PP454E      Half Unit
Development Economics

This information is for the 2025/26 session.

Course Convenor

Availability

Requisites

Additional requisites:

There are no formal pre-requisites, but the course is only available by prior agreement with the Executive MPA and Executive MPP Programme Directors if students haven't completed Empirical Methods for Public Policy (PP455E) and Economic Policy Analysis (PP440E) prior to this course.

The main focus of this course 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 growth and poverty, governance and accountability, motivation of bureaucrats, firms and markets, determinants of productivity, jobs and labour markets, shocks and insurance, infrastructure, connectivity, education and health, trade and globalization, the value of exporting, delivering public services, incentivising teachers and health workers, environment and climate change, management of natural resources, taxation and state capacity. The emphasis will be on combining theory and data to evaluate the effectiveness of policies in these different areas.

30 hours of lectures in the Spring break.

A one-week modular teaching block. This course is delivered through a combination of classes and lectures delivered in one week.

The default mode of instruction is in-person in the classroom at LSE. Remote attendance is available in case of challenges preventing in-person attendance. 

One mock essay opportunity will be provided.

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

Essay (50%, 2000 words)

Short answer questions (50%)

Assessments for this course are an essay (50%) and an online assessment (50%). Online assessments take place on the third weekend after the module teaching concludes. The online assessment is available for 3 days and students have 3 hours 15 minutes to complete the assessment once they have started. Assessed essays are due on the sixth Sunday after module teaching concludes. Further details will be provided at the Executive MPA/ Executive MPP programme inductions.