Advanced Development Economics - Macro Aspects
Course content
The course covers three broad themes:
Theme 1. Historical development
Accounting for the vast differences in income and development we observe across the globe today requires a solid understanding of the process of economic development in a historical perspective. In this part of the course we illustrate how history matters to understand economic development, by examining the forces that kept economies in a long period of slow growth during pre-modern and pre-industrial times, and the mechanisms that enabled some economies to exit stagnation and ultimately embark on a path of sustained economic development.
Theme 2. Fundamental determinants of differences in economic performance
In this part of the course we ask in more detail how and why history matters for economic development. We go beyond answers at a proximate level, and study reasons and mechanisms that explain differences in economic performace at a deeper level. For this, we rely on the most recent research literature on the impact of historical events on comparative development, and on the economic impact of differences in fundamental characteristics across countries and subnational regions. For example, we examine whether specific dimensions of climate and geography, certain characteristics of culture and institutions, or the coevolution and interdependence between these different types of fundamental determinants, can explain why some economies have been able to build larger stocks of human and physical capital, innovate and adopt new technologies faster, and maintain a trajectory of sustained development more effectively than others; and whether this type of analysis can also illuminate on the reasons behind underdevelopment.
Theme 3. Policy debates
By the end of the course we explore recent policy debates related to the main topic of the course. Examples of these debates are the effectiveness of development policy tools such as foreign aid, the role of industrial policies and active state interventions to promote economic development, and the causes, consequences, and policy demands to address different types of inequality.
MSc programme in Economics – elective course
The PhD Programme in Economics at the Department of Economics:
- The course is an elective course with research module. In order to register for the research module and to be able to write the research assignment, the PhD students must contact the study administration AND the lecturer.
The course is open to:
- Exchange and Guest students from abroad
- Credit students from Danish Universities
- Open University students
After completing the course the student is expected to be able to:
Knowledge:
- Describe the global pattern of economic development, from a historical and a modern perspective.
- Account for theoretical models and arguments related to the historical process of development, and the empirical evidence accompanying them.
- Identify and account for specific causes of differences in the development path that different economies have followed, and relate them to fundamental drivers of economic development.
Skills:
- Provide the basic economic intuition behind central mechanisms in theoretical models explaining differences in economic performace from a macro perspective.
- Assess the capacity of theoretical models and arguments to generate empirically testable predictions, and evaluate the extent to which empirical evidence supports theoretical predictions.
- Present a comprehensive overview of the recent research literature relevant to understand the process of economic development in a historical and comparative perspective.
Competences:
- Appreciate some of the key debates in development economics, understand how they relate to contemporary policy issues, and discuss the effectiveness of policies aimed at promoting growth and economic development.
- Apply our expertise as economists to understand and assess quantitative analyses carried out in the context of less developed regions.
- Work effectively as a trained economist analyzing problems of both developed and less developed countries as a researcher in an academic institution, an international organization, a business environment, a nongovernmental organization, or a governmental institution.
Lectures and exercises, in which students will work individually
and in groups, analysing specific topics covered in the course and
engaging in discussion.
Discussion forums, group work, lectures and feedback can be include
or be conducted through online and blended learning
methods
The course uses book chapters, recent journal articles, and recent working papers.
It is strongly recommended that participants have followed the
courses "Development Economics", "Macroeconomics
I" (regarding long-run macro) and "Econometrics I"
(regarding simple regression analysis and instrumental variables)
from the Bachelor of Economics, University of Copenhagen or
siminlar courses.
Students will benefit from having followed courses in
"Economic History" at the Bachelor of Economics,
University of Copenhagen, "Economic Growth" and
"Applied Econometric Policy Evaluation" at the Bachelor
and Master of Economics, University of Copenhagen or similar
courses.
The lecturer gives collective oral feedback at the questions and comments the students make in the lectures and exercises.
Office hours: Students will have the possibility to engage individually or in group with the teacher during weekly office hours.
For enrolled students: Rules etc at Master(UK) and Master(DK)
When registered you will be signed up for exam.
- Full-degree students – sign up at Selfservice on KUnet
- Exchange and guest students from abroad – sign up through Mobility Online and Selfservice- read more through this website.
- Credit students from Danish universities - sign up through this website.
- Open University students - sign up through this website.
The dates for the exams are found here Exams – Faculty of Social Sciences - University of Copenhagen (ku.dk)
Please note that it is your own responsibility to check for overlapping exam dates
- ECTS
- 7,5 ECTS
- Type of assessment
-
Home assignment, 12 hours
- Type of assessment details
- Individual home assignment. Max 10 standard pages
The students are not allowed to communicate about the given problem-set or collaborate on the assignment with anyone. - Examination prerequisites
-
There are no requirements during the course that the student has to fulfill to be able to sit the exam.
- Aid
- All aids allowed
Use of AI tools is permitted. You must explain how you have used the tools. When text is solely or mainly generated by an AI tool, the tool used must be quoted as a source.
- Marking scale
- 7-point grading scale
- Censorship form
- No external censorship
An oral re-examination may be with external assessment.
- Exam period
-
Exam information:
The examination date can be found in the exam schedule here
More information is available in Digital Exam from the middle of the semester.
More information about examination, rules, aids etc. at Master (UK) and Master (DK).
- Re-exam
-
The reexam is a 20 minutes oral exam without preparation.
No aids are allowed during the examination.
Reexam information:
The reexamination date/period can be found in the reexam schedule here
More information in Digital Exam in February.
More information at Master (UK) and Master (DK).
Criteria for exam assessment
Students are assessed on the extent to which they master the learning outcome for the course.
In order to obtain the top grade "12", the student must with no or only a few minor weaknesses be able to demonstrate an excellent performance displaying a high level of command of all aspects of the relevant material and can make use of the knowledge, skills and competencies listed in the learning outcomes.
In order to obtain the grade “02”, the student must in a satisfactory way be able to demonstrate a minimal acceptable level of the knowledge, skills and competencies listed in the learning outcomes.
Single subject courses (day)
- Category
- Hours
- Lectures
- 42
- Preparation
- 152
- Exam
- 12
- English
- 206
Kursusinformation
- Language
- English
- Course number
- AØKA08087U
- ECTS
- 7,5 ECTS
- Programme level
- Full Degree Master
Ph.D.
- Duration
-
1 semester
- Placement
- Autumn
- Price
-
Information about admission and tuition fee: Master and Exchange Programme, credit students and guest students (Open University)
- Studyboard
- Department of Economics, Study Council
Contracting department
- Department of Economics
Contracting faculty
- Faculty of Social Sciences
Course Coordinator
- Pablo Selaya (12-7768697376357a6c73688068476c6a767535727c356b72)
Teacher
See 'Course Coordinators'.
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Kursusinformation for indskrevne studerende