Development Economics – Challenges and Chances

About

The course introduces students to the challenges of economic development. Why do few countries succeed while many fail? Why is development so hard?
Based on a formulation of the problem (“What do we mean by development?”) the students will be introduced to an overview of attempts to address the various challenges – both in theory and practice – with selective deep-dives.
Context matters; consequentially case studies are used to foster an appreciation of the unique factors that qualify policy choices and their respective successes/failures.

Course leader

David Lübeck, Ph.D.

Target group

Students should have a solid foundation in economics, sociology, or political science.
This course is not mathematical in nature.

Course aim

• Understand why some nations have developed, and others not
• Realise the social, political, and economic scope of development
• Familiarity with key case studies (China, South Korea, Japan, Argentina, Brazil)
• Appreciation of key literature in development economics
• Exposure to the history of development economics

Fee info