Political Economy of Development

This course is an introduction to the political economy of development intended for upper level undergraduate students. Throughout this course, by drawing on readings from economics, political science, and beyond, we will try to find answers to important questions such as: Do political institutions matter for economic growth? What role does democracy play in economic development? Are present-day differences in development across the world a historical legacy? Are natural resources a blessing or a curse for development? Is foreign aid the solution to the problems of the developing world?