Development Economics

(2.5-5 Credit Hours) · Undergraduate

Aims To provide students with insights into some of the key issues affecting the development of countries. To stimulate students to study, present and debate their own ideas and analyses of these issues. To widen students' perceptions of the world and of the applicability of economic science and to motivate them to retain that perception. To provide the opportunity for students to build on knowledge and key skills acquired in their second year studies. Content Content will include the relationship between the development of countries and topics such as: Structural transformation, Climate change, Agriculture and famines, Poverty and inequality, Physical capital and technology, Human capital, Demography, Internal and international labour migration, Formal and informal institutions, International trade and openness, Natural resources, Foreign aid. Learning Outcomes Subject-specific Knowledge: Theories, controversies, policies and case studies of how countries attempt to grow and develop over time. Subject-specific Skills: Application of economic analysis to lower income countries Key Skills: critical and analytical thinking problem solving written communication own learning working with numbers working with others bibliographic search and information retrieval. Copenhagen, Denmark Description: studies one of the key challenges of our time, namely, economic growth and development in low-income countries, and the transformation of these economies into modern, richer or at least less poor countries. In this course, development and underdevelopment will be looked at through the lens of key economic concepts, policy prescriptions, development assistance architecture, and applied project management tools. The course provides the students with the basic knowledge and theories of economic growth and development. It also examines the way key social institutions and economic policies of developing and emerging economies have affected their economic performance. The knowledge acquired is important in evaluating investment projects in emerging and developing countries and provide useful skills for local economic consulting firms and local or international organizations. St. Andrews, Scotland Description: This module explores the microeconomic foundations of development economics. We will discuss topics such as poverty traps, labor markets, human capital, gender, public goods/service delivery and taxation, infrastructure, among others. In studying each of these topics, we will ask: what determines decision-making in low- and middle-income countries? What constraints do agents face? Is there scope to improve livelihoods through the actions of market participants, governments, international organisations (e.g. World Bank) and NGOs? What policies have been tried in different countries and how have they fared? This module places emphasis on developing analytical understanding of applied issues, while combining theory and empirical evidence. We will ultimately seek to draw useful policy conclusions. Sciences Po - Paris, France: Development Economics focuses on the economic forces influencing growth and well-being in developing countries. It covers topics such as poverty traps, health and education access, gender dynamics, fertility, conflict, and property rights, highlighting how economic evidence informs policies to reduce inequality and promote development.