Development Economics

Recommended Prerequisites

Microeconomics; Macroeconomics; Economic and Social Development; Economic Policy; English knowledge.

Teaching Methods

Lectures and tutorials
Theoretical component:
- Presentation of fundamental theoretical contents and case studies.
Practical component:
- Exercise solving.
- Statistical analysis of data.
- Encouraging "learning by doing": students are encouraged to solve practical exercises as independently as possible.

Learning Outcomes

The overall objective of the course is to give students an overview of current knowledge on development economics. We also aim to offer basic research skills. Specifically, it intends to identify the key features of the development process across countries, and combine an analytical framework with empirical evidence to analyse how public policies can enable economic development. The course provides an introduction to selected issues in economic development, including theory, evidence and economic policy. The program starts with the conceptualization and measurement of development and goes through distinct topics such as poverty and income inequality, institutions and development, human resources, and further issues such as technological change, debt, and the foreign aid effectiveness. At the end of the course, student should be able to understand the behavior of public decision-makers, read, communicate and discuss economic policy documents using the most appropriate languages.

Work Placement(s)

No

Syllabus

I. Principles and concepts of development
I.1. Economic development and growth: concepts and measures
I.2. Poverty, Inequality, and Development
II. Problems and Policies of economic and social development: domestic context
II.1. Natural resources, ethnic divisions, and institutions
II.2. Health, education and human capital
II.3. Democracy and corruption
II.4. Innovation and technological change
III. Problems and Policies: international context
III.1. Management and choice of exchange rate regime
III.2. International trade and development
III.3. Balance of payments, debt and financial crisis
III.4. Credit and financing: the foreign aid effectiveness

Assessment Methods

Assessment
Resolution Problems: 20.0%
Synthesis work: 30.0%
Mini Tests: 50.0%

Bibliography

Montiel, P. (2011), Macroeconomics in emerging markets, Cambridge University Press, 2nd Edition.
Todaro, M. and S. Smith (2011), Economic Development, New York, Pearson, 11st edition.
Banerjee, A. V. and E. Duflo (2011), Poor Economics: A Radical Rethinking of the Way to Fight Global
Poverty. New York: PublicAffairs.
Meier, G. M. and J. E. Rauch (2005), Leading Issues in Economic Development, New York: Oxford University Press.
Nafziger, W. (2012), Economic Development, Cambridge University Press, 5th edition.
Thirlwall, A. P. (2011), Economics of development: theory and evidence, New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 9th edition.
Acemoglu, D. and J. A. Robinson (2012), Why Nations Fail: The Origins of Power, Prosperity and Poverty, London: Profile Books.
Taylor, J. E. and T. J. Lybbert (2020), Essentials of development economics. Univ of California Press.
Sachs, J. D. (2005), The End of Poverty: Economic Possibilities for Our Time, Penguin Press.