MA Political Economy (Research Route) / Course details

Year of entry: 2024

Course unit details:
Contemporary Issues in Development Finance

Course unit fact file
Unit code MGDI72162
Credit rating 15
Unit level FHEQ level 7 – master's degree or fourth year of an integrated master's degree
Teaching period(s) Semester 2
Available as a free choice unit? Yes

Overview

The course will review and evaluate the recent debate on the role of financial and credit markets for economic development. It will discuss the desirability and limitations of deeper and far-reaching finance (financial development), as well as its origins.

Lectures and tutorials will analyse the current trends in developing countries and explore the history, theoretical base, development and challenges in this area.

Aims

The course will review and evaluate the recent debate on the role of financial systems (e.g., credit and financial markets) for economic development. It will discuss the idea, desirability and limitations of deeper and far-reaching finance, as well as its origins.

Lectures and tutorials will analyse the current trends in developing countries and explore the key debates: their history, theoretical base, and development and policy challenges in this area.

Learning outcomes

Students are expected to:

Syllabus

Readings include mainly journal articles. The following references provide a good initial understanding of the area:

  • Hutton D. Global Finance and Development, Routledge, 2015
  • Spratt S., Development Finance, Routledge, 2009
  • The Handbook on the Political Economy of Financial Crises, Gerald Epstein and Martin Wolfson (eds.), Oxford University Press, 2013

Teaching and learning methods

Lectures and tutorials.

Knowledge and understanding

  • Acquire an understanding of contemporary research and policy issues relating to the effects of financial and credit systems on economic development.

Intellectual skills

  • Gain knowledge on the role of finance for economic development and of why some economies develop far-reaching credit and financial markets.

Practical skills

  • Be able to critically interpret and debate current issues in the field of development finance as a professional economist.

Transferable skills and personal qualities

  • Critically demonstrate the awareness of current issues and debate in the field of financial development.

Employability skills

Analytical skills
Develop research and analytical skills as a professional economist.

Assessment methods

Method Weight
Written assignment (inc essay) 100%

Feedback methods

Feedback will be delivered during in-class interactions and formal summative feedback via Blackboard following assessment.

Recommended reading

Readings include mainly journal articles. The following references provide a good initial understanding of the area:

- Hutton D. Global Finance and Development, Routledge, 2015

- Spratt S., Development Finance, Routledge, 2009

- The Handbook on the Political Economy of Financial Crises, Gerald Epstein and Martin Wolfson (eds.), Oxford University Press, 2013

 

Study hours

Scheduled activity hours
Lectures 20
Tutorials 6
Independent study hours
Independent study 124

Teaching staff

Staff member Role
Upasak Das Unit coordinator

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