AØKA08031U Development Economics

Volume 2019/2020
Education

MSc programme in Economics – elective course

Bacheloruddannelsen i økonomi – Prioriteret valgfag på 3. år (angivet med et p)

The Danish BSc programme in Economics - prioritized elective at the 3rd year (symbolized by ‘p’).

Content

Our understanding of economic development is constantly evolving. Economic theories and policies are adjusted, augmented and replaced as we gain new insights from observing the World. However, there is often more than one interpretation of observed outcomes. Therefore it is important to have knowledge of both the facts and economists' diverse interpretations of these facts.

 

The course "Development Economics" therefore gives an overview of the level and changes of socio-economic conditions, such as income, poverty, education and health in the global south. These conditions are put in perspective in presentations and discussions of the major trends in classical and contemporary thinking about economic development.

 

General textbook material and selected articles on the subject form the core of the readings. The range of topics covered include theories of development, micro- and macroeconomic issues and economic analysis as well as key policy issues and recommendations.

Learning Outcome

After completing the course, the student is expected to be able to:

 

Knowledge:

  • Account for the issues addressed and the basic concepts used in development economics

  • Identify, describe and assess the measurable indicators, which are used in socioeconomic surveys and analyses of the economic, social and institutional situation and characteristics of developing countries.

  • Discuss theories and empirical evidence on economic inequality, poverty and growth and their internal relationships.

  • Define key elements of the more recent theories and development models.

  • Present and discuss existing theory and empirical evidence on the importance of human resources (health, education and population).

 

Skills:

  • Analyse economic development issues with use of relevant micro and macro theories and empirical methods.

  • Summarize and assess theory and empirical evidence on the economic characteristics and functions of selected markets (land, labour and capital/credit) in developing countries.

 

Competences:

  • Master theoretical and empirical knowledge about economic development in a competent, coherent and original way in relation to current challenges.
  • Initiate and manage ongoing professional debate in areas such as international trade, foreign direct investment and foreign aid.
Literature

Textbooks :

  • Dwight H. Perkins, Steven Radelet, David L. Lindauer and Steven A. Blovk, 2013. "Economics of Development", 7th edition, W.W. Norton & Company. ISBN-10: 0393123529. ISBN-13: 978-0393123524.
  • Debraj Ray, 1998. “Development Economics”, Princeton University Press. Hardcover, ISBN: 9780691017068
  • eBook, ISBN: 9781400835898
  • David N. Weil, 2013. "Economic Growth", Pearson International Edition, 3rd Edition. ISBN-10: 0273769294 ISBN-13: 978-0273769293

 

In addition to the textbooks journal articles and reports are also used. The compelte syllabus with chapters ect. will be posted at the start of the course.

Students should have followed Microeconomics and Macroeconomics courses corresponding to 2nd year undergraduate level at the Department of Economics.
The format of the course is a combination of lectures and individual student work.
Schedule:
3 hours lectures a week from week 6 to 20 (except holidays).

The overall schema for the 3rd year and Master courses can be seen at KUnet:
MSc in Economics => "courses and teaching" => "Planning and overview" => "Your timetable"
BA i Økonomi/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 (F means Spring).

You can find the similar information partly in English at
https:/​/​skema.ku.dk/​ku1920/​uk/​module.htm
-Select Department: “2200-Økonomisk Institut” (and wait for respond)
-Select Module:: “2200-F20; [Name of course]”
-Select Report Type: “List – Weekdays”
-Select Period: “Forår/Spring – Week 5-30”
Press: “ View Timetable”
  • Category
  • Hours
  • Exam
  • 3
  • Lectures
  • 42
  • Preparation
  • 161
  • Total
  • 206
Credit
7,5 ECTS
Type of assessment
Written assignment, 3 hours
The exam assignment is given in English and must be answered in English.

The Board of Study has decided to change the exam to an online take-home exam, due to the Corona-crisis. The exam is still individual and you may not communicate with others about the exam assignment or solutions in any circumstances.
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Exam registration requirements

There are no requirements that the student has to fulfill during the course to be able to sit the exam.

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Aid

With aids

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Marking scale
7-point grading scale
Censorship form
No external censorship
for the written exam. The exam may be chosen for external censorship by random check.
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Exam period

The exam takes place:

25 May 2020

 

Exam information:

The exact time will be available in the Digital Exam from the middle of the semester.

 

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

 

For enrolled students more information about examination, rules etc. is available at the intranet for Master students (UK), Master students (DK) and Bachelor students (DK).

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Re-exam

The written reexam takes place:

18 August 2020

The re-sit is changed to an online take-home exam.

 

NOTE: If only few students register for the written re-exam, the re-exam might change to an online oral examination with aids, but without preparation time. If changing the re-exam to an oral re-exam, the exam date, time and place might change as well. The Examination Office will then inform the students on KU e-mail.

 

Reexam info:

Info is available in Digital Exam early August.

More info at Master(UK), Master(DK) and Bachelor(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.