AØKA08087U Advanced Development Economics - Macro Aspects
The course covers three broad themes:
Theme 1. Historical development
Accounting for the vast differences in income and productivity we observe across countries today requires a solid understanding of the process of economic development in a historical perspective. In this part of the course we show that history matters to understand economic development, by examining main features of the process of economic development in pre-modern times, the forces that kept economies in a long period of slow growth and development during pre-industrial times, and the mechanisms that allow economies to exit stagnation and embark on a path of sustained development.
Theme 2. Fundamental determinants of differences in economic performance
In this part of the course we ask exactly why history matters for economic development. We go beyond explanations at a proximate level, to study reasons and precise mechanisms that explain differences in economic performace at a deeper level. For this, we rely on literature in an extensive and active area of research on the impact of historical events for comparative development, and on the impact of differences in fundamental characteristics across countries and regions. For example, we ask whether specific dimensions of climate and geoography, certain cultural characteristics, the type of institutions, or the interdependence and coevolution of these different types of fundamental determinants can explain why some countries have been able to accumulate human and physical capital more effectively than others, to innovate and adopt new technologies faster than others, and ultimately to embark on a path of sustained development earlier than others.
Theme 3. Policy debates
By the end of the course we explore recent policy debates about the main topic of the course. Examples of these debates are the effectiveness of development policy tools such as foreign aid, the role for industrial policies and active state intervention in the process of economic development, and the causes and consequences of different types of inequality.
After completing the course the student is expected to be able to:
- Describe the global pattern of economic development, from a historical and a modern perspective.
- Understand theoretical models and arguments related to the historical process of development, and the empirical evidence accompanying them.
- Present a comprehensive overview of the research literature relevant to the process of economic development in a comparative perspective.
- Identify and explain the causes of differences in the development path that different countries have followed, and relate them to fundamental drivers of economic development.
- Provide the basic economic intuition behind central mechanisms in theoretical models.
- Assess the capacity of theoretical models and arguments to generate testable predictions, and evaluate the correspondence between theoretical predictions and empirical evidence.
- Appreciate some of the key debates in development economics, understand how they relate to contemporary policy issues, and discuss the effectiveness of policies aimed to promote growth and economic development.
- Apply our expertise as economists to understand and assess quantitative analyses carried out in the context of less developed regions.
- Work effectively as a trained economist analyzing problems of less developed countries as a researcher in an academic institution, or in an international organization, business environment, nongovernmental organization, or governmental institution.
The course uses book chapters, recent journal articles, and recent working papers.
Students will benefit from having followed courses in Economic History, Economic Growth, and Applied Econometric Policy Evaluation.
2 hours lectures 1 to 2 times a week from week 36 to 50 (except week 42).
The overall schema for the Master can be seen at KUnet:
MSc in Economics => "Courses and teaching" => "Planning and overview" => "Your timetable"
Timetable and venue:
To see the time and location of lectures please press the link under "Se skema" (See schedule) at the right side of this page. E means Autumn.
You can find the similar information partly in English at
-Select Department: “2200-Økonomisk Institut” (and wait for respond)
-Select Module:: “2200-E19; [Name of course]”
-Select Report Type: “List – Weekdays”
-Select Period: “Efterår/Autumn – Weeks 31-5”
Press: “ View Timetable”
For foreign students not enrolled: Admission requirements, registration etc: Study Economics.
For gæste- og enkelfagsstuderende: Tilmelding og information via Uddannelse i Økonomi.
- 7,5 ECTS
- Type of assessment
- Written assignment, 12 hoursindividual take-hom exam. The students are not allowed to communicate about the given problem-set.
The exam assignment is given in English and must be answered in English.
- Exam registration requirements
There are no requirements during the course that the student has to fulfill to be able to sit the exam.
All aids are allowed for the regular written exam.
For the oral re-examamination no aids is allowed.
- Marking scale
- 7-point grading scale
- Censorship form
- No external censorship
for the written exam. The exam may be chosen for external censorship by random check.
- Exam period
The exam takes place :
From 14 December 2019 at 10 AM to 14 December 2019 at 10 PM.
In special cases, the exam date can be changed to another day and time within the exam period.
In week 8 and/or 9, February 2020. Or when decided by the lecturer and the Exam Office.
The reexam is a 20 minuts oral exam without preparation.
Information about the reexam day and time will be available in the Digital Exam early February.
Criteria for exam assesment
Students are assessed on the extent to which they master the learning outcome for the course.
To receive the top grade, the student must with no or only a few minor weaknesses be able to demonstrate an excellent performance displaying a high level of command of all aspects of the relevant material and can make use of the knowledge, skills and competencies listed in the learning outcomes.