ECON 312-01, Development Economics, Spring 2007

Abstract

This course is a general survey of the major theoretical and various key policy issues concerning economic development in low-income countries. The course places emphasis on the economics of development and builds on the economic principles learned in micro (ECO 204) and macro (ECO 203) economics. Key questions raised in the course include: ° How is ‘economic development’ to be defined and measured? ° What causes economic growth? ° How does economic development differ from human development? ° How are women, the poor and the marginalized affected by development? ° What is the role of government policies versus markets and ‘market forces’? ° Can countries accelerate the pace of economic change by borrowing from others? ° How are the benefits of development distributed? ° How does corruption affect development? ° What is the role of civil society in development? ° How are poverty, inequality, growth and development related? ° How do such factors as trade, technology and migration affect human development and economic growth? ° What are the ethical principles that should be used to evaluate the economic choices—and their impact and consequences---implicit in economic development?