Development Economics
Preliminary requirements:
Background knowledge in microeconomics, macroeconomics and international economics would be an asset
Course Description:
1. Introduction and organisation of the course, film projection, allocation of presentation topics
2. Introduction to development economics, definitions and measures of development
3. Developing countries: definitional problems, characteristics
4. Conditions and factors of economic growth and development: theories of economic development, poverty and income inequalities, demography, human capital, agriculture transformation, trade theories and policies, debt and macroeconomic stability, financial sector, fiscal policy, free market vs. state
5. Summery and grades
Aims of the course:
W1. Student lists the most important factors underpinning economic growth. W2. Student explains process of economic development and mechanisms of poverty and its consequences. W3. Student defines development problems of developing countries. W4. Student presents practical development strategies in conjunction with relevant economic theories.
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U1. Student identifies measures of development, poverty and inequality and is able to practically use all of them in preliminary diagnosis of the situation in developing countries. U2. Student assesses different strategies of promoting economic growth and development in historical perspective. U3. Student analyses process and mechanisms of development and underdevelopment using examples of particular countries. U4. Student characterises specific features of developing countries and is able to identify links between them.
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K1. Student is able to critically assess development strategies adopted in different historical periods and geographical locations. K2. Student, based on class discussions, verifies his/her own opinions on socio-economic implications of development, its measures and definitions. K3. Student is able to individually analyse development challenges of particular countries with special emphasis on local conditions. K4. Student possesses competences required for travel and work in developing countries. K5. Student acquires special skills that help him see and understand specific problems of developing countries in a global perspective. |
Teaching methods:
Lecture-discussion, assigned readings, case studies, group work, multimedia presentation.
Evaluation & Completion:
Test (50 percent + one point for pass) + preparation of 15-20 minutes multimedia presentation covering a case study related to successive sessions + participation in discussion during classes.
Basic Literature:
Todaro, M.P., Smith S.C., Economics Development, 11th edition, Addison Wesley 2011.
Easterly, W., The Elusive Quest for Growth. Economists’ Adventures and Misadventures in the Tropics, MIT Press, London 2001.
Additional Literature:
Cohen, J., Easterly, W., What Works in Development? Thinking Big and Thinking Small, Brooking Institution Press 2009.
Meier, G.M., Rauch, J.E., Leading Issues in Economic Development, 8th ed., Oxford U. Press, 2005.
Nafziger, E.W., Economic Development, 4th ed., Cambridge University Press 2006.
Perkins, D.H, Radelet, S., Lindauer, D.L., Economics of Development, 6th edition, W.W. Norton & Company 2006.
Ray, D., Development Economics, Princeton University Press 1998.
Sen, A., Development as Freedom, Anchor Books 2000.
Stiglitz, J., Meier, M., Frontiers of Development Economics: The Future in Perspective, Oxford U. Press 2000.
