4.0

credits

Average Course Rating

The course intends to familiarize students with key economic concepts underlying the basic process of economic growth and development and to familiarize students with some of the prominent theories and models associated with this debate. The course will examine (i) why countries grow and and develop (and other don’t); (ii) the barriers to economic growth in poor countries; (iii) how these barriers can be overcome. In addition to standard approaches to economic development, the course looks at human capital and institutions as components in the growth process and briefly assesses the impacts of development aid on economic growth. An important feature of the course is to help students apply theoretical concepts studied in class to particular developing countries. For this purpose each student will select one developing country and practice the application of conceptual approaches discussed in class. Although not required, it is preferable that students have taken International Economics I or II at SAIS. Similarly, some knowledge of Statistics would allow students to fully engage with more advanced readings, but it is not required.