IPE 382 | The Illicit Global Economy

This course examines patterns of illicit activity in the global economy. A political economy approach is used to understand reasons why illicit behavior occurs, how it occurs, and who the relevant actors are. Attention is focused on production and distribution of commodities, especially those that originate in developing countries. Commodities are broadly defined to include drugs, money, guns, people, diamonds, oil, timber, and intellectual property. The course concludes with a discussion of efforts by states and multilateral institutions to combat illicit transnational activity.