The module focuses on development as the process of enlarging people’s choices, in line with the human development approach. It concentrates on what hinders development and how it can happen. There is strong emphasis on case studies and topics within the area of development studies. After an overview of some basic theoretical concepts we move on to the study of specific issues such as comparative economic development, the quality of medical advice in low income countries, population growth, agricultural transformation, the environment, international trade and international aid.

Students will gain knowledge and understanding of: (1) the differences between the concepts of economic growth, economic development and human development and the measures and indicators that have been proposed; (2) similarities and differences across developed and developing countries; (3) the quality of medical advice in low income countries; (4) the relationship between population growth and development; (5) the challenges of agricultural transformation in developing countries; (6) the trade-off between the environment, development and sustainable development; (7) international trade and international aid and development.

Students will also improve a number of skills they hopefully already have, and: (a) be able to orally present group work on a specific topic; (b) be able to write an individual short essay with reference to one country; (c) be able to debate issues related to development and poverty on the basis of knowledge acquired through readings and at lectures; (d) be able to answer specific questions related to the different module topics in writing in a clear manner in an exam environment.

The module consists of lectures, group and class discussions, group presentations, and the occasional use of a relevant video. The group and class discussions promote skills in communication, as does the group presentation, thus helping achieve the skills described under learning outcomes. Most topics throughout the module are illustrated with at least one case-study, which helps put the concepts together.

During the course of the module there will be plenty of opportunities to practise and master a number of skills. Students will be expected to:

1. write clear answers to specific questions in an exam environment
2. be able to work in a group to prepare a presentation
3. debate a topic in class, justifying arguments in a reasoned way
4. read the latest research on a topic new to the student and be able to grasp the main points
5. write a short essay focusing on one topic and one country as case study

There will be 3 summative assessments supported by formative assessments. The formative assessments will consist of class and group debates and discussions, to take place virtually every week, and linked to learning outcomes/skills (c).

Type of assessment

%

Contribution

Title

Duration
(if applicable)

Approx. date of Assessment

Assignment 1

25

Short essay (linked to learning outcomes 3 to 7 and learning outcomes/skills b)

@1,000 words

March

Assignment 2

25

Group presentation (linked to learning outcomes 1 to 7 and learning outcomes/skills a and c)

30 minutes per group

April

Exam

50

Written examination (Linked to learning outcomes 1 to 7 and learning outcomes/skills d)

1.5 hours

Summer Examination Period

Most of these assignments can be undertaken by students with almost any disability. However, individual cases will be catered for if a student were unable to complete any of the assignments described above due to a disability.

The potential for reassessment in this module

Students are permitted to be reassessed (usually once) in a module which they have failed, in line with course regulations. The reassessment will usually take place during the summer.

A student failing the module will typically re-sit Assignment 1 and or the Written Examination, depending on the marks the student got in each case.

Economic Growth, Economic Development and Human Development. Measures (Gross National Income and Human Development Index). Millennium Development Goals. Inequality. Comparative economic development. The quality of medical advice on low income countries. Population growth. Agricultural transformation. The Environment. International trade. International aid.

Banerjee, A. and Duflo, E. (2006), ‘The Economic Lives of the Poor’, Journal of Economic Perspectives, Vol. 21, No. 1, pp. 141-167.

Coudouel, A, Hentschel, J. S., and Wodon, Q. T. 2001. Poverty measurement and analysis. In World Bank, Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers (PRSP) Sourcebook, Washington D.C. Available at: http://urban.csuohio.edu/~2427076/papers/poverty_measurement_anaysis.pdf

Currie-Alder, B., Kanbur, R., Malone, D.M. and M. Rohinton (Eds.) (2014) International Development: Ideas, Experience and Prospects, Oxford: Oxford University Press. Pre-print freely available on http://www.developmentideas.info/download/

Das, J., Hammer, J. and K. Leonard (2008), ‘The Quality of Medical Advice in Low-Income Countries’, Journal of Economic Perspectives, Vol. 22, No. 2, pp. 93-114.

Deneulin, S. and Shahani, L. (Eds.) (2009). An Introduction to the Human Development and Capability Approach. London – Sterling.VA: Earthscan. Book freely available on http://idl-bnc.idrc.ca/dspace/bitstream/10625/40248/1/IDL-40248.pdf

Easterly, W. and T. Pfutze (2008), ‘Where Does the Money Go? Best and Worst Practices in Foreign Aid’, Journal of Economic Perspectives, Vol. 22, No. 2, pp. 29-52.

Todaro, M. and Smith, S. 2009. Economic Development. 10^th ed.(or any edition after that) Harlow: Addison-Wesley [chapters 1, 2, 5, 6, 9, 10, 12 and 14].

United Nations Human Development Reports 1990-2015. http://hdr.undp.org/en/global-reports

Werker, E. and F.Z. Ahmed (2008), ‘What Do Nongovernmental Organizations Do?’, Journal of Economic Perspectives, 22(2), pp. 73-92.

World Bank World Development Reports http://econ.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/EXTDEC/EXTRESEARCH/EXTWDRS/0,,contentMDK:20227703~pagePK:478093~piPK:477627~theSitePK:477624,00.html