BAEcon Economics and Finance / Course details

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:  Growth Inequality and Poverty

• Theories of growth and distributional change
• Evidence of growth and distributional change
• Case Studies: Pro-Poor Growth

Topic 3: Explaining Inequality and Poverty;

• Gender Inequality
• Human Capital and Technology
• Rents Monopoly and Crony Capitalism

Topic 4: Economic Policies

• Taxes Transfers and Inequality
• Unconditional transfer and subsidies

The unit aims to provide:

(i) a broad understanding of the theories underlying the dynamics of inequality and poverty;

(ii) a systematic exposition of the different measures of poverty and inequality; and

(ii) critically examine the existing evidence on inequality and poverty, and the role of government policy in it.

Student should be able to

(a) develop a critical understanding of the dynamics of poverty and inequality

(b) use different indices of poverty and inequality and recognise the implications of the measures, and

(c) follow and comprehend the broad debates on poverty and inequality.

The learning and teaching process would include two broad forms of delivery (a) lectures and (b) tutorials.

The lectures would include multi-media presentations.  They will be supplemented with additional notes and reading through the course website.

In the tutorials students will be asked to work in groups.  One of their tasks would be to do a group presentation.

Students will also be actively encouraged to participate in the discussion board in the course website.

Mid-Term Test (through the Blackboard page) 10%

Final Exam 90%

FORMATIVE ASSESSMENT: MCQ's ((through the Blackboard page)

Bourguignon, F. (2015)  Globalisation of Inequality, Princeton University Press.

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

For every 10 course unit credits we expect students to work for around 100 hours. This time generally includes any contact times (online or face to face, recorded and live), but also independent study, work for coursework, and group work. This amount is only a guidance and individual study time will vary