TOPICS IN DEVELOPMENT ECONOMICS - 2021/2

Module code: ECOM044

Module Overview

The course is mainly aimed at reviewing modern theories of development economics, with special emphasis on the long run effects of different types of market failures. It is very important for the student to be familiar with the concepts of moral hazard and adverse selection, which will be widely used in the first half of the course. In the second part of the course, a few empirical papers will also be reviewed, which requires from the student some knowledge of econometrics methods.

Module provider

Economics

Module Leader

JAIMOVICH Esteban (Economics)

Number of Credits: 15

ECTS Credits: 7.5

Framework: FHEQ Level 7

Module cap (Maximum number of students): N/A

Overall student workload

Workshop Hours: 12

Independent Learning Hours: 98

Guided Learning: 22

Captured Content: 18

Module Availability

Semester 2

Prerequisites / Co-requisites

ECOM020 (Microeconomics), ECOM021 (Macroeconomics) and ECOM042 (Econometrics I) are pre-requisites for this module

Module content

Indicative content includes:


  • The Neoclassical Growth Theory (Solow model) - (C, K, T)

  • Coordination Failures and Technological Non-Convexities - (C, K, T)

  • Credit Market Imperfections and Poverty Traps - (C, K, T)

  • Group Lending and Microcredit - (C, K, T, P)

  • Institutions and Property Rights - (C, K, T)

  • Randomised Control Trials - (K, T, P)


Assessment pattern

Assessment type Unit of assessment Weighting
Online Scheduled Summative Class Test ONLINE (OPEN BOOK) TEST WITHIN 24HR WINDOW (TIMED) 40
Examination Online ONLINE (OPEN BOOK) EXAM WITHIN 24HR WINDOW (TIMED) 60

Alternative Assessment

Not applicable.

Assessment Strategy

The assessment strategy is designed to provide students with the opportunity to demonstrate their knowledge of the course. The mix between in-semester test (typically scheduled in week 7), and the final examination (scheduled weeks 13-15) is instrumental to this. Questions on both the in-semester test will be essay and/or problem style questions.

Thus, the summative assessment for this module consists of:



  • explained above in Assessment Pattern

    Formative assessment and feedback



Students will receive individual feedback in the lectures based on homework (formative assignments) as well as on the in-semester test.

Module aims

  • Make students aware of the modern theories of development.
  • Prepare students to be able to assess development policies in the context of its economic evaluation.

Learning outcomes

Attributes Developed
1 Apply modern theories of development to poverty alleviation.

Attributes Developed

C - Cognitive/analytical

K - Subject knowledge

T - Transferable skills

P - Professional/Practical skills

Methods of Teaching / Learning

The learning and teaching strategy is designed to:

Achieve the above stated goals.

The learning and teaching methods include:


  • Formal lectures (total 16 hours): 2 hour lecture per week x 8 weeks

  • Tutorials (total 4 hours): 2 hour lecture per week x 2 weeks

  • Revision lecture (total 2 hours): 2 hour lecture x 1 week 


Indicated Lecture Hours (which may also include seminars, tutorials, workshops and other contact time) are approximate and may include in-class tests where one or more of these are an assessment on the module. In-class tests are scheduled/organised separately to taught content and will be published on to student personal timetables, where they apply to taken modules, as soon as they are finalised by central administration. This will usually be after the initial publication of the teaching timetable for the relevant semester.

Reading list

https://readinglists.surrey.ac.uk
Upon accessing the reading list, please search for the module using the module code: ECOM044

Programmes this module appears in

Programme Semester Classification Qualifying conditions
International Economics, Finance and Development MSc 2 Compulsory A weighted aggregate mark of 50% is required to pass the module
Economics MSc 2 Optional A weighted aggregate mark of 50% is required to pass the module

Please note that the information detailed within this record is accurate at the time of publishing and may be subject to change. This record contains information for the most up to date version of the programme / module for the 2021/2 academic year.