Undergraduate Programme and Module Handbook 2008-2009 (archived)
Module ECON3171: DEVELOPMENT ECONOMICS
Department: Economics, Finance and Business (Economics and Finance)
ECON3171: DEVELOPMENT ECONOMICS
| Type | Open | Level | 3 | Credits | 20 | Availability | Available in 2008/09 | Module Cap | None. | Location | Durham |
|---|
Prerequisites
- Any Level 2 Economics module.
Corequisites
- None.
Excluded Combination of Modules
- None.
Aims
- To provide students with insights into some of the key issues affecting the economic development of countries
- To stimulate students to study, present and debate their own ideas and analyses of these issues.
- To widen students' perceptions of the world and of the applicability of economic science and to motivate them to retain that perception.
- To provide the opportunity for students to build on knowledge and key skills acquired in their second year studies
Content
- In the first term, the principles of economic development are introduced.
- Different theories of growth are analysed, as are two-sector growth models and also theories of labour migration.
- The development of agriculture, industry and finance are all studied and the term finishes with a consideration of New Institutional Economics and the role of government in promoting economic development.
- The second term is taken up with a more in-depth investigation into the development of Latin America and how the general principles studied in the first term apply to the specific experiences of this continent and of Chile, Mexico and Argentina in particular.
Learning Outcomes
Subject-specific Knowledge:
- Theories, controversies, policies and case studies of how countries attempt to grow and develop over time.
Subject-specific Skills:
- Application of economic analysis to low income countries
Key Skills:
- critical and analytical thinking
- problem solving
- written communication
- own learning
- working with numbers
- working with others
- bibliographic search and information retrieval.
Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module
- Teaching is by lectures, tutorials and support for e-mail exchanges with students in universities abroad. Learning takes place through attendance at lectures; preparation and participation in tutorial classes; private study, and contributing to international e-mail discussions on student-selected topics of development economics. Formative assessment is by means of seminar assignments, presentations and discussion in the Michaelmas Term plus feedback on international e-debates in the Ephiphany Term. Summative assessment is by means of a written examination, contribution to international e-debates and one written assignment.
Teaching Methods and Learning Hours
| Activity | Number | Frequency | Duration | Total/Hours | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lectures | 22 | 1 per week | 1 hour | 22 | |
| Tutorials | 8 | Fortnightly | 1 hour | 8 | ■ |
| Preparation and Reading | 170 | ||||
| Total | 200 |
Summative Assessment
| Component: Examination | Component Weighting: 60% | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Element | Length / duration | Element Weighting | Resit Opportunity |
| one written examination | 1 hour 30 mins | 100% | |
| Component: Assignment | Component Weighting: 25% | ||
| Element | Length / duration | Element Weighting | Resit Opportunity |
| One written assignment | 2500 words max | 100% | |
| Component: Contribution to International e-discussion | Component Weighting: 15% | ||
| Element | Length / duration | Element Weighting | Resit Opportunity |
| contribution to international e-mail discussion | 100% | ||
Formative Assessment:
Seminar assignments, presentation and discussion in the Michaelmas Term plus group work on a in international e-debate in the Epiphany Term.
■ Attendance at all activities marked with this symbol will be monitored. Students who fail to attend these activities, or to complete the summative or formative assessment specified above, will be subject to the procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University