Development Economics

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2015:

Estimated total time commitment of 120 hours per semester

One of the following 2 subjects:

Plus one of the following 2 subjects:

None

None

ECON40012 Development Economics

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/

The subject will cover development economics. The topics covered may include: economic growth theory, including models in which growth is endogenous; measurement of poverty and inequality; tests of the efficiency of labour and credit markets; consumption smoothing; micro-credit schemes; and demographic issues.

This subject studies microeconomic conditions in developing countries. It aims to go beyond a mere description of economic conditions in these parts of the world. The emphasis is on rigorous theoretical economic modelling of phenomena observed in developing countries. Substantial attention will also be paid to the testing of the theories using real world data. Students are thus expected to have some econometric knowledge.

On successful completion of this subject, students should be able to:

• Evaluate the ways in which developing countries differ from developed countries;
• Identify how these differences affect the economic environment in which people live and the economic decisions made by households;
• Analyse the relevance of particular theories to different environments;
• Evaluate the results of empirical tests of the economic theories;
• Synthesise the theoretical and empirical literature and describe the current state of knowledge in the field of development economics; and
• Critically evaluate policy prescriptions in developmental economics.

• One 3-hour end-of-semester examination (70%)
• Class assignments not exceeding 6000 words (30%)

You will be advised of prescribed texts by your lecturer.

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

On successful completion of this subject, students should have improved the following generic skills:

• Evaluation of ideas, views and evidence;
• Synthesis of ideas, views and evidence;
• Strategic thinking;
• Critical thinking;
• Application of theory to economic policy and business decision making;
• Summary and interpretation of information;
• Statistical reasoning;
• Problem solving skills;
• Written communication; and
• Oral communication.

Students may not gain credit for both ECON90023 Development Economics and ECON40012 Development Economics.