Insegnamento a.a. 2017-2018

Classes: 31 (II sem.) - 32 (II sem.)

Instructors:
Class 31: SELIM GULESCI, Class 32: SELIM GULESCI

This course provides an introduction to the study of development economics. The central aim of the course is to present key theoretical models and related empirical evidence that shape our thinking of economic interactions and policy-making in developing countries.
The course begins by giving an overview of theories of economic growth in order to identify, both theoretically and empirically, the drivers of economic growth. The first part of the course discusses the role of capital accumulation, technological progress and inequality in growth. The course then analyzes markets and institutions in developing countries, with a focus on how informal and semi-formal institutions have developed to make up for market imperfections in developing countries. In particular, the structure of land, labor and credit markets in developing countries is introduced with a view towards understanding how imperfections in these markets affect the lives of the poor and the economy at large, and shape economic policy-making. The course has a strong applied focus. For each topic, simple theoretical models are introduced to derive testable predictions, followed by a review of the empirical results and their implications for policy.

• Introduction: Facts about Development and Growth.
• Growth Theory and Evidence.
• The role of institutions.
• The role of culture Persistence.
• Drivers of change Agricultural productivity.
• Poverty and undernutrition.
• Financial development and microfinance.
• Self-employment and firm growth.
• Human Capital.
• Corruption.
• Program evaluation and policy design.