Development Economics: Macroeconomic Approach

Faculty

SHIOJI, Etsuro

Credit / Semester / Schedule / Language

2 Credits / Summer / Thursday Period: 1 / English

Objectives/Overview

In this course, we will mainly study theories of economic growth. The primary objective is to become able to solve mathematical models of economic growth, and to understand economic intuitions behind the results of those mathematical models.

Keywords

Economic growth, capital accumulation, population growth, technological progress, quality of institutions, English

Schedule

1. Data on economic growth, 2. The Solow-Swan model (1): capital accumulation, 3. Cross country evidence on economic growth, 4. The Solow-Swan model (2) technological progress, 5. Evidence from growth accounting, 6. Endogenous technical changes, 7. Technology transfers and quality of institutions, 8. Endogenous population growth, 9. Other models of economic growth (if time allows).

Teaching Methods

Class Lectures. I will be using the blackboard a lot. No powerpoints.

Grading

By the final examination at the end of the semester.

Required Text

Charles I. Jones, Introduction to Economic Growth, WW Norton and Co., Inc.
David Weil, Economic Growth, Pearson Education

Reference Books

Robert J. Barro and Xavier Sala-i-Martin Economic Growth, MIT Press

Notes on Taking the Course

This course involves heavy uses of mathematics. Those who are not familiar with math (such as differentiation, logarithms and exponential functions) might wish to wait till they are more fully prepared before registering for this course.