EC454     
Development Economics

This information is for the 2017/18 session.

Teacher responsible

Prof Robin Burgess 32L.3.03 and Dr Gharad Bryan 32L.3.10

Availability

This course is compulsory on the MPA in International Development. This course is available on the MPA Dual Degree (LSE and Columbia), MPA Dual Degree (LSE and Hertie), MPA Dual Degree (LSE and NUS), MPA Dual Degree (LSE and Sciences Po), MPA Dual Degree (LSE and Tokyo), MPA in European Policy-Making, MPA in Public Policy and Management, MPA in Public and Economic Policy, MPA in Public and Social Policy and MPA in Social Impact. This course is not available as an outside option.

Students may not take this course and EC428 Development and Growth.

Course content

An introductory graduate course providing the necessary development economics skills for high level public policy making. The focus is on acquiring the necessary theoretical and empirical skills to engage in the rigorous analysis of public policies in developing countries. Topics at the forefront of development economics will be covered. These include political economy, trade liberalization, growth, access to finance, technology adoption, education, health, infrastructure, property rights, land reform, gender, environment, mass media and political accountability. The emphasis will be on combining theory and data to evaluate the effectiveness of policies in these different areas.

Teaching

20 hours of lectures and 10 hours of seminars in the MT. 20 hours of lectures and 10 hours of seminars in the LT. 2 hours of lectures in the ST.

Formative coursework

Students to complete weekly exercises based on course readings with one of these exercises being marked in a given term.

Indicative reading

A reading list will be distributed at the start of the course.

Assessment

Exam (100%, duration: 3 hours, reading time: 15 minutes) in the main exam period.

Key facts

Department: Economics

Total students 2016/17: 22

Average class size 2016/17: 11

Controlled access 2016/17: Yes

Lecture capture used 2016/17: Yes (LT)

Value: One Unit

Guidelines for interpreting course guide information

Course survey results

(2013/14 - 2015/16 combined)

1 = "best" score, 5 = "worst" score

The scores below are average responses.

Response rate: 83%

Question

Average
response

Reading list (Q2.1)

1.5

Materials (Q2.3)

1.5

Course satisfied (Q2.4)

1.6

Lectures (Q2.5)

1.6

Integration (Q2.6)

1.5

Contact (Q2.7)

1.6

Feedback (Q2.8)

1.7

Recommend (Q2.9)

Yes

79%

Maybe

20%

No

1%