GY415 Half Unit
Local Capacity and Economic Development Policy
This information is for the 2025/26 session.
Course Convenor
Dr Carolin Hulke
Availability
This course is available on the MSc in Geographic Data Science, MSc in Local Economic Development, MSc in Regional And Urban Planning Studies and MSc in Urban Policy (LSE and Sciences Po). This course is not available as an outside option to students on other programmes. This course uses controlled access as part of the course selection process.
How to apply: Priority: MSc Local Economic Development then other students. Priority is typically for students enrolled in Geography and Environment programmes, or joint degree programmes, however course specific availability is indicated via the 'Availability section' on the LSE course guide webpages. Guidance on how to apply to individual controlled access courses can also be found on LSE for You in the Graduate Course Selection system.
Please note: The number of students that can be accommodated is limited. If a course is over-subscribed, places will be allocated at the Department's discretion and a waiting list may be created. It is advised to have an alternative course in mind as a back-up in case you are unable to secure your first-choice course selection.
Deadline for application: Further guidance and information on course selection for Geography and Environment courses (GY4xx) will be available on the Geography and Environment Course Selection Moodle page which will go live from Monday 8 September and will be updated with course availability information daily throughout the course selection period. This page includes information on the timeline for course selection decisions in the Geography and Environment Department as well as the individual course application processes and requirements
A list of all taught master's courses in this Department are listed on LSE's course guide webpages.
For queries contact: geog.led@lse.ac.uk
Course content
This course adopts a critical perspective to explore the micro-foundations of local economic development in the Global South embedded in a globalised economy with a special focus on multi-level actors and their agency as changemakers. It delves into the determinants, consequences, and power dynamics underlying the behaviour, strategies, and decisions of key economic players on the global, regional, national and local level. These actors encompass a diverse spectrum, including local firms of varying sizes, multinational enterprises, research institutions, government bodies, international organisations, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), civil society and local communities with a range of degrees of formality and informality. The study of different actors on multiple levels, and their interactions and linkages, will help building up the analytical framework to interpret the genesis of localised economic systems, their dynamics and evolution over time, and the policy options, particularly, from a bottom-up perspective of regions located in the Global South.
The course will interactively tackle the following, non-exhaustive, set of policy-relevant questions:
• How can we critically engage with the concept and implementation of LED in diverse places of the Global South, especially given our contemporary capitalist global economy?
• Which are the central and marginal actors in LED?
• What are major bottlenecks and pitfalls in designing and implementing LED strategies successfully based on local capacities?
Teaching
16 hours of seminars and 15 hours of lectures in the Autumn Term.
In the Department of Geography and Environment, teaching will be delivered through a combination of classes/seminars, pre-recorded lectures, live online lectures and other supplementary interactive live activities.
Formative assessment
Proposal
Policy Brief outline to be submitted by week 5 of AT: written feedback will be provided on all formative coursework in order to help prepare for the assessed Policy Brief.
Assessment
Presentation (30%)
Policy brief (70%)
Key facts
Department: Geography and Environment
Course Study Period: Autumn Term
Unit value: Half unit
FHEQ Level: Level 7
CEFR Level: Null
Total students 2024/25: 37
Average class size 2024/25: 37
Controlled access 2024/25: YesCourse selection videos
Some departments have produced short videos to introduce their courses. Please refer to the course selection videos index page for further information.
Personal development skills
- Self-management
- Team working
- Communication
- Application of numeracy skills
- Specialist skills