Development Economics and Policy MSc

This programme, run jointly by IDPM (School of Environment and Development) and Economics (School of Social Sciences), is designed to provide training in economic theory, applied economics and quantitative methods of relevance to developing and transitional economies. The programme is especially appropriate for those seeking to practice as development economists whether in government, the private sector, multilateral organisations or NGOs.

In addition to four compulsory course units, students have the opportunity to specialise in particular areas of the subject via four optional course units and a dissertation.

The theory course units provide a thorough training in both contemporary macro and micro development theory. Applied and optional course units offer you an opportunity to understand development problems and policy prescriptions within both global and national economic contexts.

The quantitative course units, which include an applied development project, enable you to test theories through the use of data sets and provide training in standard econometrics techniques and up-to-date econometrics software packages. Independent research is undertaken by all students between June and September in the form of an approved dissertation.

This programme is offered in jointly between the Economics discipline, School of Social Sciences and IDPM. Informal enquiries, prior to applications, are welcomed. Please contact: Dr Ed Amann (Programme Director) | Tel: +44 (0) 161 275 4277 | Email: Edmund.Amann@manchester.ac.uk 

In particular, at the end of the programme study fellows will be able to:

• Read and understand the leading applied economics and development economics journals.
• Understand the main economic models and key indicators from which development policies are derived and offer a critique of underlying theories.
• Through the preparation of a dissertation and/or the applied development economics project explore the relationship between theory and practice, test theories through the use of actual data sets, and demonstrate familiarity with standard econometric techniques and appropriate econometric software packages.
• Demonstrate the skills demanded of an academic researcher in development economics or a staff advisor in a government department, non-government organisation or commercial organisation.
• Undertake independent research, as evidenced by the completion of a dissertation.

Core course units typically include:

• Applied Development Economics Project
• Introduction to Econometrics

In addition students choose at least 2 further core units from:

• Development Macroeconomics
• Development Microeconomics
• Poverty, Inequality and Government Policy in LDC

Optional course units typically include:

• Advanced Topics in Development Economics: Labour Markets, Public Capital and Gender
• Agriculture in Economic Development
• Competition, Regulation and Regulatory Governance
• Contemporary Issues in Development Finance
• Economic Analysis of the Public Sector
• Economic Development
• Economics of Environmental Policy
• Economics of Governance and Development
• Further Econometrics
• Global Institutions, Trade and Development 
• ICTs in Socio-Economic Development
• Industrial Competitiveness
• Industrialisation in Developing Countries
• Industry, the Corporation and Government
• International Finance for Development
• International Macroeconomics
• Labour Macroeconomics
• Natural Resource Economics
• Political Economy of Development
• Poverty and Poverty Reduction in Context
• Public Sector Reform and Management
• Trade Theory and Development
• Topics in the Economic Development of China
• Transformation in the World Economy

Availability of course units may vary from year to year.