Corsi di Studio del Dipartimento di Culture, Politica e Società

This course will provide the basic instruments for the economic analysis of development, accounting for the main theories, facts and the experiences that have been pursued by specific groups (industrialised, emerging and developing) of countries. During the course we will discuss as well some of the major issues that hamper the way to development. These includes, for instance, issues related to environmental sustainability; digital transformations; global economic governance; inequalities. The course will raise students' awareneess of the global challenges developing countries face, and on the most effective policies to face them. Such skills will be relevant within jobs in national and international institutions, NGOs and enterprises.

Students are expected to gain a good understanding of the main topics discussed and to be able to properly use the notions and analytical tools with respect to the causes of underdevelopment, and of the most effective policies to face them.  They are also expected to develop basic competencies in the use of socio-economic technical language, usage of statistical data and critical skills.

This course will be looking at the main facts and theories about economic development. The focus will be initially broad, trying to understand what matters to economic growth, what explains differences in economic development across countries, and how countries have been able to escape poverty. Trade and industrial policies, as well as the role played by structural transformation will be discussed as main instruments, and the cases of China and other Eastern Asian countries will be used as case study to complement this part. Next, we will be looking at some of the main causes of underdevelopment. Poverty, inequality and the environment, together with the role of institutions, will be mainly analyzed under a microeconomic perspective.  

The detailed schedule, including reading material, will be made available at the beginning of the course on its Moodle page. 

The course will be based on in class discussions and interactive sessions, through individual and/or group-work.