The Politics of Economy Development

Undergraduate / Graduate

This course explores the intersection between politics and economics to understand why some countries are more developed than others. We will touch on several themes that impact developmental outcomes, including political institutions and regimes, corruption and rule of law, foreign aid, and natural resources. This course offers an interdisciplinary perspective, which will attract students interested in Economics, Political Science, Global Studies, Human Development, Public Policy, and Sociology. Throughout the course, we will also pay attention to how concepts are measured and to the different methods used to answer questions in the social sciences. Each theme will be introduced with short lectures and real-world case studies from around the world and from the city of Chicago. The course also includes more interactive activities, such as guest speakers, field trips, policy simulations and debates. This course is only open to pre-college students.