BA Modern Language and Business & Management (Chinese)

This course aims to develop students’ understanding and knowledge of theoretical and empirical Development Economics.  It is done so from the perspective of inequality and poverty.  We shall cover a diverse range of topics linked to the notion of income distributional that includes the role of human capital, and institutions.  Students will also learn about the measurement and causes of poverty and inequality leading to discussion on policies to reduce poverty and inequality.  Even though it is not necessary to successfully complete the course to be familiar with calculus and some basic econometrics, you will be required to have a basic knowledge of both. If you have any questions or concerns about this at any point during the course, please contact me and we can arrange a meeting or come to my office during my office hours(to be confirmed). I also advice those who have never done Mathematics and/or Econometrics before to see me within the first couple of weeks.

(ECON10171 or ECON10221 or ECON10331) and (ECON10061 or ECON1007) and ( SOST10062 or ECON10072)

ECON10061	Introductory Mathematics	Pre-Requisite	Compulsory
SOST10062	Introductory Statistics for Economists	Pre-Requisite	Compulsory
ECON10071	Advanced Mathematics	Pre-Requisite	Compulsory
ECON10072	Advanced Statistics	Pre-Requisite	Compulsory
ECON10171	Microeconomic Analysis 1	Pre-Requisite	Compulsory
ECON10221	Microeconomics 1	Pre-Requisite	Compulsory
ECON10331	Microeconomics 1	Pre-Requisite	Compulsory

(ECON10171 or ECON10221 or ECON10331) and (ECON10061 or ECON1007) and ( SOST10062 or ECON10072)

• To familiarise students with the theoretical and empirical aspects of economic development faced by less developed countries (LDCs);

• To provide students with key concepts of Development Economics examined through the prism of poverty and inequality

• To provide students with the basic skills required for the development of an independent understanding of current issues in Development Economics.

At the end of this course students should be able to:

• Explain the key issues in developing countries making reference to the existing theoretical and empirical literature;

• Assess critically the factors and policies influencing poverty an inequality;

• Demonstrate their understanding of the changing nature of global inequality and poverty;

• Express ideas coherently in writing.

The Unit should cover the following broad topics:

Topic 1 Concepts and Measurement

• different measures of inequality and poverty and their properties;
• discuss the changing nature of inequality and poverty in the world
• Case studies from World Bank.

 

Topic 2 Explaining inequality and poverty: theory and evidence

• human capital model: role of education and skills
• Labour market institutions (union, minimum wage, etc.)
• analytical and empirical evidence linking inequality, poverty and economic growth

 

Topic 3: Policy: changing policy environment over the last three decades

• UN Millennium Development Goals;
• World Bank poverty initiative;
• Child Poverty act of UK;
• Cash transfer programmes in Latin America

 

Topic 4: Broader Notion of Well-being

• Multi-dimensional Approach
• Basic Needs
• Functioning’s and Capabilities

Lectures and tutorial classes.

For information about feedback please follow this link:
http://www.campus.manchester.ac.uk/tlso/map/teachinglearningassessment/assessment/sectionb-thepracticeofassessment/policyonfeedbacktostudents/

Assessment:
•         Mid-Term Assessment (14%)

•         Final Exam (86%, written answer questions)

Note; details of Mid-Term Assessments yet to be decided. Potentially two online tests. This will be clearly communicated at the beginning of the semester.

 

• Tutorial feedback.
• Office hours.
• Revision sessions.

The basic textbook for this module is:

Deaton, A. (2013) The Great Escape: Health Wealth and the Origins of Inequality, Princeton University Press

 

Sen, A (2001) Development as Freedom, (Second Edition), Oxford University Press

 

Additional Readings

Lecture 1: Introduction: What is Economic Development? Overview.

BOOK: Ray (Ch. 2);

Basu, K. and Maertens, A. (2007). The pattern and causes of economic growth in India. Oxford Review of Economic Policy, 23: 143-167.

Banerjee, A.V. and Du¿o, E. (2007). The Economic Lives of the Poor. The Journal of Economic Perspectives. 21(1):141-167.

Sen, Amartya. (1988). The Concept of Development. Chapter 1 in Handbook of Development Economics (1988), Vol. I, edited by Chenery, H. and Srinivasan, T. N.

 

Lecture 2: The Family and how the members make decisions.

A Cournot-Nash Model of Family Decision Making, The Economic Journal Volume 111,Issue 474,pages 722-748,October 2001

Grandmothers and Granddaughters: Old-Age Pensions and Intrahousehold Allocation in South Africa, Duflo (2003), World Bank Economic Review.

Gender, Agricultural Production and the Theory of the Household, Chris Udry,Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 104(5), pages 1010-46, October, 1996.

 

Lecture 3: Education and the role of Human Capital in the growth process.

BOOK: Ray (Ch. 4-5);

Du¿o, E. (2001). Schooling and Labor Market Consequences of School Construction in Indonesia: Evidence from an Unusual Policy Experiment. American Economic Review, 91(4): 795-813.

Galor, O. and Zeira, J. (1993). Income Distribution and Macroeconomics. Review of Economic Studies, 60(1): 35-52.

 

Lecture 4: Foreign Aid for Development.

Robinson, S. and F. Tarp (2000), A Foreign Aid and Development: Synthesis in F. Tarp and P. Hjertholm (editors), Foreign Aid and Development: Learnt and Directions for the Future, Routledge, London and New York.

Burnside, G. and D. Dollar (2000), "Aid, Policies and Growth", American Economic Review, pp.847-868.

Hansen, H. and F.Tarp, (2000), "Aid effectiveness disputed", Journal of International Development, Vol. 12 (3), pp. 375-98.

Alesina, A. and D. Dollar (2000), "Who Gives Foreign Aid to Whom and Why?", Journal of Economic Growth, Vol.5, No.1, pp.33-63.

 

Lecture 5: Land and Asymmetries in Information: ownership, tenancy and land rental contracts

BOOK: Ray (Ch. 12)

Banerjee, A., Gertler, P., and Ghatak, M. (2002). Empowerment and Ef¿ciency: Tenancy Reform in West Bengal. Journal of Political Economy, 110(2):239-80.

Besley, T. and Burgess, R. (2000). Land Reform, Poverty Reduction, and Growth: Evidence from India. The Quarterly Journal of Economics, 115(2): 389-430.

 

Scheduled activity hours Assessment written exam 1.5 Lectures 16 Tutorials 4

Independent study hours
Independent study	78.5

Teaching staff

Staff member	Role
Caitlin Brown	Unit coordinator

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