CORSO DI STUDIO: Corso di Laurea Magistrale in Economics-Scienze Economiche         a.a. 2015-2016

Denominazione insegnamento / Course title

Economia dello Sviluppo
Development Economics

Lingua dell'insegnamento: Inglese

Crediti e ore di lezione: 9 CFU, 72 ore di lezione

Moduli: NO

Settore scientifico disciplinare: SECS-P/06

Docente: Martina Sartori
Indirizzo email: martina.sartori@lett.unitn.it
Pagina web personale: https://sites.google.com/site/martinasartori1984/home

PREREQUISITI E PROPEDEUTICITÀ / Requirements

Basic notions of micro- and macroeconomics and international economics are recommended.

CONOSCENZE E ABILITÀ DA ACQUISIRE / Knowledge and skills

The course introduces students to key concepts of development economics and the main mechanisms driving economic growth. It covers the main problems and issues concerning economic development, also by referring to existing theories and discussing their respective strengths and weaknesses, together with the ensuing policy implications.
The course exposes students to the relevant policy debates and presents development as a complex issue that goes beyond mere income growth. Students will:
- develop a critical understanding of the complex interaction between different facets of development (poverty and inequality, population growth, natural resources, international trade, financial development);
- understand the main economic drivers of development;
- be familiar with the relevant scholarly and policy debates;
- understand there is not a unique path to economic growth and development;
- learn that right policies are context-specific, by making reference to historical examples.
Whenever possible, topics are addressed also from an empirical point of view, discussing measurement issues and quantitative results.

PROGRAMMA E CONTENUTI DELL'INSEGNAMENTO / Course description

The course will follow the textbook chapter by chapter. These topics will be covered:
1. Theories of economic development
2. Poverty, inequality
3. Population growth
4. Urbanization and rural-urban migration
5. Human capital
6. Environmental issues
7. The role of market, State and civil society
8. The role of international trade and balance of payments
9. Foreign finance and aid

ATTIVITÀ DI APPRENDIMENTO E METODI DIDATTICI PREVISTI

Powerpoint slides provided during the course cover the entire program of the course, additional materials will sometimes emphasize or clarify a number of points.
The course combines theoretical knowledge with applications and individual fields or case studies about developing countries.
Beyond lectures, a couple of seminars held by experts on the topic will be arranged during the course.

MODALITÀ DI VERIFICA DELL'APPRENDIMENTO / Examination

Attending students: final assessment is based on the combination of:
- a final written exam (3 questions, 1 hour) on topics discussed in class (lessons, seminars, etc);
- case-study presentation by each student: time allotted to each presentation is 30 minutes (20 minutes for presentation and 10 for discussion). All students are asked to participate during the presentations: active participation will be positively evaluated.
For non-attending students, evaluation will be done throughout a 4 questions final exam. The allotted time is 90 minutes.
The evaluation (15% from the case-study presentation and 85% from the written exam) focuses on students' ability to explain clearly the economic mechanism behind the phenomena analysed during the course, as well as on their capacity to link different concepts.

BIBLIOGRAFIA / Bibliography

- Chapters of the text book ("Economic Development", 12th edition, M.P. Todaro and S.C. Smith, Pearson): 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12 and 13
- Prof. Kleinert’s material
- Climate Change and Water Resources seminar
- South Sudan case study seminar

STRUMENTI A SUPPORTO DELLA DIDATTICA / Further readings and support material

Powerpoint slides available on "Materiale didattico" website.

NOTE / Remarks

The program is the same for both attending and non-attending students. Nevertheless, non-attending students take only a written exam