Ohio University Department of Economics
Syllabus for Economics 350/550
Winter 2011
I.
Basic Information
Course:
Economics 350/550: Development Economics
Professor:
Dr. Julia Paxton
Office:
329 Bentley Annex
Mailbox:
Economics Dept. mailroom, 3rd floor Bentley Annex
Office Hours: M,W 11-11:30 am and 2-3 pm; and by appointment
Telephone:
593-2042 (office)
E-mail:
paxton@ohio.edu
Internet site: http://oak.cats.ohiou.edu/~paxton/
Required Texts:
Undergraduate and graduate students:
William Easterly, The Elusive Quest for Growth, MIT Press, 2002.
Graduate students only:
Canuto, Otaviano and Marcelo, Giugale, editors. The Day After
Tomorrow: A Handbook on the Future of Economic Policy in the
Developing World, The World Bank, 2010.
Optional Text:
Michael Todaro and Stephen Smith, Economic Development, tenth
edition, Addison Wesley, 2008.
Additional readings will be placed on electronic reserve at the library
(link available on the class website) or will be handed out in class.
II. Course Objectives and Description
This is an introductory course in development economic theory. We will study
the classic and contemporary theories of economic development, growth, and
trade and will examine how these economic theories have been applied to
countries of the developing world. Topics will include dependency, investment,
debt, reform, technology, education, health, the role of the state, and
globalization.
III. Prerequisites
Econ. 103 (Microeconomics) and 104 (Macroeconomics) or equivalent. A
strong math background is desirable.
IV. Course Evaluation
Course performance will be evaluated on the basis of homework and three
midterm exams. Unless a calculation error occurs, grades are not negotiable.
The following scale will be used to compute the overall course grade:
Undergraduates
Homework:
Average of 3 midterms
TOTAL:
25%
75%
100%
Graduate students
Presentation:
Homework:
Average of 3 midterms
TOTAL:
10%
25%
65%
100%
Exams: Exams will be in class and will be a combination
of essays and problems. A no make-up policy will be strictly enforced
without a university approved excuse.
Homework: Each student will select a developing country to follow
throughout the quarter. As we discuss specific development theories,
students will apply them to the country that they are following. By the
end of the quarter, each student will have an in-depth case study of the
country. Late homeworks will have one point (out of ten) deducted for
each day that they are late. Undergraduate homeworks should be
approximately 2-4 typed pages (double spaced) and graduate student
homeworks should be approximately 4-8 typed pages.
Graduate Student Presentation: Graduate students will critique the
projections given in The World Bank’s The Day After Tomorrow about
the future of the developing world and development policy. Students will
summarize key arguments and point out potential caveats. Each student
will present for 15 minutes and will encourage class discussion.
Code of Conduct: All aspects of Ohio University's Student Code of
Conduct will be strictly adhered to with regards to academic misconduct.
Cheating on exams and homeworks, cutting and pasting information from
the internet without proper citation, and using previous students' work will
all result in failure of the course and notification of the problem to the
Academic Misconduct office.
Week 1
Week 2
Week 3
Week 4
Week 5
Week 6
Week 7
Week 8
Week 9
Week 10
Finals week:
Tentative Class Schedule
Introduction, Classic Growth Models
Classic Growth Models
Classic Growth Models No class Mon. HW#1 due Wed. Jan. 19
Exam #1, Monday, Jan. 24
Contemporary Growth Models
Health, Education
Big Push Model HW#2 due Mon. Feb. 7
Exam #2, Monday, Feb. 14
Supportive Role of Government
Trade
Grad. Student Presentations: Future of Development Policy
Exam #3, Wed. Mar. 9
HW #3 due Tues. March 15 at 10:10