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JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY
COURSE CODE: "EC 341H"
COURSE NAME: "Economics of Development (This course carries 4 semester hours of credits. A minimum CUM GPA of 3.5 is required)"
SEMESTER & YEAR:
Spring 2015
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SYLLABUS
INSTRUCTOR:
John Westley
EMAIL: [email protected]
HOURS:
MW 1:30PM 2:45PM
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS:
45
CREDITS:
PREREQUISITES:
Prerequisites: Junior Standing, EC 201, EC 202
OFFICE HOURS:
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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.
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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.
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LEARNING OUTCOMES:
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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.
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TEXTBOOK:
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REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
| Book Title | Author | Publisher | ISBN number | Library Call Number | Comments |
| The White Man’s Burden: Why the West’s Efforts to Aid the Rest Have Done So Much Ill and So Little Good (WM) | William Easterly | Penguin | 978-0-14-303882-5 | | |
RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
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GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
| Assignment | Guidelines | Weight |
| Exam I | Exam covering first part of course | 20 |
| Exam II | Exam covering second part of course | 20 |
| Final Exam | Final exam (cumulative, but emphasizing last part of course) | 40 |
| 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. | 20 |
-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. |
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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.
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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.
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SCHEDULE
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| PART I: PERSPECTIVES ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT |
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| Week 1 (January 19, 21) |
Patterns of Development |
Text 1-3; CW 1; AD 1, 6; EA 1, 2, 4 |
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| Week 2 (January 26, 28) |
Theories of Economic Growth |
Text 4; EP 3 |
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| Week 3 (February 2, 4) |
States and Markets, Inequality and Poverty |
Text 5, 6; BB 1, AD 10, CW 10 |
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| Week 4 (February 9, 11) |
Environmental Sustainability and Development |
Text 20; CW 2, 3 |
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| Week 5 (February 16, 18) |
Environmental Sustainability and Development (continued); Exam I: Part I |
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| PART II: SECTORAL ISSUES |
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| Week 6 (February 23, 25) |
Population |
Text 7; CW 7. 8 |
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| Week 7 (March 2, 4) |
Education and Health |
Text 8, 9; EP 10 |
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| Week 8 (March 9, 11) |
Agriculture |
Text 16, 17 |
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| Week 9 (March 16, 18) |
Trade and Development |
Text 18, 19; AD 12, BB 6, 10, WM 2 |
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| Week 10 (March 23, 25) |
Trade and Development (continued) Exam II: Part II |
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| PART III: MANAGING AN OPEN DEVELOPING ECONOMY |
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| Week 11 (March 30, April 1) |
Investment and Savings, Fiscal Policy |
Text 10, 11 |
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| Week 12 (April 13, 15) |
Financial Development and Inflation, Foreign Debt and Financial Crises |
Text 12, 13; AD 9 |
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| Week 13 (April 20, 22) |
Foreign Aid; Managing Short-Run Crises in an Open Economy |
Text 14, 15; AD 7, 8, CW 11, BB 7 |
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| Week 14 (April 27, 29) |
Review |
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Final Exam: Cumulative, but emphasis on Part III; see university schedule for date and time |
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