AØKA08087U Advanced Development Economics (Macro Aspects)
The readings for the course is journal articles and recent working papers. Accordingly, the precise content of the course, in terms of required readings, will vary from time to time. But the course consistently covers three broad themes:
Theme 1. The Historical Origins of Comparative
Development
It is increasingly understood that it is impossible to account for
the vast income differences we see across countries without an
understanding of the differential timing of the take-off to
sustained growth, which occurred first some two hundred years ago
in the Western world. This event is sometimes referred to as
"the industrial revolution". As all countries did not
venture onto a trajectory of sustained growth at the same time,
income gaps emerged, thus shaping contemporary comparative
development. This part of the course will therefore discuss the
forces which has kept economies in a state of stagnation for the
bulk of human history, and by extension, how economies ultimately
are released from stagnation.
Theme 2. Fundamental Determinants of
productivity
2A. Climate and Geography
2B. Institutions
2C. Culture
Why didn’t all countries take-off at the same time? Or, to put
it differently, why did the "industrial revolution" not
diffuse rapidly across the world as a whole? Why did some
countries, post take-off, not manage to catch-up?
At the proximate level the answer to the latter question is
suggested by existing growth models (such as the Solow-Swan model
and extensions): some countries are simply not able to accumulate
capital (physical and human), adopt new ideas, and ensure a high
degree of macroeconomic efficiency as others. But why is that? If
policy is part of the story, why do some countries apparently
impose growth hampering policies? If low savings is part of an
answer, why do citizens of some countries display more
"thriftiness" than citizen's of other countries? Etc.
This part of the course discusses a recent body of literature,
which seeks an answer in slow-moving country specific
characteristics: Climate/Geography, Culture and Institutions. That
is, differences in these three dimensions are critical in
understanding both the differential timing of the take-off and the
post take-off convergence process.
Our journey through the literature will also reveal important
debates, which have played out (and, in many cases, are on-going)
such as: does greater longevity lead to higher income? Does trade
lead to growth? Are the formal rules of the game of an economy
(i.e., things like property right protection) important to growth
once we take into account that the informal rules of the game
differ across countries (i.e., norms, values and tastes; things
like trust, cultural valuation of skills and wealth and so
forth)?
Theme 3. Policy debates: Aid effectivess
A key development policy tool is foreign aid. But how effective has
foreign aid been in fostering growth and
development?
Aims for this course is:
- To provide students with an understanding of the causes of global patterns of growth and development
- To allow students to understand structural features of less developed economies and relevant economic modelling.
- To give students an understanding of policies to promote growth and development.
By the end of the course the students should be able to:
- Have a broad appreciation of important papers in the literature relevant to macroeconomic problems of less developed countries.
- Apply their knowledge of econometrics to articles that conduct quantitative analysis in less developed countries.
- Solve theoretical models in the area, as well as be able to provide intuition for central mechanisms and assess the models? empirical predictions
- Appreciate some of the key debates among economists and how they relate to contemporary policy issues
- Have the background training needed to function as a trained economist working on the problems of less developed countries in an international organization, business environment, government or non-governmental organization
The readings for the course is journal articles and recent working papers. Accordingly, the precise content of the course, in terms of required readings, will vary from time to time. But the course consistently covers three broad themes:”
- Category
- Hours
- Exam
- 3
- Lectures
- 42
- Preparation
- 161
- Total
- 206
- Credit
- 7,5 ECTS
- Type of assessment
- Written examination, 3 hours under invigilationA 3 hours written examination taking place at Peter Bangs Vej 36.
- Aid
- Without aids
- Marking scale
- 7-point grading scale
- Censorship form
- External censorship
100 % censurship
- Exam period
- Will be updated before the start of the semester
- Re-exam
- Same as ordinary. But if only a few students have registered for the re-exam, the exam might change to an oral exams with a synopsis to be handed in. This means that the examination date also will change.
Criteria for exam assesment
The Student must in a satisfactory way demonstrate that he/she has mastered the learning outcome of the course.
Course information
- Language
- English
- Course code
- AØKA08087U
- Credit
- 7,5 ECTS
- Level
- Full Degree Master
- Duration
- 1 semester
- Placement
- Autumn
- Schedule
- Autumn (week 36-50)
- Continuing and further education
- Price
320 DKK per ECTS
- Study board
- Department of Economics, Study Council
Contracting department
- Department of Economics
Course responsibles
- Carl-Johan Lars Dalgaard (19-7270817b3d797e77707d3d73707b76707081734f74727e7d3d7a843d737a)