ELE 3730 Development Economics

ELE 3730 Development Economics

Course code: 
ELE 3730
Department: 
Economics
Credits: 
7.5
Course coordinator: 
Per Botolf Maurseth
Course name in Norwegian: 
Utviklingsøkonomi
Product category: 
Bachelor
Portfolio: 
Bachelor - Electives
Semester: 
2019 Spring
Active status: 
Active
Teaching language: 
Norwegian
Course type: 
One semester
Introduction

Development problems are decisive for living standards for a large share of the world's population. Development issues are also important to understand international economic policy and development assistance policies. The course gives an introduction to development economics. Emphasis is placed on theory and empirics.

The course gives an introduction to development economics, development policies and development assistance politics. The course is divided into four parts. The first part gives an introduction to development trends and to main concepts in development economics. The students will be given presentations of living standards in poor countries, basic trends in economic development and the role of poor countries in the world economy. The next part is about development economic issues with an emphasis on internal relationships in poor countries. Growth economics, inequality, institutions and structural change are keywords. The third part focuses on international economics and international relations. Relationships between poor countries and between poor and rich countries are discussed. An introduction to the main functions of international organisations like the WTO, IMF and the World Bank is given. The last part of the course is about development assistance and development assistance politics.

Learning outcomes - Knowledge

Acquired Knowledge
On completion of the course, students will be able to handle main concepts in development economics analytically. The students will have an understanding of how development depends both on internal relationships within poor countries and on international relationships and the international economy. The students will have gained an understanding of the importance of structural change from agriculture to manufacturing and service production and will have acquired some knowledge about barriers to development. They will also have knowledge about main international organisations like the WTO, IMF and the World Bank, and will have learnt about main dilemmas i development assistance policy.

Learning outcomes - Skills

On completion of the course the students will have acquired basic skills enabling them to apply economic theory to understand situations in poor countries. They will have analytical abilities to analyse development issues and be able to discuss main topics and different approaches in development economics. They will be able to follow debates on development assistance.

Learning Outcome - Reflection

On completion of the course students will have gained insights into main dilemmas in development policy. How can priorities in development policy be understood? How can development assistance consolidate or change political power? How can development assistance contribute to development compared to international trade of international investments?

Course content
  • Living standards in poor countries.
  • Economic growth and development.
  • Structural change from agriculture to manufacturing and services.
  • Inequality
  • Governance and corruption
  • International trade
  • International investments
  • Development assistance
Learning process and requirements to students

The course will be conducted as a combination of lectures and exercises.

Software tools
No specified computer-based tools are required.
Additional information

For electives re-sit is normally offered at the next scheduled course. If an elective is discontinued or is not initiated in the semester it is offered, re-sit will be offered in the electives ordinary semester.

Qualifications

Higher Education Entrance Qualification

Required prerequisite knowledge

The students should have some insights in basic macroeconomics and microeconomics.

Exam categoryWeightInvigilationDurationSupport materialsGroupingComment exam
Exam category:
Submission
Form of assessment:
Written submission
Exam code:
ELE37301
Grading scale:
ECTS
Grading rules:
Internal and external examiner
Resit:
Examination when next scheduled course
100Yes3 Hour(s)
  • BI-approved exam calculator
  • Simple calculator
Individual
Exams:
Exam category:Submission
Form of assessment:Written submission
Weight:100
Invigilation:Yes
Grouping (size):Individual
Support materials:
  • BI-approved exam calculator
  • Simple calculator
Duration:3 Hour(s)
Comment:
Exam code:ELE37301
Grading scale:ECTS
Resit:Examination when next scheduled course
Exam organisation: 
Ordinary examination
Total weight: 
100
Student workload
ActivityDurationComment
Teaching
36 Hour(s)
Feedback activities and counselling
7 Hour(s)
Submission(s)
8 Hour(s)
Work on mandatory exercises (approx. 1,5 hour per exercise)
Student's own work with learning resources
146 Hour(s)
Examination
3 Hour(s)
Sum workload: 
200

A course of 1 ECTS credit corresponds to a workload of 26-30 hours. Therefore a course of 7,5 ECTS credit corresponds to a workload of at least 200 hours.