Please note! Course description is confirmed for two academic years, which means that in general, e.g. Learning outcomes, assessment methods and key content stays unchanged. However, via course syllabus, it is possible to specify or change the course execution in each realization of the course, such as how the contact sessions are organized, assessment methods weighted or materials used.
LEARNING OUTCOMES
The course introduces students to central concepts in the study of developing countries and poverty. Students will:
- Gain an overview of the field of development economics and major topics in policy and research within the field.
- Practice the understanding and use of the most common statistical methods used in the empirical study of development economics, with a focus on causal inference.
- Learn about ways to measure and define poverty, and the main explanations highlighted in the field of economics for differences in growth and income levels between rich and poor countries.
Credits: 6
Schedule: 26.10.2020 - 10.12.2020
Teacher in charge (valid 01.08.2020-31.07.2022): Miri Stryjan
Teacher in charge (applies in this implementation): Miri Stryjan
Contact information for the course (valid 05.10.2020-21.12.2112):
The course professor's email is miri.stryjan@aalto.fi
Regular office hours will be held during the course (most likely on zoom).
CEFR level (applies in this implementation):
Language of instruction and studies (valid 01.08.2020-31.07.2022):
Teaching language: English
Languages of study attainment: English
CONTENT, ASSESSMENT AND WORKLOAD
Content
Valid 01.08.2020-31.07.2022:
The course will consist of classroom lectures and exercise sessions. It will cover topics such as:
- How poverty is defined and measured
- The livelihoods of the poor:
- agriculture
- small businesses
- Credit and financial services
- Health
- Impact evaluation
- Growth theories
- Institutions
Assessment Methods and Criteria
Valid 01.08.2020-31.07.2022:
Lectures, exercises, homework assignment, examination
Applies in this implementation:
Grade composition:
Exercises and homework assignments 50%
Final exam 50%
Workload
Valid 01.08.2020-31.07.2022:
- Lectures 24h
- Exercises 12h
- Independent study 121h
- Exam 3h
DETAILS
Study Material
Valid 01.08.2020-31.07.2022:
A reading list with selected book chapters and articles will be provided around one week before the start of the course.
Prerequisites
Valid 01.08.2020-31.07.2022:
Intermediate courses in microeconomics (ECON-C2100, ECON-C2200) and econometrics (ECON-C4100). Students with the equivalent knowledge can also take the course, after consulting with the teacher in charge.
SDG: Sustainable Development Goals
8 Decent Work and Economic Growth
FURTHER INFORMATION
Details on the schedule
Applies in this implementation:
For the first two weeks of the course, exercise sessions on Friday will be joint with the parallel course 31E40100 - History of Economic Growth and Crises, and there will be two exercises per Friday.
Two exercise sessions will be held on Friday 30.10:
- 10.15-12.00 (officially Development Economics 1) AND
- 13.15-15.00 (officially 31E40100)
Two exercise sessions will be held on Friday 6.11:
- 10-15-12.00 (officially Development Economics 1) AND
- 13.15-15.00 (officially the exercise session of 31E40100)
- Teacher: Stryjan Miri