Overall Course Structure:  This class provides an introduction to the theories and policies that have become central to the study of development economics. The aim of the course is to introduce students to the exciting and evolving field of development economics.  By the end of this class you should have a solid understanding of many (not all!) of its important concepts, theories, and empirical foundations. Throughout the course we focus on the micro foundations of the big macro picture and combine economic theory and data analysis.  While I will on occasion discuss case studies, a thorough empirical history of economic developments is not the central focus of the course. 

The first part of the class tries to provide a background on the key elements of development economics.  Here we discuss the major theories of economic development that have been put forth since 1950.  The second part of the class examines measurement issues.  In the third part of the class we examine selected topics in depth.  These may include migration. labor markets, corporate responsibility, environment, liberalization, planning (input-output, choice of techniques), famines, microcredit, rural land and labor markets, population, child labor, global standards, brain drain, NGO's and decentralization, foreign aid. Other topics may also be discussed.

Course Prerequisites:  Development Economics will be taught assuming a complete and thorough understanding of the material contained in:  Intermediate Microeconomics, Intermediate Macroeconomics, Econometrics, and, of course, the pre-requisites to these three classes. There are NO pre-requisite overrides. These prerequisites are taken seriously and you are expected to have mastered the material covered in these courses before taking this course. If you have not, please drop this class immediately. It is strongly suggested that you review the material at the beginning of this course.

Text and other Readings:  You do not need to purchase a text.  Material for the course is online and free.  The  "text" for background reading -- Beyond Economic Growth [BEG] -- is at an elementary level, but it describes and highlights many of the main issues in development economics quite well.  You will find it useful to read in the first two-three weeks of class.  IMPORTANT:  There is now a text available for purchase or rental if you wish.  Please see: Text vs. No Text

The other readings for the class are at a much more difficult level.  My suggestion is that you download all the material at the beginning of the class as links change and networks go down at inconvenient times.  Often my treatment of topics will be different from that of the readings. The readings should be viewed as complements to the lectures, not as substitutes.