Development Economics I

Objectives

The broad objective of the course is to give students an overview of current knowledge on development economics. We also aim to offer basic research skills: we will often take the perspective of a researcher/analytic policy maker in this field. Both theory and empirics will be tackled. The course will introduce the main evaluation methods used in impact measurement of development interventions.

General characterization

Code

2738

Credits

3.5

Responsible teacher

Pedro Vicente

Hours

Weekly - Available soon

Total - Available soon

Teaching language

English

Prerequisites

n/a

Bibliography

Banerjee, Abhijit V., and Esther Duflo (2011), Poor Economics: A Radical Rethinking of the Way to Fight Global Poverty, Public Affairs; 4

Collier, Paul (2007), The Bottom Billion: Why the Poorest Countries Are Failing and What Can Be Done About It, Oxford University Press;

Easterly, William (2006), The White Man's Burden: Why the West's Efforts to Aid the Rest Have Done So Much Ill and So Little Good, Penguin Press;

Sachs, Jeffrey D. (2005), The End of Poverty: Economic Possibilities for Our Time, Penguin Press.

Sachs, Jeffrey D. (2005), The End of Poverty: Economic Possibilities for Our Time, Penguin Press

Sachs, Jeffrey D. (2015), The Age of Sustainable Development, Columbia University Press.

Teaching method

There will be two classes of 1 hour and 20 minutes per week, based mainly on slides. For each topic, we will give a general overview of the theoretical and empirical issues, with examples taken from recent research studied in more detail. The participation of students will be strongly encouraged to foster discussion and critical thought. Individual written work will encourage students to gain research skills.

Evaluation method

1. Final exam (50% of the grade)

2. Presentation of a research paper (15% of the grade)

3. Presentation of a policy brief (15% of the grade)

4. Writing of two additional two-page policy briefs (20% of the grade)

Subject matter

The focus of the course will be on the main current topics in the development economics literature. After a brief methodological overview, the course will discuss poverty traps and foreign aid effectiveness. Natural resources and ethnic divisions will follow. Good institutions will be portrayed as improving development. We will then examine democracy and corruption.

Programs

Programs where the course is taught:

Master’s in International Development and Public Policy