalist systems of production and their distinctive institutional structures and economic activities;
- explains the relation between the real economy and the financial economy and the sources of financial crises;
- defines the functions of financial instruments and policies, including financial institutions, and shows their effects on innovation and overall economic development;
- formulates problems associated with development financing in developing countries;
- contrasts alternative forms and sources of development financing by evaluating the weaknesses, threats and opportunities of these alternatives from the sustainability perspective.
brief description of the course in Estonian
Kursus annab ülevaate majandus- ja arengupoliitikatest, mis on võimaldanud riikidel ühel või teisel ajaperioodil saavutada majandusliku eesrindlikkuse, samal ajal tutvustades ebaühtlase arengu teooria põhielemente. Põhjalikult vaadeldakse kapitalistlikke süsteeme eristavate institutsionaalsete tunnusjoonte ning majandusstruktuuride eripärasid. Vaadeldakse kapitalismi tüüpide tehnoloogilisi ja geograafilisi dünaamikaid, perifeerset vaesumist ning võimalusi, mis on avatud tänasel päeval nii riikidele kui regioonidele kapitalistlike süsteemide arendamisel. Arutluse all on edukad arengu- ja tööstuspoliitikad Ameerika Ühendriikide, Saksamaa ja Jaapani esilekerkimisest alates kuni Soome ja Iirimaa edulugudeni 20. sajandi lõpus. Spetsiifilisemalt vaatleb kursus majandusarengu finantsaspekte ning finantssektori ja -poliitikate rolli "reaalse" majandustegevuse toetamisel ning innovatsiooni finantseerimisel. Erilist tähelepanu pööratakse poliitikate läbikukkumistele: miks teatud majanduspoliitilised meetmed on ebaõnnestunud ühes või teises kontekstis?
brief description of the course in English
The course gives an overview of economic and development policies that have made rich countries rich, while at the same time introducing the elements of a theory of uneven economic development. The peculiarities of institutional features and economic structures distinguishing capitalist systems are thoroughly examined. The course looks at the technological and geographical dynamics of capitalism, peripheral impoverishment and the possibilities open today to both countries and regions in the development of capitalist systems. Successful development and industrial policies from the rise of the United States, Germany and Japan to the success stories of Finland and Ireland at the end of the 20th century are discussed. More specifically, the course examines the financial aspects of economic development and the role of the financial sector and policies in supporting "real" economic activity and financing innovation. Particular attention is paid to policy failures: why have certain economic policy measures failed in one context or another?
type of assessment in Estonian
Hinne kujuneb kodutööde (100%) põhjal. Osalemine loengutes ja seminarides on kohustuslik.
Üliõpilaste mõistmist loengutes käsitletu ja lugemismaterjali osas hinnatakse kodutöödega.
type of assessment in English
The grade is based on the home assignments (100%). Participation in lectures and seminars is mandatory.
Students` understanding about the content of lectures and reading materials will be evaluated with the home assignments.

independent study in Estonian
Iseseisev töö on individuaalsed kodutööd, mille eesmärgiks on võimaldada üliõpilastel demonstreerida kriitilise mõtlemise, kontseptuaalse analüüsi ja argumenteerimise oskusi, allikate ja tõendite kasutamist, lugemuse haaret ja asjakohasust.
independent study in English
The goal of course works is to allow students to demonstrate their critical thinking and conceptual analysis skills, cohesion of arguments, use of sources and evidence, and the breadth and relevance of reading.
study literature
Erik S. Reinert, How Rich Nations got Rich. Essays in the History of Economic Policy. Working paper Nr. 1, 2004. SUM - Centre for development and the Environment, University of Oslo. Kättesaadav: http://www.sum.uio.no/publications

Alexander Hamilton, Report on the Subject of Manufacturers, 1791/2001, in Alexander Hamilton, Writings, Literary Classics of the United States, New York.

Friedrich List, Introduction to The National System on Political
Economy.

Harvard Business School case studies.

Jan Kregel and Leonardo Burlamaqui, Finance, Competition, Instability, and Development Microfoundations and Financial Scaffolding of the Economy, The Other Canon Foundation, 2000.

study forms and load
daytime study: weekly hours
2.0
session-based study work load (in a semester):
lectures
1.5
lectures
-
practices
0.0
practices
-
exercises
0.5
exercises
-
lecturer in charge
-
LECTURER SYLLABUS INFO
semester of studies
teaching lecturer / unit
language of instruction
Extended syllabus
2025/2026 autumn
Erik Stenfeldt Reinert, MN - Ragnar Nurkse Department of Innovation and Governance
English
    Course description in Estonian
    Course description in English