DEPARTMENT OF AFRICOLOGY
ECONOMIC GROWTH AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN AFRICA
Africol: 106-329
Spring 2016
Instructor: Dr. Abera Gelan
Office: MIT 210
E-mail: agelan@uwm.edu
Class Period: MoWe: 12:30PM-1:45PM
Meeting Place: Northwest Bldg. BG558
Office Hours: Mo: 2:00PM-3:00PM
TEL: 414-229-4144
OURSE DISCRIPTION:
This course provides you an opportunity to develop your understanding of economic
development of African Countries. And so, you will use key growth theories and propositions that
are more relevant and effective to deal with the economic complexities of African countries in
order to develop alternative solutions to these problems. You will master concepts and their
applications in the context of African Economics from subject topics such as new strategies for
poverty reduction, the role of education and health in economic development, the Millennium
Development Goals, the structure of agrarian systems in Africa, complementarities and
international trade issues. You will also examine how trade relations between the developed and
developing countries impact African development. In this regard, you will discuss on the role of
subsidies in promoting unfair trade, the benefits of granting debt relief to boost growth and reduce
poverty and the advantage of financial and technological assistance to improve development and
better living standards. In particular, since China and the United States are key trading partners for
most African countries, you will develop an understanding of how the role of these countries can
help African countries in their efforts to accelerate the growth processes as well as focus on
determining new economic policies to improve on existing mechanisms. In addition, you will
delve into debates on the functioning of the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund (IMF)
and the World Trade Organization (WTO) and their implications for economic development in
Africa countries. Previous knowledge of economics is helpful but not required for this course.
However, a brief introduction to basic economic concepts will be discussed at the beginning of the
semester.
ADOPTION OF AN ARICAN COUNTRY
At the beginning of the course, you will adopt an African country of your choice and, as part of
your learning requirements, (1) you will maintain a journal and (2) make reports to your
classmates throughout the semester on the economy of your adopted country. The adopted country
will be the basis for your major research project. The project deals with problems of development,
and alternative solutions to these problems. Details about the project and requirements for its
satisfactory completion will be provided in class. However, the final research paper must satisfy at
the minimum the following key requirements:
a. Extensive literature review of the subject matter
b. Collection and use of primary data
c. Effective use of knowledge of course-theoretical frameworks as guiding principles to
conduct research
d. Completion and oral presentation of professionally written paper.
COURSE OBJECTIVES:
After completing this course, it is expected that you will:
 Develop awareness of development related issues currently receiving widespread attention
in the world in general and in African countries in particular
 Effectively apply theoretical frameworks to explain causes of economic deprivation and
development in African and other countries
 Identify major ills for the lack of economic development in African countries and
analyze/interpret their bearings on the well-being of their citizens
 Evaluate underlying assumptions and values of economic perspectives and controversies on
the leading issues of development that are important to African countries
 Show the ability to articulate the interconnected nature of countries in the present era; and
conjecture on possible implications for the United States of America if development lags or
accelerates in African countries
 Take initiatives and appropriate leadership to engage in major economic debates in the
USA and other countries
 Develop the spirit of collaboration and teamwork through cooperative learning
 Apply course knowledge for further professional and individual growth
REQUIRED TEXT:
Todaro, Michael P. & Smith, Stephen C. Economic Development, 12th Edition, 2015 or 11th
Edition, 2012, Pearson.
SUPPLEMENTARY READINGS:
You are expected to regularly read relevant magazines, newspapers and Internet sites as a way to
looking at practical and real issues and staying current with important economic news in the local,
national and world.
ATTENDANCE POLICIES:
You must meet the following requirements throughout the semester to satisfactorily complete this
course:





Attend all classes. If you miss more than three classes or are habitually late for class, you
will be dropped from the course
Participate in class discussions
Read all assigned sectors of the text, handouts and other materials before class
Complete all assigned assignments on a timely basis
Complete all quizzes and exams satisfactorily
EXAMINATION POLICIES:
Exams are aimed at assessing and evaluating your demonstrated achievement of learning
objectives of the course. You are required to take exams on designated days. Failure to do so
without prior consultation with the instructor will result in an “F” grade on that exam.
Special arrangement will be made for disabled students and those observing religious holidays,
where necessary.
ASSIGNMENT AND QUIZ POLICIES:
All assignments are to be submitted on the designated day. Late homework will not be accepted.
However, Special arrangement will be made for disabled students and those observing religious
holidays, where necessary. In addition, there will be many quizzes during the course of the
semester. There will be no makeup quizzes. Exceptions will be made ONLY in the case of
verifiable, extraordinary circumstances.
Group Assignments: There will be several group assignments throughout the semester. You will be
assigned into a group to work as a team on assigned problems. This requires commitment and
active participation of each member of the group in order to make such cooperative learning
process effective and enjoyable.
Examination policies: You are to take exams on the designated days. Failure to do so without
prior consultation with the instructor will result in an “F” grade on that exam. Once again,
special arrangement will be made for disabled students and those observing religious holidays,
where necessary.
TENTATIVE EXAM WEIGHTS
DATE
1. Exam I
2. Exam II
3. Exam III
3. Project
4. Quizzes
5. Assignments
TBA
TBA
TBA
TBA
TBA
15%
15%
15%
25%
15%
15%
Time commitment in the course:
Class contact (lecture & discussion)
Preparing for discussion
Assignment Reading:
Reflection post discussion/assignment
Preparing for three quizzes
Quizzes
Reviewing for three exams
Three exams
Preparing for one project
Presentation of one project
25 * 1 hours & 15min = 31 hours & 15 min
25 * 2 hours
= 50 hours
10 * 3 hours
= 30 hours
10 * 3 hours
= 30 hours
3 * 4 hours
= 12 hours
3 * 20 min
= 1 hours
3 * 1 hours
= 3 hours
3 * 1 hour & 15 min = 3 hours & 45 min
1 * 20 hours
= 20 hours
1 * 20 min
= 20 min
Total semester commitment: 181 hours & 20 min
Weekly average (using 15 weeks): 12 hours & 5 min
TENTATIVE GRADE SCALE
A
C+
D-
100-93
76-74
54-50
A- 92-89
C 73-70
F 49-0
B+
C-
88-85
69-65
B
D+
84-80
64-60
BD
79-77
59-55
Department and UWM policies
Information concerning the Department of Africology and UWM Policies on participation by
students with disabilities, accommodation for religious observations, academic conduct, complaint
procedures, grade appeals procedures, and other standing policies (e.g. sexual harassment,
incomplete) is available in the main office of the Department of Africology in Mitchell Hall, Room
225. Phone Number is 414-229-4155. For more UWM policies please refer to:
http://www4.uwm.edu/secu/SyllabusLinks.pdf
TENTATIVE READING LIST:
Part I: Introduction
 An overview: The basic core of principles of economics
 An overview: Africa
Part II: Development & Underdevelopment
 Chapter one – Economic Development: A Global Perspective
 Chapter two – Comparative Development: Differences and Commonalities Among Countries
 Chapter three – Classical Theories of Economic Development:
 Rostow’s Stages of Growth
 The Harrod-Domar Model
 Structural Change-the Lewis Theory of Development
 The False-Paradigm
 Market Fundamentalism
 Neoclassical Growth Theory: The Solow Growth Model
 Endogenous Growth Theory: The Romer Model
EXAM ONE
Part III: Contemporary Models of Development and Underdevelopment
 Chapter four – The New Growth Theory: Endogenous Growth
 Multiple Equilibria
 The Big Push
 The O-Ring Model
 The Hausmann-Rodrik-Velasco Growth Diagnostics Framework
 Developmental State – a handout will be distributed in class
 Case Study: Understanding a developmental Miracle: China
EXAM TWO
Part IV: African Economies*
 Chapter one: Strategies for African Development
 Chapter two: Governance and Growth – History, Ideology, and Methods of proof
 Chapter three: Institutional Monocroping and Monotasking in Africa
 Chapter four: Governance and Growth Challenges for Africa
*Handouts will be distributed in class for this part.
EXAM THREE
Part V: Country Case Study: Millennium Development Goals
PROJECT