Development Economics: Microeconomic Approach

Faculty

SHONCHOY, Abu

Credit / Semester / Schedule / Language

2 Credits / Winter / Wednesday Period: 4 / English

Objectives/Overview

Development economics is a distinct, important and challenging branch of economics. Rather than pertaining to only efficient resource allocation and sustainable economic growth, development economics focuses on economic, political, social and institutional issues, such as education, health, credit, technology, migration, aid and governance, to contribute to the improvements in the standard of living of poor people in developing nations. In this context, focusing on the micro-economic aspect of development, this course has been designed to enhance the knowledge and skills of students to understand some of the crucial problems faced by the developing countries and will help students to learn and engage in the ongoing debates and discussions in these issues. In doing so, this course will employ classic models of development economics as well as contemporary empirical analysis to motivate the discussion and providing better insights.

Keywords

Development Economics, Microeconomic Approach

Schedule

Starting from Winter semester (2011/10/01) Every Wednesday, period 4.

Teaching Methods

a) Class lecture;
b) Interactive in class participation, debates and discussions;
c) Reading assignments;
d) Active participation in class presentations;
e) Term papers and case studies.

Grading

a) Class attendance, Reading assignments, class participation and weekly presentation (30%)
b) Term Paper (30%)
c) Final Exam (40%)

Required Text

1. Todaro, Michael P. and Stephen C. Smith (2009), Economic Development, Tenth Edition, Addison Wesley
2. Smith, Stephen C. (2002), Case Studies in Economic Development Third Edition. A supplement to Michael P. Todaro and Stephen C. Smith, Economic Development, 8th Edition, Boston, MA: Addison-Wesley, 2003.
Could be downloadable free of cost from
http://wps.aw.com/wps/media/objects/277/284582/todarocasestudies.pdf

Reference Books

•Easterly, William (2002), The Elusive Quest for Growth by, MIT Press
•Ray, D (1998), Development Economics, Princeton University Press
•Basu, K (1997), Analytical Development Economics, MIT Press
•Sen, Amartya (2000), Development as Freedom, New York: Anchor Books.
•Banerjee et. al. ed. (2006), Understanding Poverty, Oxford University Press.
•Smith, Stephen C. (2003), Case Studies in Economic Development, Addison Wesley Longman.

Notes on Taking the Course

Some previous knowledge of Micro-economics and Econometrics will be beneficial for better understanding of the course.