Module description
This module aims at providing a fairly rigorous and mathematical introduction to Development Economics. Approximately half the module is on growth models and half is on selected topics in Micro Development theory such as credit and microfinance, gender and development, trade/environment and development.
Assessment details
2-hour in-person exam (90%), Attendance and Participation in seminars (10%).
Semester 1 only students will be given an appropriate alternative assessment for in person January exams.
Educational aims & objectives
- To develop students' knowledge of the key microeconomic issues facing developing economies.
- To deepen students' familiarity with modern analytical and empirical approaches to development economics with an emphasis on the most recent advances in the field.
Learning outcomes
Successful students will be able to demonstrate:
- A systematic knowledge of the key issues facing developing countries.
- Advanced knowledge of the main theoretical approaches to growth, poverty traps, knowledge of how markets function in developing countries.
- Advanced knowledge of historical approaches to development emphasising institutions.
- Advanced knowledge of political economy issues particular to developing countries.
Teaching pattern
Provisional Lecture Schedule
Lecture 1: Overview, Leading development indicators, measuring GDP, relationships between per capita income and other development indicators.
Lecture 2: Growth Theories (based on factor accumulation)
Lecture 3: Solow model with technical progress and the convergence debate.
Lecture 4: Institutions vs Geography to explain growth.
Lecture 5: Structural Change models: the Lewis model and the Harris Todaro model.
Lecture 6: Growth and inequality.
Lecture 7: Credit markets in developing countries:
Lecture 8: Microfinance: Theory and Practice.
Lecture 9-10: Behavioural Development Economics.