ECO2008S
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Development Economics
Course Information
The course provides an introduction to development economics. It
will cover: the meaning and measurement of development; economic
growth; the role of state and market; inequality and poverty;
population growth; education; health; resource mobilisation;
international trade and finance; development aid; fiscal and
financial policy; agriculture, industrial development; globalisation
and sustainable development. The discussion is both theoretical and
applied.
Students must have completed (and passed) ECO1010F/S and ECO1011S. It is
assumed that students will have progressed to the second year of a UCT programme
that incorporates the course, and students transferring from other institutions
will be evaluated on an individual basis. Students who have taken other
economics, politics or management studies courses will bring useful background
to the course. This will also be true of students who have had some relevant
work experience. Coursework involves one essay, one test, assignments and a
formal examination.
Specific Outcomes
The student who completes ECO2008Swill be able to:
- Understand the main debates in development economics and be able to
apply these theoretical tools in the study of developing countries.
- Think critically about development issues whilst maintaining a
consistent economic framework for analysing trade-offs and alternative
development strategies.
- Think carefully and critically about the concept of development and the
various indicators of development.
- Think critically about the pros and cons of state intervention in the
economy with regard to developmental objectives.
- Apply the theoretical tools of basic microeconomics and macroeconomics
to a developing country context.
Critical Outcomes
The student who completes ECO2008S will have the following skills developed
and reinforced:
- Ability to understand the main conceptual tools and debates in
development economics. \
- Ability to think critically about development with respect to the
challenges facing developing countries.
- Apply the tools of microeconomic and macroeconomic analysis to
developing countries in a consistent, coherent and critical way.
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