In the interview, Robert Skidelsky discusses the emergence of political influence of a certain school of economic thought and how the success of an economic theory depends on the power relations in the society. He introduces the historical example of Keynesian economics and its replacement by liberal economic theory and policy in the aftermath of the Great Depression, and transfers this historical case to the dominant paradigm of austerity policies in the Europe as response to rising public debts caused by the Financial Crisis. He contrasts austerity policies with a Keynesian approach. Furthermore, he relates the targets of policy to the underlying power structures, for example when not the reduction of unemployment but the protection of financial capital is politically addressed.

Stiglitz answers the question why globalization and world trade has not delivered on its promise of increased well being as much as classical economists thought, by pointing to the power asymmetries: firstly, between industrialized nations and developing nations and secondly, between special corporate interest and social interests. In his analysis, developed countries and MNCs were able to extract the benefits, while shifting the costs (i.e. pollution) to states and communities with lesser power. Amongst many other historical examples the pharmaceutical and the mining industry are discussed to some length.

James Glattfelder publizierte eines der aufsehenerregenden Paper der letzten Jahre. Mit Hilfe der Methoden der Komplexitätsökonomik - namentlich der Netzwerkanalyse - legt er Machtstrukturen von Großkonzernen und Abhängigkeiten in der Finanzbranche offen. In diesem dreistündigen Workshop erklärt er das theoretische Fundament der Komplexitätstheorie, zeigt die Grenzen der klassischen Ökonomik auf und stellt eines seiner Paper vor. Die Folien zur Präsentation sind hier abrufbar: http://www.boeckler.de/pdf/v_2016_08_12_glattfelder_slides.pdf

This article explores if power dynamics in the household can be changed, and if so, how. In this context the focus is laid on government childcare policy and its various channels of possible influence.

Die Internationale Politische Ökonomie (IPÖ) hat sich seit den 1970er Jahren zu einem lebhaften Forschungszweig entwickelt. Im Forschungs- und Diskussionsprozess treffen nicht nur Wissenschaftler aus unterschiedlichen Theorietraditionen und disziplinären Kontexten aufeinander, wie z.B. aus der Ökonomie, Politikwissenschaft, Geschichte oder Geographie.