Economic Development

Subject ECON30002 (2010)

Note: This is an archived Handbook entry from 2010.

Credit Points: 12.50
Level: 3 (Undergraduate)
Dates & Locations:

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2010:

Semester 1, Parkville - Taught on campus.
Pre-teaching Period Start not applicable
Teaching Period not applicable
Assessment Period End not applicable
Last date to Self-Enrol not applicable
Census Date not applicable
Last date to Withdraw without fail not applicable


Timetable can be viewed here. For information about these dates, click here.
Time Commitment: Contact Hours: Three hours of lectures and seminars per week
Total Time Commitment: Not available
Prerequisites:

316-202 Intermediate Microeconomics.

Corequisites: None
Recommended Background Knowledge: Please refer to Prerequisites and Corequisites.
Non Allowed Subjects: None
Core Participation Requirements:

For the purposes of considering requests for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Students Experiencing Academic Disadvantage Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Description, Subject Objectives, Generic Skills and Assessment Requirements for this entry.

The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the disability support scheme can be found at the Disability Liaison Unit website: http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/disability/

Coordinator

Dr Catherine De Fontenay

Contact

c.de.fontenay@unimelb.edu.au

Subject Overview:

This subject will address economy-wide issues in economic development. The main objectives of the subject are to examine the key determinants of economic growth and the actual development experience of selected countries. Special emphasis will be placed on drawing policy lessons from the latest research and country experience of growth and development. The subject will cover topics such as education and health, market failures and contract failures, rent-seeking and corruption, microfinance, foreign aid and third world debt, theories of economic growth and development; trade patterns and the geography of economic development.
Objectives:
  • Explain the concept and measurement of development
  • Critically assess the relevance of the theories developed to explain the economic development process
  • Describe the ways in which developing countries differ from developed countries
  • Analyse the major issues effecting developing countries of the world today
  • Critically evaluate policy prescriptions in the context of the development process and within the context of a rapidly globalising world economy.
  • Critically evaluate alternative theories of economic development
  • Examine the growth experience of developed countries and ascertain the degree to which these theories and country experiences are relevant to developing countries of today
Assessment:

A 3-hour end-of-semester examination (60%), a half-hour midterm (10%) and a 3000-word essay (30%).
Prescribed Texts: You will be advised of prescribed texts by your lecturer.
Breadth Options:

This subject potentially can be taken as a breadth subject component for the following courses:

You should visit learn more about breadth subjects and read the breadth requirements for your degree, and should discuss your choice with your student adviser, before deciding on your subjects.

Fees Information: Subject EFTSL, Level, Discipline & Census Date
Generic Skills:

  • High level of development: written communication; application of theory to practice; interpretation and analysis; critical thinking; receptiveness to alternative ideas.

  • Moderate level of development: oral communication; problem solving; evaluation of data and other information; accessing data and other information from a range of sources.

  • Some level of development: statistical reasoning; synthesis of data and other information.
Related Majors/Minors/Specialisations: Development Studies
Economics Major

Download PDF version.