AØKA08088U Advanced Development Economics - Micro Aspects

Volume 2018/2019
Education

MSc programme in Economics – elective course
MSc programme in mathematics-economics

 

The PhD Programme in Economics at the Department of Economics - elective course with resarch module (PhD students must contact the study administration and the lecturer in order to write the research assignment)

 

Content

The World is rapidly changing and understanding the dynamics of economic development is as important as ever. This course will cover the microeconomics of development, and will focus on approaches to understanding the behavior of households and firms, and the functioning of markets and institutions in developing countries. Since development is a field with a strong empirical tradition, most of the course will be centered on discussing and evaluating the empirical strategies used in the literature. Moreover, the course will also (via exercises) provide students with an opportunity for an “hands-on” experience, as results in selected readings are replicated (and criticized) using appropriate software packages.

General textbook material and selected articles form the core of the readings. The range of topics covered include theories of development, micro-economic analysis as well as key policy issues and recommendations. Topics covered in course include: (i) Poverty and inequality, (ii) The agricultural household model (AHM), (iii) Agriculture and livelihoods, (iv) Doing business (industry and services), (v) Health and nutrition, (vi) Jobs, labor market and migration,  (vii) Education and skills, (viii) Land markets and property rights, (ix) Credit and microfinance, (x) Social networks and learning, (xi) Risk and insurance, (xii) Coping with conflicts and disasters, and (xiii) a “Hot topic”.

The course will therefore:

  • Provide the students with a critical overview of the recent literature and important debates within the micro aspects of economic development.

  • Provide insight into methodological issues that arises when doing research on microeconomics of development. The emphasis will be on (i) How theoretical microeconomic hypothesis may be tested with data and (ii) how to identify causal relationships. One aim is to through exercises to gain insight into what makes a good empirical study.

  • Provide students with a “hands-on” experience on how to replicate empirical results using relevant econometric software. This will hopefully prepare students for original independent empirical research and help identify possible interesting thesis topics.
Learning Outcome

After completing the course, the student should be able to:

Knowledge:

  • Show overview of the basic concepts used in micro development economics and lay out the key elements of the more recent theories and development models.

  • Critically discuss theories and empirical evidence on micro economic development

  • Present and discuss existing theory and empirical evidence related to the highlighted topics described in the “content” of the course.
     

Skills:

  • Select relevant micro theories and empirical methods for analyses of the current economic development issues covered in the course.

  • Summarize and assess theory and empirical evidence on the economic characteristics and functions of selected markets in developing countries.

  • Reflect upon ongoing professional debate in areas within the topics highligted in the “content” of the course.

  • Empirical analysis of existing data relevant for development micro economics.
     

Competences_

  • Ability to apply theoretical and empirical knowledge about economic development in a competent, coherent and original way in relation to current challenges.

  • Identify relevant model setups within development and implement existing empirical models in new contexts.

  • Introduce and solve new and complex empirical model setups within micro development economics in a professional and responsible manner.

  • Empirical analysis of new data using relevant software.

 

Literature

Textbook: Bardhan and Udry (1999). “Development Microeconomics”, Oxford University Press.

Series of academic articles. Links made available on the course homepage.

The course builds upon knowledge gained during the under-graduate course “Developmnet Economics”. However, although it is recommended that the students have taken this course it is not a requirement to follow ADEMiA. It is also recommended that the students familiarize themselves with the program package Stata, as exercises are carried out using this particular software. Links to relevant tutorials for Stata will be available on the course homepage.
The format of the course is a combination of lectures, exercises and student assignments. In the lectures core concepts, theories, empirical measures and methods within the field of micro development are presented. In exercises classes students work in groups to understand and discuss central papers in the syllabus. During the exercises students will learn to replicate and extent central papers in the syllabus, which will be of direct relevance for the mandatory assignment and the exam.
Schedule:
2 hours lectures 1 to 2 times a week from week 6 to 20 (except holidays).
2 hours of exercise from week 6 or 7 to 21 (except holidays).

The overall schema for the Master can be seen at KUnet:
MSc in Economics => "courses and teaching" => "Planning and overview" => "Your timetable"
KA i Økonomi => "Kurser og undervisning" => "Planlægning og overblik" => "Dit skema"

Timetable and venue:
To see the time and location of lecturesplease press the link/links under "Se skema" (See schedule) at the right side of this page (E means Autumn, F means Spring).

You can find the similar information partly in English at
https:/​/​skema.ku.dk/​ku1819/​uk/​module.htm
-Select Department: “2200-Økonomisk Institut” (and wait for respond)
-Select Module:: “2200-F19; [Name of course]”
-Select Report Type: “List – Weekdays”
-Select Period: “Forår/Spring – Week 5-30”
Press: “ View Timetable”

Please be aware regarding exercise classes:
- The schedule of the exercise classe can be changed until just before the teaching begins without the participants accept. If this happens it will be informed at the links in the right side, in the app myUCPH and at your personal schema at KUnet.
- If too many students have wished a specific class, students will be registered randomly at another class.
- It is not possible to change class after the second registration period has expired.
- The student is not allowed to participate in an exercise class not registered, because the room has only seats for the amount of registered student.
- That the study administration allocates the students to the exercise classes according to the principles stated in the KUnet.
  • Category
  • Hours
  • Class Exercises
  • 28
  • Exam
  • 24
  • Lectures
  • 42
  • Preparation
  • 112
  • Total
  • 206
Credit
7,5 ECTS
Type of assessment
Written assignment, 3 hours under invigilation
The exam assignment is given in English and must be answered in English.
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Exam registration requirements

The students have to show active participation in the exercises (done in groups) by handing in program files written during the exercises. In addition, a mandatory written assignment (done in groups) have to be completed satisfactory during the course. The nature of this assignment will be described in more detail during the first week of the course.

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Aid
Without aids
Marking scale
7-point grading scale
Censorship form
No external censorship
The exam can be selected for external assessment.
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Exam period

Exam information:

The exam takes place at the computers of the university:

31 May 2019

 

From the middle of the semester the exact time will be available in Digital Exam portal.

 

Note: In special cases, the exam date can be changed to another day and time within the exam period.

 

More information about examination, rules, exam schedule is available at the intranet for Master students (UK) and Master students (DK).

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Re-exam

Reexam information:

The reexam takes place at the computers of the university:

27 August 2019

 

During the reexam period the exact time can be seen in Digital Exam.

 

Note: In special cases, the written reexam can change to another day. Or to an oral exam incl. date, time and place, if only a few students have registered the reexam, which will be informed by the Examination Office.

 

More information is available at  Master students (UK)and Master students (DK).  

Criteria for exam assesment

Students are assessed on the extent to which they master the learning outcome for the course.

To receive the top grade, the student must with no or only a few minor weaknesses be able to demonstrate an excellent performance displaying a high level of command of all aspects of the relevant material and can make use of the knowledge, skills and competencies listed in the learning outcomes.