EC319NU-Development Economics

Module Provider: School of Politics, Economics and International Relations
Number of credits: 20 [10 ECTS credits]
Level:6
Semesters in which taught: Semester 1 module
Pre-requisites: EC201NU Intermediate Microeconomics EC202NU Intermediate Macroeconomics
Non-modular pre-requisites:
Co-requisites:
Modules excluded:
Current from: 2022/3

Module Convenor: Dr Samantha Benvinda Rawlings
Email: s.b.rawlings@reading.ac.uk

Type of module:

Summary module description:

Development economics concerns the application of economic tools to the study of issues that are of particular importance to developing and less-developed countries. This module primarily focuses on the application of both microeconomic and macroeconomic theory to understanding causes and consequences of underdevelopment andÌýit studies the behaviour of societies and governments, including their choices and constraints when institutions are inefficient and endowments are unfavourable. Development economics is a broad field, so that the module will necessarily focus only on a selection of topics relevant for development.Ìý

Module Lead at NUIST: Burak Sungu / buraksungu@nuist.edu.cn

Aims:

The aims of this module are to:

• provide students with the key economic tools needed to analyse issues facing developing and underdeveloped economies.


• illustrate and evaluate the empirical evidence surrounding economic models of various aspects of development.


• discuss policy implications of economic problems arising in developing and underdeveloped countries.


• analyse the deeper determinants long-run economic development and the nature of institutional path dependencies


• assess the importance of institutions, both formal and informal, on long-run economic development

Assessable learning outcomes:

By the end of the module, it is expected that the student will be able to

• demonstrate their understanding of the key issues facing the poor in developing countries;


• explain theoretical models of economic issues arising in developing countries;


• discuss and analyse the empirical literature regarding such models;


• Ìýbe able to analyse the effectiveness or otherwise of different policy options regarding economic development.


• Have a proper understanding of the idea of long-run development trajectories

Additional outcomes:

Outline content:

The topics covered may include:

• Human and social capital in developing/underdeveloped countries.


• Financial Development


• Poverty and inequality in developing/underdeveloped countries


• Institutions and Culture


• Geography, resources, and endowments


• Population and fertility


• Randomized control trials and development policy

Global context:

This module will consider the economics of development, and evidence and policy examples will be drawn from a wide range of countries from Asia, Africa and South America.Ìý

Brief description of teaching and learning methods:

During the course of the term there are 10 weekly two hour lectures, during which there will be time for discussion.