Course Syllabus

JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY

COURSE CODE: "EC 341H"
COURSE NAME: "Economics of Development -HONORS (This course carries 4 semester hours of credits. A minimum CUM GPA of 3.5 is required)"
SEMESTER & YEAR: Spring 2018

SYLLABUS

INSTRUCTOR: John Westley
EMAIL: [email protected]
HOURS: MW 10:00-11:15 AM
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS: 60
CREDITS:
PREREQUISITES: Prerequisites: Junior Standing, EC 201, EC 202
OFFICE HOURS:

COURSE DESCRIPTION:
The course focuses on the economics of development, with specific reference to developing countries. While drawing extensively on the tools of standard economic theory, it deals with development issues for which economic theories at best provide only partial answers. It offers a problem-oriented approach, with a historical and institutional perspective, to issues such as poverty, population, income distribution, international trade, investment, aid, and the debt problem.

SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:

Part I of the course covers broad patterns of development, reviews theories of growth and development, discusses the respective roles of the state and markets, assesses issues of inequality and poverty and introduces the issue of sustainability. Part II takes a sectoral approach, covering population, education, health, agriculture, primary exports and trade. Part III focuses on macroeconomic issues in development, including saving and resource mobilization, financial policy, foreign aid, and foreign debt and financial crises. A paper of 20-25 pages will be required. The paper will assess the performance of an African country in reaching the Millenium Development Goals (MDGs) by 2015 and the prospects that the country will be able to meet the objectives of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) now being elaborated for the period 2015-2030. The paper will require the preparation of an outline and bibliography by Week 4 of the course and a class presentation on the paper's argument by Week 13 of the course. A grade of B or better on the paper will permit the award of the fourth (honors) credit for the course.

LEARNING OUTCOMES:

By the end of the course, students should be able to identify the key elements of effective economic development policy as it relates to environmental sustainability (in developing countries generally) and development in Africa. They should be able to specify why those policies are more likely to lead to sustainable development than are alternative policies based on 1) arguments from populist or nationalist politics or 2) economic arguments inappropriate to the country’s income level, ecology, structure and potential. They should have developed skill in the critical analysis and presentation of these arguments (both in writing and orally) through careful study, through active class participation and through preparation of a paper arguing forcefully and convincingly for a particular position.

TEXTBOOK:

Book Title	Author	Publisher	ISBN number
Economics of Development	Perkins et al	W W Norton	978-0-393-93435-9
Emerging Africa	Radelet	Center for Global Development	978-1-933286-51-8
African Development	Moss	Lynne Rienner	978-1-58826-769-6

REQUIRED RESERVED READING:

Book Title	Author	Publisher	ISBN number	Library Call Number	Comments
The End of Poverty	Sachs	Penguin	978-0143036586
The Bottom Billion	Collier	Oxford University Press	978-0-19-531145-7

RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:

NONE

GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:

Assignment	Guidelines	Weight
Exam I	Exam covering first part of course	15
Exam II	Exam covering second part of course	15
Final Exam	Final exam (cumulative, but emphasizing last part of course)	35
Paper	Paper assessing the development performance and prospects of a particular African country (20-25 pages). The paper will be based on an outline and bibliography to be submitted in Week 4 of the course.	35

-ASSESSMENT CRITERIA:
AWork of this quality directly addresses the question or problem raised and provides a coherent argument displaying an extensive knowledge of relevant information or content. This type of work demonstrates the ability to critically evaluate concepts and theory and has an element of novelty and originality. There is clear evidence of a significant amount of reading beyond that required for the cour
BThis is highly competent level of performance and directly addresses the question or problem raised.There is a demonstration of some ability to critically evaluatetheory and concepts and relate them to practice. Discussions reflect the student’s own arguments and are not simply a repetition of standard lecture andreference material. The work does not suffer from any major errors or omissions and provides evidence of reading beyond the required assignments.
CThis is an acceptable level of performance and provides answers that are clear but limited, reflecting the information offered in the lectures and reference readings.
DThis level of performances demonstrates that the student lacks a coherent grasp of the material.Important information is omitted and irrelevant points included.In effect, the student has barely done enough to persuade the instructor that s/he should not fail.
FThis work fails to show any knowledge or understanding of the issues raised in the question. Most of the material in the answer is irrelevant.

-ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS:

Students are strongly encouraged to attend and are responsble for all material covered in class. Students are expected to do the readings before class and participate actively in the lecture as part of their own learning experience.

Students who miss 4 classes or fewer (excused or unexcused) will have the option of dropping low grades from the first and/or second exams and moving the weight of these exams to the final. Students who do not meet the attendance requirements will not have this option.

ACADEMIC HONESTY
As stated in the university catalog, any student who commits an act of academic dishonesty will receive a failing grade on the work in which the dishonesty occurred. In addition, acts of academic dishonesty, irrespective of the weight of the assignment, may result in the student receiving a failing grade in the course. Instances of academic dishonesty will be reported to the Dean of Academic Affairs. A student who is reported twice for academic dishonesty is subject to summary dismissal from the University. In such a case, the Academic Council will then make a recommendation to the President, who will make the final decision.

STUDENTS WITH LEARNING OR OTHER DISABILITIES
John Cabot University does not discriminate on the basis of disability or handicap. Students with approved accommodations must inform their professors at the beginning of the term. Please see the website for the complete policy.

SCHEDULE

PART I: PERSPECTIVES ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
Week 1 (January 15, 17)	Patterns of Development	Text 1-3; AD 1; EA 1, 2
Week 2 (January 22, 24)	Theories of Economic Growth	Text 4; EP 3; EA 4; AD 6
Week 3 (January 29, 31)	States and Markets, Inequality and Poverty	Text 5, 6; BB 1, AD 3-5, 10; CW 10; EA 3
Week 4 (February 5, 7)	Inequality and Poverty (continued), Environmental Sustainability and Development	Text 20; CW 2, 3
Week 5 (February 12, 14, 16)	Environmental Sustainability and Development (continued); Exam 1: Part I
PART II: SECTORAL ISSUES
Week 6 (February 19, 21)	Population	Text 7, 8; CW 7, 8
Week 7 (February 26, 28)	Education, Health	Text 9; EP 10; EA 6
Week 8 (March 5, 7)	Agriculture	Text 16, 17
Week 9 (March 12, 14)	Trade and Development	Text 18, 19; AD 12, BB 6, 10
Week 10 (March 19, 21)	Exam 2: Part II; begin Part III
PART III: MANAGING AN OPEN DEVELOPING ECONOMY
Week 11 (March 26, 28)	Investment and Savings, Fiscal Policy, Financial Development and Inflation	Text 10, 11, 12
Week 12 (April 9, 11)	Foreign Debt and Financial Crises. Foreign Aid	Text 13, 14; AD 7-9, CW 11, BB 7; EA 5
Week 13 (April 16, 18)	Foreign Aid (continued); begin presentations	Text 14; EA 7, 8
Week 14 (April 23)	Presentations, review
	Final Exam: Cumulative, but emphasis on Part III; see university schedule for date and time