Development Economics
Code
2176
Academic unit
null
Department
null
Credits
7
Teacher in charge
Pedro C. Vicente
Teaching language
English
Objectives
This course will give students an overview of current research on development economics. Both theory and empirics will be tackled, with a strong applied focus.
Prerequisites
N/A
Subject matter
In the process it will introduce the main evaluation methods used in impact measurement of development interventions. The course also aims to offer basic research skills, as it will give the student the perspective of a researcher in this field.
Bibliography
Banerjee, Abhijit V., and Esther Duflo (2011), Poor Economics: A Radical Rethinking of the Way to Fight Global Poverty, Public Affairs; Collier, Paul (2007), The Bottom Billion: Why the Poorest Countries Are Failing and What Can Be Done About It, Oxford University Press; Collier, Paul (2009), Wars, Guns, and Votes: Democracy in Dangerous Places, HarperCollins Publishers;
Easterly, William (2006), The White Man´s Burden: Why the West´s Efforts to Aid the Rest Have Done So Much Ill and So Little Good, Penguin Press;
Sachs, Jeffrey D. (2005), The End of Poverty: Economic Possibilities for Our Time, Penguin Press.
Teaching method
There will be two classes of 1 hour and 20 minutes per week, based partly on slides and blackboard notes. For each topic, a general overview of the theoretical and empirical issues will be given, and some examples taken from recent research will be studied in greater detail. The participation of students will be strongly encouraged to foster discussion. Individual written work will encourage students to gain research skills.
Evaluation method
The Final Exam is mandatory and must cover the entire span of the course. Its weight in the final grade can be between 30 to 70%. The remainder of the evaluation can consist of class participation, midterm exams, in class tests, etc. Overall, written in class assessment (final exam, midterm) must have a weight of at least 50%.
Presentation of a research paper (20% of the grade): To be done in groups of 5/6 (depending on class size) for the duration of approximately 30 minutes (20 minutes presentation, 10 minutes discussion). Each group will prepare slides that will then be posted on the class website. The presentation should: provide motivation to the research question and highlight the main results, (ii) produce a clear and organized presentation of theory and evidence (if applicable), (iii) be critical of the results, (iv) provide appropriate responses to questions from the class. Writing two proposals for research designs (30% of the grade): To be done individually. Each student will prepare two 5-‐page (IGNORE size 12pp) research proposals. Each one should include: (i) research question, (ii) motivation relating to literature, including theory (if applicable), (iii) empirical method used (e.g. field experiment, lab experiment, natural experiment, instrumental variables), (iv) details of measurement namely main outcome variables.
Importance of research question, appropriate choice of method and feasibility of the project will be important criteria in assessing the research proposals. Please send me (by email) the first research proposal by October 24 and the second by December 12.
Participation in class (10% of the grade): All students are required to read the papers in advance, and to comment on the presentations and topics during class.
Final exam (40% of the grade).