London School of Economics and Political Science

Global Business, Economics

and the Political Economy
Online certificate course

The London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) is developing this Global
Business, Economics and the Political Economy online certificate course for delivery
in late 2017. Modules are illustrative of the final course, however are subject to change.
The Mumbai Stock Exchange fell by 605 points
(2.24%) after Brexit was announced - impacting
local and foreign businesses, and Asian currencies.1
In a world defined by drastic political changes
and freedom of information, understanding and
predicting these implications is vital.

About this course

In today’s volatile and unpredictable socio-economic climate, having a solid theoretical framework
with which to analyse, interpret and predict the business outcomes of various world events can be
of huge strategic benefit to business decision makers, investment managers and individuals alike.
The Global Business, Economics and the Political Economy online certificate course provides you with
a theoretical and practical understanding of the political and macroeconomic factors shaping and
influencing the world today - providing insight into how these factors affect business decision making
and investment patterns globally.

8 weeks Entirely online ± £1,800

What the course covers

Focusing on the core concepts of international relations, political science and political economy, and,
macroeconomics, this course addresses real world problems using case studies and thought experiments.
It analyses the business and financial market impacts of events such as economic recession, Brexit, the
recent US election and the rise of populism and nationalism, to name a few. The nature of the course is shaped
by the LSE’s approach to critical thinking and decision making, allowing students to engage with the discourse
and problem-solving techniques that characterise the disciplines of international relations, politics, and
macroeconomics - specifically focusing on the influences of each discipline on the business environment.
Reflective of the complexity of today’s world, and the cause and effect relationships between global events
and actors, you will learn the value of an interdisciplinary approach to analysis, decision-making,
and prediction. You will dive into topical case studies of current world events and their associated
analyses by LSE thought leaders.
Source: economictimes.indiatimes.com
1

LSE Global Business, Economics and the Political Economy online certificate course
What you will learn
Orientation module
Welcome to your online campus Modules are
You’ll be welcomed aboard with a personal call, and get illustrative of the final
introduced to your online teaching and technical support course, however
network. Begin connecting with fellow students while exploring
are subject to change.
the navigation and tools of your Online Campus. Be alerted to
key milestones in the learning path, and review how your grades
will be calculated and distributed.

Module 1
Understanding the cause of things
LSE’s motto, “Rerum cognoscere causas” (“To know the causes
of things”) frames Module 1 by introducing you to the School’s
methodology of problem solving. You’ll learn to address questions
from a variety of perspectives, collect evidence, and employ
principles of predictive modelling and causal inference.
This module provides a full picture of the following eight weeks
by detailing the framework of analytical decision-making skills
students will learn and apply throughout the course.

This module’s contents will be informed by faculty’s approaches

to problem solving, predictions, and decision-making.

Module 2
Navigating today’s global political landscape
Module 2 provides a foundation of the current global political
landscape by analysing the main variations in the political realities
of selected countries according to their histories, structures,
and behaviour. Unpacking some of these core characteristics,
you’ll learn to analyse and evaluate media reports and political
commentary through a more informed and critical lens, and
be able to gauge the influence of political events on the global
landscape. In the second part of this module, LSE course faculty
will identify what political decisions and events are relevant to
consider in decision making, particularly with regard to business
and investment, and will provide guidance in anticipating the
shape of the global political landscape of the future.

Selected countries will be determined by faculty lecturers, who will

use their discretion with regard to relevance and diversity.

LSE Global Business, Economics and the Political Economy online certificate course
Module 3
Macro Economic Principles and Political Economy
This primer module on macroeconomic principles guides you
through a number of big-picture questions relating to pertinent Who is LSE?
economic patterns today. Examples include why financial crises Find out more about the
occur, the effects of current events on economies, and what
London School of
barriers exist to economic development across contexts.
Economics and
You’ll explore the foundations of economic relationships,
Political Science
such as long-run trends and short-run fluctuations, and gain
a fuller understanding of the discrepancies between economic
theory, policy, and implementation. Most importantly, you will
be guided in applying the analytical tools of macroeconomics
and political economy to the current political and financial
landscape, through forecasting techniques and analyses
of uncertainty, confidence, and sentiment indexes.

Module 4
International affairs, institutions and foreign policy
In today’s interconnected, international society, decision
making in one geographic area is highly sensitive to the ripple
effects of events in another. The first section of Module 4
discusses key features of foreign policy and international
society, such as rules, institutions, and multilateral
organisations. Guided by selected analyses of course lecturers,
the second section assesses relationships and shifts in power
between key international actors, as well as the geographic
extent of the impacts of events on public and private sectors in
various societies. Equipped with this knowledge, you’ll be able
to evaluate the opportunities and challenges of international
relationships and the impacts of future events in your own
business context.

LSE Global Business, Economics and the Political Economy online certificate course
Module 5
Populism, nationalism and the politics of identity WANT TO TAILOR THIS
This module’s suggested case concerns an analysis of the rise COURSE TO YOUR
of populism, nationalism and the politics of identity and how CAREER OBJECTIVES?
this has manifested itself in the global political context, for Participate in the current
example the impact of Brexit, or the outcomes of the 2016 US research survey to guide the
elections, or the major European elections in 2017. Guided by shape of its development.
input from course lecturers, you will critically assess the effects
of populism and nationalism on the political and economic
TAKE SURVEY NOW
landscape, focusing on the private sector and financial
markets. Picking up from Module 2, you will dive further into
political analysis. This will include for example, a more detailed
exploration of political behaviour, or a specific political theory.
At the end of this module, you will complete a mini-commentary
in which you recommend an investment decision based on the
content and angle of the case. This assignment helps prepare
you for a more in-depth analysis you will submit at the end
of the course.

Module 6
Anticipating the next financial crisis
This module provides a deeper focus into the world economy
and financial markets through the speculation of future
financial crises. This includes the analysis of factors leading
to economic downturns, and provides you with the tools to
examine economic indicators to anticipate future trends and
make sound decisions in relation to them. You will investigate
a specific feature, theory, or occurrence in markets – dependent
on the course lecturer’s area of expertise – such as the
influence of “news shocks” on business cycles and exchange
rate determination.

In this module, you will submit a short draft indicating

a phenomenon, event, or crisis you would like to address, in order
to advise a business on investment decisions in a consultant
capacity. You will submit your final recommendation at the end
of the course.

LSE Global Business, Economics and the Political Economy online certificate course
Module 7
Global power shifts and the decline of the west?
The case study in Module 7 focuses on a topic largely pertaining
to international relations, and its effects on business and GetSmarter
investment. A potential case might include speculations about Find out more about
shifts in global power, particularly with regard to the rise or fall
what it’s like to
of US hegemony in the new millennium, the repositioning of
learn online with
the EU post Brexit and the rise of China. This analysis explores
power relations in greater depth – including hard power and
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soft power – institutions and structures, and centred versus
decentered globalism. As in previous modules, you will approach
these questions with the predictive and decision-making skills
you have cultivated throughout the course, applying them
to particular business or investment contexts.

Module 8
Future directions: new challenges
The final module consolidates everything covered throughout
the course. Largely speculative in nature, lecturers and subject
experts affiliated with the LSE will offer diverse opinions on the
long-term socio-political and economic world climate, and how
various aspects of business and investment prospects will fare
as a result. Topics will include policies concerning advances in
technology, consequences of climate change, resource wars,
or migration patterns. In this module, you will submit your final
assignment in which you’ve identified a particular event or
issue, and have offered an investment recommendation based
on its opportunities and challenges. The assignment will draw
on the predictive and decision-making skills you have honed
since Module 1, as well as the various methods of analyses
gained from your exposure to political, macroeconomic, and
international relations principles.

LSE Global Business, Economics and the Political Economy online certificate course
Who should take • Learn from thought leaders from a wide range
of internationally renowned LSE departments

this course?
• Earn a certificate from one of the world’s
leading universities
• Participate in a highly collaborative,
personalised and supported online education
Designed for individuals responsible for strategic
experience
decision making in business or investment, this
course would also be of benefit to anyone wanting
an updated perspective from which to understand
and analyse the current geopolitical and socio-
How you’ll learn
economic environment. If you are a business
This course is broken down into manageable,
owner, CEO, senior level manager, investment
weekly modules, designed to accelerate your
manager, investment analyst, financial trader,
learning process through diverse learning activities:
or work in an industry or region affected by
global events, this course is for you.
• Work through your instructional material online
• Collaborate with your classmates on projects

Why study •
via the discussion forum and online hangouts
Enjoy a wide range of interactive content,

with LSE and including video lectures, live polls, scenario

simulations, and infographics

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• Investigate current, real-world case studies
• Apply what you learn each week in quiz
assessments, collaborative activities, and
capstone project work
LSE has partnered with leaders in online education,
GetSmarter, to deliver this certificate course entirely
online – offering the academic rigour and research
expertise of LSE to a global market.

LSE Global Business, Economics and the Political Economy online certificate course
 London School of Economics and Political Science

Global Business,
Economics and the
Political Economy
Online certificate course

Thank you for your information. We will be in touch with additional details
on this exciting course, launching in late 2017.

Want to tailor this course to your career objectives?

Participate in the current research survey to guide the shape of its development.

TAKE SURVEY NOW