Learning objectives
a)Knowledge and understanding of: the functioning of markets in
developing countries; externalities, increasing returns, coordination
failures, and development policies; poverty, inequality, and population
growth form normative, positive, and functional point of view; rural and
urban structural interaction; globalization and gains from trade, trade
policy for developing countries and the role of international institutions.
b) Ability to apply knowledge in order to: understand theoretical models,
abstracting from a complex problem the main variables and analysing
their interactions; read and understand empirical evidences emerging
from tables, charts, and advanced statistic tools.
c)Ability to integrate knowledge and handle complexity, and formulate
judgements in order to: understand the stage of economic and social
development for a country and its relative performance; understand the
effects of economic policies, and analysing sectoral dynamics from a
functional point of view in an increasingly internationally open economic
and social background.
d) Students will have the ability to address and support their arguments
to economic agents as well as to non-specialist audiences, using a proper
technical language, and making use of the experience gained by
explaining data and analysing empirical evidence.
e) By means of the analysis of case studies through a logical problem
solving, students will learn to understand and solve in a largely selfdirected
manner.
Prerequisites
Basic macroeconomics and microeconomics.
Course unit content
This course explores some of the major topics in development economics,
looking at both empirical and theoretical points of view. It begins by
defining the concepts and measurement of development, then proceeds
with a more detailed exploration of inequality, poverty, and population growth, pointing out their interconnections with economic
development, and the possibility of uneven growth paths. To this end, in
order to understand the structural transformation that accompanies the
development process, rural-urban interaction and migration are explicitly
introduced. It also looks at the markets and institutions that influence the
lives of people in developing countries, stressing the role of market
failures and their interrelations. Furthermore, it goes back to aggregate
analysis, dealing with the role of initial conditions for development. The
course focuses on history versus expectations, analyzing the role of
complementarities and increasing returns. Finally, it provides an analysis
of the key issues concerning globalization, by pointing out gains from
trade, trade policy for developing countries, and their feedback on
development and inequality
Full programme
Syllabus: Selected topics from the following chapters of the textbook:
Chapter 2: Economic Development. Chapter 5: History, Expectations, and
Development. Chapter 6: Economic Inequality. Chapter 7: Inequality and
Development: Interconnections. Chapter 8: Poverty and Undernutrition.
Chapter 9: Population Growth and Economic Development. Chapter 10:
Rural and Urban. Chapter 11: Markets in Agriculture: an Introduction.
Chapter 12: Land. Chapter 16: International trade. Chapter 17: Trade policy.
Please note that the detailed syllabus will be available on Elly (enrollment
on line on Elly is needed to download the detailed syllabus - Not
attending students unable to enroll on Elly are asked to contact the
Lecturer for informations on the detailed syllabus at
vincenzo.dallaglio@unipr.it)
Bibliography
A selection of chapters from Debraj Ray, Development Economics,
1998,Princeton University Press. Updates and further reading will be provided during
the course.
Teaching methods
Lectures, examples and case studies, given in attendance. The course slides will not be
available. However, few slide about some topics, updates and further reading will be loaded on the Elly
platform, as a partial integration of the syllabus. Enrollment online on Elly is needed. All necessary information will be provided on Elly.
Assessment methods and criteria
The written exam (taken in attendance) will last 90 minutes.
Knowledge and understanding, the ability to study
and to think strict and clearly about a subject, will be assessed through
two open-ended questions dealing with theoretical or empirical topics, for up to 20 marks.
The application of knowledge and understanding through a logical
problem solving, will be assessed
through one open-ended question concerning an in-depth case study for
up to 10 marks.
The final vote (on the scale of thirty) corresponds to the sum of the three
previous scores. The “lode” will be awarded on the basis of a clear
mastery of the subject.
No additional material is needed to take the exam except for a ballpoint
pen. Exam results will be available no later than one week and will be
automatically (ESSE3) sent via e-mail at the institutional e-mail address
of the student.
On-line registration is needed.
To make use of any kind of electronic device or notes during the exam is
strictly forbidden.
Other information
Please note that the detailed syllabus will be available on Elly. It
describes in details the pages, tables and charts, and case studies to be
studied in the textbook. Please check professor's webpage for updates on
date of exams, office hours and so on.
Students enrolling in the master
degree 'Relazioni Internazionali ed Europee' who wish to borrow the
course as an optional exam are asked to contact the Lecturer for
information on the syllabus (9 cfu) at vincenzo.dallaglio@unipr.it
