Institutions, Governance and Development

• Credit value: 15 credits at Level 7
• Convenor: Dr Luca Andriani
• Assessment: a three-hour examination (100%)

How do institutions shape our world? Why does trust in public authority matter? In this module we explore the powerful role of institutions and governance in driving peace, justice and sustainable development, with a special focus on UN Sustainable Development Goal 16.

Through a multidisciplinary lens, drawing from political economy, institutional theory and social psychology, we will examine how formal rules, cultural values and social norms shape the relationship between citizens and the state. We will tackle pressing questions around corruption, accountability and trust, and assess why well-designed institutions sometimes fail to deliver.

From analysing real-world data and public opinion surveys to engaging with game theory and case studies from developing and emerging economies, we will explore how governance challenges affect people's lives, and what can be done about it.

This module is part of the Business School’s commitment to the UN Principles of Responsible Management Education (PRME), equipping you with the tools to think critically and act responsibly in a complex world.

By the end of this module, you will be able to:

• understand how institutions, governance and trust intersect in theory and practice
• analyse attitudes toward corruption, tax evasion and wrongdoing using public opinion data
• explore the social and economic costs of weak governance, especially in emerging economies
• use basic game theory to understand strategic behaviour and cooperation
• demonstrate critical insight into why institutions succeed, or fail, in promoting peace, justice and good governance.