5183 - THE ECONOMICS OF DEVELOPMENT AND TRANSITION

• The first part of the course examines major current issues in less developed Countries and provides an introduction to the study of development economics. More specifically, the course examines the major debates in the problem of development economics and integrate economic theory and empirical analysis to answer questions pertinent to economic policy in developing Countries. Topics covered in the first part of the course include: geography and institutions in developing Countries; human capital (education and health); gender and development; public goods provision; corruption. This part of the course will also emphasize the application of econometric evalutation methods in development economics.
• The second part of the course deals with the lessons learnt from the transition toward the market of the formerly planned economies of Central and Eastern Europe . Ex ante expectations on the scope and the timing of transition are compared with ex post evidence. Particular emphasis is devoted to characterizing the speed of structural change and the role played by social security systems. The final section deals with institutional changes especially within the context of the EU Enlargement. In particular, the course is focused on economic policy applications.

• Geography and institutions in developing Countries
• Human capital (education and health)
• Gender and development
• Public goods provision
• Corruption
• Understanding transition
• The optimal speed of transition
• Transition, Institutional Transformation and Governance
• Eastern enlargement and migration

Written exam.
Students have two options. They may take the exam in two written parts: a 1st partial exam and a 2nd partial exam. Alternatively they may take a general exam covering the entire course material.

• D. RAY, Development Economics, Princeton Univ. Press, 1998
• G. ROLAND, Transition and Economics, MIT Press, 2000
• T. BOERI, Structural Change, Welfare Systems and Labour Reallocation, Oxford Univ. Press, 2000

Additional readings and material on several topics will be available at the beginning  of the course.

For further and continuously updated information consult the IEP web site or contact SID - Servizio Informazione Didattica - Institute of Economics - via Gobbi, 5 - Room 313.