Development economics

The course gives an introduction to the causes of economic underdevelopment and the conditions for economic development. The main features of economic underdevelopment are illustrated with empirical material, and the course further considers topics like income distribution, measurement of poverty, population growth, rural-urban migration, foreign aid, international trade, credit markets, institutions and conflict.

Knowledge

You learn

• how to measure standards of living, extent of poverty and degree of inequality
• about growth accounting and empirical analyses of economic growth
• about essential issues related to economic development in poor countries, like the interaction between the traditional and the modern sector, aid efficiency, demographics and population growth, and the functioning of credit markets
• about main economic theories for international trade and trade policy
• about the importance of institutions, corruption and conflict for economic development

Skills

You should be able to

• compare and evaluate different measures of living standards, poverty and inequality
• apply economic models to analyze development issues and assess how economic policies can affect economic development

General competence

You should be able to

• follow economic reasoning related to the course in the public debate and professional reports

2 hours of lectures every week. Information about tutorials and compulsory activity will be announced at the beginning of the term.