EC 348 Development Economics
Course Outline (Subject to Change)

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Syllabus (PDF)   (RTF-Word)         Text Companion Website        Additional Articles

Country Report                    Presentation Schedule                Websites 

Country Report Topic Suggestions     Links

Office Hours:  Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm, and by appointment

Dates

Topics

Reading and Assignments

WEEK 1

January
18

Economic Development:

A Global Perspective

Text Reading: Todaro, Chapter 1 

Chapter 1 Lecture - Introducing Economic Development: A Global Perspective
     (PPT)

 

Additional Reading: Christopher B. Barrett, Development Economics: An Overview,   Happy Planet Index     (Report

Website: UN Millennium Development Goals

Video: Poverty in Africa,   Poverty in Asia

Assignment 1 (Due January 30) - Choose a developing country in which you are particularly interested. Prepare a 500 word (or 6 PPT slides if you wish to present in class) report of what you perceive to be the life-style of a typical family in this country. While you will need to rely on statistics, the presentation of the report should be done in a narrative format with specific examples. Don’t be afraid to talk to international students or people with international experience! Those who prepare slide may volunteer to present to class.

WEEK 2

January
23, 25

Comparative Economic Development

 Looking at Some
of the Data

Text Reading: Todaro, Chapter 2 

Chapter 2 Lecture - Comparative Economic Development     (PPT)

Websites: World Development Indicators,   Statistical Data from UNDP,   International Human Development Indicators

Video: Hans Rosling shows the best stats you've ever seen

WEEK 3

January 30
February  1

Classic Theories of Economic Growth and Development

LifeStyle Page

Text Reading: Todaro, Chapter 3

Chapter 3 Lecture  – Classic Theories of Economic Growth and Development     (PPT)

Additional Readings: 1) Ha-Joon Chang, The Stiglitz Contribution - International Issues - Former World Bank Economist Joseph Stiglitz   2) Thandika Mkandawire, The Need to Rethink Development Economics

Videos and Reading:  Rethinking Economics in a Changed World

WEEK 4

February

6, 8

Quiz 1
February 8

Contemporary Models of Development and Underdevelopment

Quiz 1 - February 8

 

Text Reading: Todaro, Chapter 4    The Big Push 

Chapter 4 Lecture - Contemporary Models of Development and Underdevelopment    (PPT)

Additional Reading: Krugman – The Rise and Fall of Development Economics   

Assignment 2 (Due February 20) - Read the following speech by Robert B. Zoellick, Democratizing Development Economics, and write a 500 word reaction paper to his comments. A reaction paper is just what its name suggests—a paper explaining how  feel about what you are reading and do you agree with disagree with the writer (speaker in this case). Make sure to mention what you believe should be emphasized in the study of development economics.

WEEK 5

 February
13, 15

Poverty, Inequality, and Development

Text Reading: Todaro, Chapter 5

 

Chapter 5 Lecture -Poverty, Inequality, and Development    (PPT)

 

Additional Reading:  World Development Report 2006 - Equity and Development (Overview)

 

Websites: Module-Measuring Poverty,   2011 World Hunger and Poverty Facts and Statistics,   Inequality around the World Website,   Poverty Facts and Stats,   Poverty Measurement

 

Study Guide     (RTF)

WEEK 6

February
20, 22

Population Growth and Economic Development: Causes, Consequences, and Controversies

Text Reading: Todaro, Chapter 6

 

Chapter 6 Lecture  - Population Growth and Economic Development: Causes, Consequences, and Controversies     (PPT)

Additional Reading: Brazil's Girl Power

Hans Rosling on Population

See following web sites for data: Geo-Hive (Good Data on Population),   IndexMundi,  Population Reference Bureau,   UN Demographic and Social Statistics,   United Nations Population Fund

WEEK 7

February
27, 29

 Exam 1
February 27


Urbanization and Rural-Urban Migration: Theory and Policy

Exam 1 - February 27

Last day to discuss country report topic is February 29 (A good leap)

Text Reading: Toda
ro, Chapter 7 

Chapter 7 Lecture - Urbanization and Rural-Urban Migration: Theory and Policy      (PPT)

Interactive Map
: Urban Growth     Of Interest: A Sobering Moment

Additional Reading: HDR 2009 - Overcoming barriers: Human Mobility and Development


Optional Reading: Inequality and Internal Migration in China: Evidence from Village Panel Data

Websites: International Organization for Migration

Assignment 3 ( Due March 26) - Choose a developing country other than that which is the focus of your Country Report. Submit a 500 word report examining  a health or education issue that is particularly relevant to that country. Reference at least 7 sources (internet sites are fine).
Week 8 - Spring Break: March 5 to March 11

WEEK 9

March
12, 14

 Human Capital: Education and Health in Economic Development

Text Reading: Todaro, Chapter 8

 

Chapter 8 Lecture - Human Capital: Education and Health in Economic Development     (PPT)

 

Additional Reading: State of the World Report - Women on the Front Lines of Recovery,   2012 World Development Report on Gender Equality and Development   Malaria: Epidemic On the Run,

Optional Readings: Critical Links: Population, Health and the Environment,   HIV/AIDS in the Context of Other Global Challenges,   Women’s Empowerment: Measuring the Global Gender Gap

Websites: UNESCO - Education for All,   World Health Organization

WEEK 10

March
19, 21

The Environment and Development

Text Reading: Todaro, Chapter 10

Chapter 10 Lecture -  The Environment and Development     (PPT)

Websites: United Nations Division for Sustainable Development,   International Institute for Environment and Development

WEEK 11

March 26, 28

 March 30 is last day to withdraw with a W

Quiz 2
March 28

Development Policymaking and the Roles of Market, State, and Civil Society

 +
 Economics of Corruption

Quiz 2 - March 28

Text Reading: Todaro, Chapter 11

Chapter 11 Lecture: Development Policymaking and the Roles of Market, State, and Civil Society + Economics of Corruption     (PPT)

Websites: Transparency International (Be sure to click on link to Corruptions Perceptions Index,   Index of Economic Freedom,   Corruption and Development (Optional)

Video: Hands

WEEK 12

 April 2, 4

International Trade Theory and Development Strategy

Chapter 12 Lecture - International Trade Theory and Development Strategy       (PPT)

Additional Handout: Illustrating the J-curve

Websites:
Guide to Trading Blocs     World Trade Indicators

Easter Recess - April 5 to 9
WEEK 13

April 9, 11
Foreign Finance, Investment, and Aid: Controversies and Opportunities

Text Reading: Todaro, Chapter 12 
 
Chapter 14 Lecture: Foreign Finance, Investment, and Aid: Controversies and Opportunities    (PPT)

Additional Reading: Summary of Human Development Report 2005 - International Cooperation at a Crossroads: Aid, Trade, and Security in an Unequal World   (Full Report)

Websites: International Monetary Fund,   United States Agency for International Development,   World Bank,   WB Brochure,   World Trade Organization,   Global Issues

WEEK 14

 

April
16, 18

Presentations

WEEK 15

April
23, 25

Presentations

WEEK 16

April 30

Country Report Due
April 30
Quiz 3
April 30

 May 2 - 10 

Final Exam Week

A Little Poem for Your Enjoyment 

Final Exam Schedule