Development policies
A.A. 2021/2022
Obiettivi formativi
The objectives of this course consist in enhancing students' ability to: understand and interpret the process of economic development and underdevelopment; consolidate their understanding of those elements of basic economic theory as applied to the problems of development; identify the key determinants of economic growth and development, with an emphasis on the distinction between proximate and deeper causes; and analyze how development policies can foster the long-term growth performance and the development path of a country, focusing on contemporary debates and challenges at stake.
Risultati apprendimento attesi
The course is intended to lead the student to:
- (judgment) develop an analytical method of thought in order to critically assess contemporary process of economic development and learn to evaluate choices and policies made by policy makers in order to foster development;
- (knowledge and understanding) consolidate the fundamental concepts of development economics and the rationales for different tools and policies adopted in the process of economic growth and development; gain adequate knowledge of the main stylized facts of economic development and growth of different nations in the world, focusing on the effects of the adopted policies in historical perspective and in contemporary debates;
- (ability to apply knowledge and understanding) possess the tools in order to identify and interpret the most critical issues in development dynamics in low and middle income economies and the causes of divergence among economic systems on the ground of key structural and contextual characteristics and of their significance for economic and human development.
- (judgment) develop an analytical method of thought in order to critically assess contemporary process of economic development and learn to evaluate choices and policies made by policy makers in order to foster development;
- (knowledge and understanding) consolidate the fundamental concepts of development economics and the rationales for different tools and policies adopted in the process of economic growth and development; gain adequate knowledge of the main stylized facts of economic development and growth of different nations in the world, focusing on the effects of the adopted policies in historical perspective and in contemporary debates;
- (ability to apply knowledge and understanding) possess the tools in order to identify and interpret the most critical issues in development dynamics in low and middle income economies and the causes of divergence among economic systems on the ground of key structural and contextual characteristics and of their significance for economic and human development.
Periodo: Terzo trimestre
Modalità di valutazione: Esame
Giudizio di valutazione: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Corso singolo
Questo insegnamento non può essere seguito come corso singolo. Puoi trovare gli insegnamenti disponibili consultando il catalogo corsi singoli.
Programma e organizzazione didattica
Edizione unica
Periodo
Terzo trimestre
Classes will be live-streamed on Microsoft Teams, following the lessons timetable. Live-streamed classes will be recorded and will be available to students on Ariel.
Relevant information about how to join the classes on Microsoft Teams and other instructions will be available on the Ariel website of the course. Please browse it regularly.
Students will be informed as soon as possible, through ARIEL website of the course, also in case they will be able to attend classroom lessons at University. This possibility will depend upon the evolution of the health emergency and the respect of the security directives.
In any case the classroom lessons will be recorded and will be available on the online platform.
Course syllabus and Teaching Resources (reference material)
The course syllabus and reference material are unchanged.
Learning Assessment methods
The exam consists in a written test with a mix of multiple-choice questions and open-ended questions.
If the health situation will allow it, compatibly with the availability of classrooms and compliance with the necessary safety conditions, the written exam will take place in presence at the University.
However, the possibility of carrying out the written exam through Microsoft Teams will be ensured for students who will be unable to move from their place of residence and/or domicile.
More indications and updates will be available on the Ariel website of the course. Please browse it regularly.
Relevant information about how to join the classes on Microsoft Teams and other instructions will be available on the Ariel website of the course. Please browse it regularly.
Students will be informed as soon as possible, through ARIEL website of the course, also in case they will be able to attend classroom lessons at University. This possibility will depend upon the evolution of the health emergency and the respect of the security directives.
In any case the classroom lessons will be recorded and will be available on the online platform.
Course syllabus and Teaching Resources (reference material)
The course syllabus and reference material are unchanged.
Learning Assessment methods
The exam consists in a written test with a mix of multiple-choice questions and open-ended questions.
If the health situation will allow it, compatibly with the availability of classrooms and compliance with the necessary safety conditions, the written exam will take place in presence at the University.
However, the possibility of carrying out the written exam through Microsoft Teams will be ensured for students who will be unable to move from their place of residence and/or domicile.
More indications and updates will be available on the Ariel website of the course. Please browse it regularly.
Programma
The course program covers basic elements of development economics and the evolution of international cooperation strategies, mostly from the post-war period to the present day.
The program may be summarized as follows: first we present the main stylized facts on economic and human development around the world, with particular emphasis on the ways in which development, poverty, and inequalities can be measured. Then some of the most relevant economic theories that explain the dynamics and the gaps in development among countries will be reviewed. We will study the different facets of economic and human development, distinguishing between proximate determinants of economic growth (e.g. education, health, gender, the family, land relations, etc.) as well as the so-called "deeper" determinants (e.g. informal and formal institutions, geography, technology, epidemics, conflicts, history, as well as unexpected exogenous events).
Then we will look at the role of development policies and international development cooperation and the impact they can have in different institutional contexts, today and in historical perspective.
This second part of the course tries to tackle the main development strategies and policies adopted in the last century and examines them according to their success or failure in enhancing welfare.
The detailed teaching plan is structured as follows:
Development economics:
- Development and Underdevelopment: definitions, measurement, origins, and history;
- Economic growth and development versus human development;
- Growth theories: review of the basic concepts and models:
- Proximate determinants of economic growth;
- Deep determinants of economic growth.
Development policies and strategies:
- Approaches to development policy-making;
- A brief history of development aid and international cooperation;
- Development aid actors and institutions and different types of aid;
- Micro and macro implications of development policies and aid;
- At the frontiers of development policies: the UN 2030 Agenda and SDGs and the current debates and challenges.
The program may be summarized as follows: first we present the main stylized facts on economic and human development around the world, with particular emphasis on the ways in which development, poverty, and inequalities can be measured. Then some of the most relevant economic theories that explain the dynamics and the gaps in development among countries will be reviewed. We will study the different facets of economic and human development, distinguishing between proximate determinants of economic growth (e.g. education, health, gender, the family, land relations, etc.) as well as the so-called "deeper" determinants (e.g. informal and formal institutions, geography, technology, epidemics, conflicts, history, as well as unexpected exogenous events).
Then we will look at the role of development policies and international development cooperation and the impact they can have in different institutional contexts, today and in historical perspective.
This second part of the course tries to tackle the main development strategies and policies adopted in the last century and examines them according to their success or failure in enhancing welfare.
The detailed teaching plan is structured as follows:
Development economics:
- Development and Underdevelopment: definitions, measurement, origins, and history;
- Economic growth and development versus human development;
- Growth theories: review of the basic concepts and models:
- Proximate determinants of economic growth;
- Deep determinants of economic growth.
Development policies and strategies:
- Approaches to development policy-making;
- A brief history of development aid and international cooperation;
- Development aid actors and institutions and different types of aid;
- Micro and macro implications of development policies and aid;
- At the frontiers of development policies: the UN 2030 Agenda and SDGs and the current debates and challenges.
Prerequisiti
Introductory microeconomics:
Students should be acquainted with the basic concepts of demand, supply, production, prices, allocation of resources, and distribution of income as well as elementary principles of welfare economics.
Introductory macroeconomics:
Students should understand the fundamental laws and concepts of macroeconomic theory (e.g. the determinants of national income and GDP, unemployment rates, and inflation rates) as well as the existing tools of public policy which can be used to promote macroeconomic goals.
Suggested textbooks: N.G. Mankiw, M.C.Taylor, Principi di economia, VII edizione, Zanichelli, 2018 or N.G. Mankiw, L'essenziale di economia, Zanichelli, 2016.
Students should be acquainted with the basic concepts of demand, supply, production, prices, allocation of resources, and distribution of income as well as elementary principles of welfare economics.
Introductory macroeconomics:
Students should understand the fundamental laws and concepts of macroeconomic theory (e.g. the determinants of national income and GDP, unemployment rates, and inflation rates) as well as the existing tools of public policy which can be used to promote macroeconomic goals.
Suggested textbooks: N.G. Mankiw, M.C.Taylor, Principi di economia, VII edizione, Zanichelli, 2018 or N.G. Mankiw, L'essenziale di economia, Zanichelli, 2016.
Metodi didattici
Conventional lectures (traditional/online), flipped classrooms/interactive presentations, and individual study.
Attending students are asked to work in small groups and prepare a series of group and individual assignments (readings, project work, presentations, reports), which will be detailed by the instructor.
Group assignments will consist on the presentation of a research paper chosen from a list provided by the instructor in the initial meetings as well as a country report.
Students are expected to actively participate in preparing the selected readings before class when required in order to engage in class discussion.
Attending students are asked to work in small groups and prepare a series of group and individual assignments (readings, project work, presentations, reports), which will be detailed by the instructor.
Group assignments will consist on the presentation of a research paper chosen from a list provided by the instructor in the initial meetings as well as a country report.
Students are expected to actively participate in preparing the selected readings before class when required in order to engage in class discussion.
Materiale di riferimento
Main textbook (both attending and non-attending students)
Todaro M.P., Smith S.C., 2015. Economic Development, 12th ed., Pearson Education Limited
Chapters for the first part: 1, 2, 5, 6 (escl. 6.4), 8;
Chapters for the second part: 4.7, 5.6, 6.6, 9.6, 11 (pars. 1,2,4,6,7), 12 (pars. 5,6,7), 13 (pars. 1, 5), 14 (pars. 2, 4), 15.3.
Additional selected readings:
Banerjee, A.V., Duflo, E. 2007. The Economic Lives of the Poor. The Journal of Economic Perspectives. 21(1):141-167.
Vaggi, G. 2018. Development: the re-balancing of economic powers. Cham: Palgrave Macmillan.
World Bank, selected years. World Development Report, especially World Bank 2012. Gender Equality and Development.
A more detailed list of required material will be announced in the beginning of the lectures.
Lecture notes and slides are central and integrating part of the exam program for both attending and non-attending students.
In order to acquire the same knowledge, non-attending students are required to read a series of additional readings, as explicitly detailed in the reading list provided.
Teaching materials (slides and notes) and any other additional resource (included videos) will be posted on the dedicated webpage for this course.
Todaro M.P., Smith S.C., 2015. Economic Development, 12th ed., Pearson Education Limited
Chapters for the first part: 1, 2, 5, 6 (escl. 6.4), 8;
Chapters for the second part: 4.7, 5.6, 6.6, 9.6, 11 (pars. 1,2,4,6,7), 12 (pars. 5,6,7), 13 (pars. 1, 5), 14 (pars. 2, 4), 15.3.
Additional selected readings:
Banerjee, A.V., Duflo, E. 2007. The Economic Lives of the Poor. The Journal of Economic Perspectives. 21(1):141-167.
Vaggi, G. 2018. Development: the re-balancing of economic powers. Cham: Palgrave Macmillan.
World Bank, selected years. World Development Report, especially World Bank 2012. Gender Equality and Development.
A more detailed list of required material will be announced in the beginning of the lectures.
Lecture notes and slides are central and integrating part of the exam program for both attending and non-attending students.
In order to acquire the same knowledge, non-attending students are required to read a series of additional readings, as explicitly detailed in the reading list provided.
Teaching materials (slides and notes) and any other additional resource (included videos) will be posted on the dedicated webpage for this course.
Modalità di verifica dell’apprendimento e criteri di valutazione
Attending students will be assessed as follows: class presentations and interaction - 50% of the final grade; final written exam - 50% of the final grade.
Non-attending students will be assessed on a final written exam.
The exam consists in a single written test covering the entire program.
The exam questions include a mix of multiple-choice questions and open-ended questions. Open ended questions are intended to be review questions in the form of short synthetic essays.
The final mark is expressed in 30 points. Each question is worth a variable number of points depending on the question and will be made explicit on the text. The final mark is given by the sum of the points obtained in the answers.
Class presentations are intended to assess critical thinking skills and the ability to communicate complex concepts focusing on a specific topic of the course.
The written exam is aimed at verifying the students' disciplinary knowledge and interpretative and argumentative skills as well as the reasoning skills based on the theoretical tools presented during the course.
Criteria for evaluation for both class presentations and written in-class exam:
a) knowledge of the topic and relevance of the content requested;
b) argumentative capacity and logical consistency in the conduct of the discussion;
c) clarity and completeness, with particular attention to terminological precision.
Non-attending students will be assessed on a final written exam.
The exam consists in a single written test covering the entire program.
The exam questions include a mix of multiple-choice questions and open-ended questions. Open ended questions are intended to be review questions in the form of short synthetic essays.
The final mark is expressed in 30 points. Each question is worth a variable number of points depending on the question and will be made explicit on the text. The final mark is given by the sum of the points obtained in the answers.
Class presentations are intended to assess critical thinking skills and the ability to communicate complex concepts focusing on a specific topic of the course.
The written exam is aimed at verifying the students' disciplinary knowledge and interpretative and argumentative skills as well as the reasoning skills based on the theoretical tools presented during the course.
Criteria for evaluation for both class presentations and written in-class exam:
a) knowledge of the topic and relevance of the content requested;
b) argumentative capacity and logical consistency in the conduct of the discussion;
c) clarity and completeness, with particular attention to terminological precision.
SECS-P/01 - ECONOMIA POLITICA - CFU: 6
Lezioni: 40 ore
Docente:
Bozzano Monica