ECON 7058 - Development Economics PG

North Terrace Campus - Semester 1 - 2015

This is an intermediate postgraduate course in development economics. During the weekly seminars, we will cover the following topics: the meaning and measurement of economic development, growth theories, poverty and income distribution, the role of geography and institutions, fertility and population growth, the role of credit markets and microfinance, health and nutrition, education and female empowerment.

  • General Course Information
    Course Details
    Course Code ECON 7058
    Course Development Economics PG
    Coordinating Unit Economics
    Term Semester 1
    Level Postgraduate Coursework
    Location/s North Terrace Campus
    Units 3
    Contact Up to 3 hours per week
    Available for Study Abroad and Exchange Y
    Assumed Knowledge ECON 7011 & ECON 7071
    Restrictions Available to MFin&BusEc, ProCertPubPolicy, GradCertEc, GradCertIntEc, GradDipIT&D, GradDipIntEc, GradDipAppEc, MAppEc, MAppEc(PubPolicy), MAppEc(Int) & MITD students only
    Course Description This is an intermediate postgraduate course in development economics. During the weekly seminars, we will cover the following topics: the meaning and measurement of economic development, growth theories, poverty and income distribution, the role of geography and institutions, fertility and population growth, the role of credit markets and microfinance, health and nutrition, education and female empowerment.
    Course Staff

    Course Coordinator: D Dissanayake

     Dr Jagath Dissanayake

    Course Timetable

    The full timetable of all activities for this course can be accessed from Course Planner.

  • Learning Outcomes
    Course Learning Outcomes
    On successful completion of this course students will be able to:
    1 Familiarize with some central themes and issues of economic development.
    2 Understand at the level of formal analysis, difference between growth and development, major growth theories, the measurement of inequality, significance of agriculture in developing countries, poverty and population issues facing the world, international trade, and importance of foreign aid.
    3 Be familiar with empirical evidence on the patterns of economic development
    4 Develop the capacity to read and understand the journal literature in the area of economic development
    University Graduate Attributes

    This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attribute(s) specified below:

    University Graduate Attribute Course Learning Outcome(s)
    Knowledge and understanding of the content and techniques of a chosen discipline at advanced levels that are internationally recognised. 1, 2,3, 4
    The ability to locate, analyse, evaluate and synthesise information from a wide variety of sources in a planned and timely manner. 1, 2,3, 4
    An ability to apply effective, creative and innovative solutions, both independently and cooperatively, to current and future problems. 1, 2,3, 4
    Skills of a high order in interpersonal understanding, teamwork and communication. 1, 2,3, 4
    A proficiency in the appropriate use of contemporary technologies. 1, 2,3, 4
    A commitment to continuous learning and the capacity to maintain intellectual curiosity throughout life. 1, 2,3, 4
    A commitment to the highest standards of professional endeavour and the ability to take a leadership role in the community. 1, 2,3, 4
    An awareness of ethical, social and cultural issues within a global context and their importance in the exercise of professional skills and responsibilities. 1, 2,3, 4
  • Learning Resources
    Required Resources
    Development Economics by Debraj Ray, 1998, Princeton University Press.

    Recommended Resources
    Economics of Development by Perkins, Radelet, Lindauer and Block, 7th Edition (International Student Edition), 2012
    Online Learning

    The following websites provide useful insights on current trends in development issues:
    www.worldbank.org
    www.adb.org

  • Learning & Teaching Activities
    Learning & Teaching Modes
    Learning in this course is through lectures, tutorials, personal and group study and online learning.

    The lectures will provide you with the necessary understanding of the material to be able to solve the exercises you will be given during  tutorials or exams.

    Tutorials represent an important learning component of the class. The tutorials consist of 11 weekly sets of problems. Students are expected to work through the assignments independently (or as a group if the question mentions so) and prepare solutions to be discussed or presented during the tutorial time. The tutorial questions will include problem-solving exercises, policy issue discussions and exercises with spreadsheets on actual data.
    Workload

    The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.

    Students in this course are expected to attend all lectures throughout the semester plus one tutorial class each week. In addition, the workload for this class is designed for 9 hours per week of independent study.
    Learning Activities Summary
    TOPICS


    Wk 1-2 Introduction, Trends and Patterns of Growth and Development

    Wk 3 Theories of Economic Growth

    Wk 4 Theories of Economic Growth

    Wk 5 Inequality

    Wk 6 Poverty

    Wk 7 Population

    Wk 8 Agriculture

    Wk 9 Rural and Urban

    Wk 10 International Trade

    Wk 11 International Trade

    Wk 12 Foreign Aid

    Small Group Discovery Experience
    Some tutorial questions encourage students to work in small groups.
  • Assessment

    The University's policy on Assessment for Coursework Programs is based on the following four principles:

    1. Assessment must encourage and reinforce learning.
    2. Assessment must enable robust and fair judgements about student performance.
    3. Assessment practices must be fair and equitable to students and give them the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned.
    4. Assessment must maintain academic standards.

    Assessment Summary

    Mid semester test (20%).
    Will be held in Week 6, in class.

    Tutorial Participation (10%).
    Students are expected to source materials for the answers to the tutorial problem sets themselves and in discussion with their classmates. Students are expected to discuss their proposed solutions during the tutorials.

    Research Essay (20%). Due by 22nd May. More information to be provided by the lecturer.

    Final Exam (50%)
    There will be a 2 hour exam. Please refer to http://www.adelaide.edu.au/student/exams/timetable.html 

    Assessment Related Requirements
    Attendance is expected for all tutorials.
    Assessment Detail
    The final exam will cover the full set of material developed in this course. This includes all materials from the lectures and other readings, as well as discussions and exercises considered in the tutorials.

    The mid semester test will cover the material developed up to week 5.

    Tutorial participation will be assessed by the tutor.

    The research essay should reflect thorough understanding of class material and other readings. More information on research essay will be given by the lecturer during the lectures.
    Submission

    No information currently available.

    Course Grading

    Grades for your performance in this course will be awarded in accordance with the following scheme:

    M10 (Coursework Mark Scheme)
    Grade Mark Description
    FNS   Fail No Submission
    F 1-49 Fail
    P 50-64 Pass
    C 65-74 Credit
    D 75-84 Distinction
    HD 85-100 High Distinction
    CN   Continuing
    NFE   No Formal Examination
    RP   Result Pending

    Further details of the grades/results can be obtained from Examinations.

    Grade Descriptors are available which provide a general guide to the standard of work that is expected at each grade level. More information at Assessment for Coursework Programs.

    Final results for this course will be made available through Access Adelaide.

    Additional Assessment
    If a student receives 45-49 for their final mark for the course they will automatically be granted an additional assessment. This will most likely be in the form of a new exam (Additional Assessment) and will have the same weight as the original exam unless an alternative requirement (for example a hurdle requirement) is stated in this semester’s Course Outline. If, after replacing the original exam mark with the new exam mark, it is calculated that the student has passed the course, they will receive 50 Pass as their final result for the course (no higher) but if the calculation totals less than 50, their grade will be Fail and the higher of the original mark or the mark following the Additional Assessment will be recorded as the final result.
  • Student Feedback

    The University places a high priority on approaches to learning and teaching that enhance the student experience. Feedback is sought from students in a variety of ways including on-going engagement with staff, the use of online discussion boards and the use of Student Experience of Learning and Teaching (SELT) surveys as well as GOS surveys and Program reviews.

    SELTs are an important source of information to inform individual teaching practice, decisions about teaching duties, and course and program curriculum design. They enable the University to assess how effectively its learning environments and teaching practices facilitate student engagement and learning outcomes. Under the current SELT Policy (http://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies/101/) course SELTs are mandated and must be conducted at the conclusion of each term/semester/trimester for every course offering. Feedback on issues raised through course SELT surveys is made available to enrolled students through various resources (e.g. MyUni). In addition aggregated course SELT data is available.

  • Student Support
  • Policies & Guidelines
  • Fraud Awareness

    Students are reminded that in order to maintain the academic integrity of all programs and courses, the university has a zero-tolerance approach to students offering money or significant value goods or services to any staff member who is involved in their teaching or assessment. Students offering lecturers or tutors or professional staff anything more than a small token of appreciation is totally unacceptable, in any circumstances. Staff members are obliged to report all such incidents to their supervisor/manager, who will refer them for action under the university's student’s disciplinary procedures.

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