Admission requirements
This course is only available for students in the BA International Studies.
Limited places are also open for exchange students. Please note: this course takes place in The Hague.
Description
This course will equip the students with a broad general understanding of African economics, as well as providing more in-depth knowledge on relevant dynamics in contemporary African economics.
The study of economics in Africa will offer students insights into the continent from the perspective of global economics. The imbalance between the global North and South are not a “natural” event, but rather are the result of a long history of capitalist development. Africa, African societies and African countries have been and remain the protagonists of this global history. In particular, the inreasing dominance of external capitalist interests – which explains to a large degree the disparity in wealth between European societies and African ones – has impacted on the resource-rich African continent.
The following is a list of issues that will be covered in this course:
Introduction to African economics
History of African economic development
Reading and understanding African statistics
International financial institutions: IMF, World Bank, etc.
The economics of poverty
Agriculture production
Aid and trade
Employment and labour
Environmental political economy
Globalization and Africa
Human and social development
Industrialization and infrastructure
Macroeconomics and finance
Course objectives
In Africa, as elsewhere, society, culture, politics, sport, music, etc. are dominated by the pull of economics. But what is the nature of (African) economics? To answer this question, it is crucial to understand how capitalist economics works.
The main objective of this course is to make students aware that economics is not a field that can be left to “specialists”, because economic choices and policies have direct consequences on societies. In all studies and/or work relating to Africa, a firm grasp of the “economic discourse” is crucial. Through economics, we can explain a great deal of what is going on in the African continent, both in positive terms, such as, for example, growth, health improvements, etc. and in negative terms, such as conflicts, inequalities, etc.
Economic policies have to address simple needs in often complex ways, in the context of competing political agendas. To become knowledgeable about economics, students must place particular attention on the functioning of the markets (labour, goods, financial etc.). The course will highlight the different economic policies that African governments, private actors and societies have adopted in order to address questions raised by the complex relationship between markets and society.
Finally, it is difficult to study African economic systems without adopting an interdisciplinary approach. The course will equip students with a methodology that provides a means to link the study of economics to developments in history and politics, both global and local.
Timetable
The timetable is available on the BA International Studies website
Mode of instruction
One two hour lecture per week; tri-weekly tutorials.
Attending all tutorial sessions is compulsory. If you are unable to attend a session, please inform the tutor of the course in advance, providing a valid reason for your absence. Being absent without notification and valid reason or not being present at half or more of the tutorial sessions will mean your assignments will not be assessed, and result in a 1.0 for the tutorial (30% of the final grade).
Course Load
Total course load for this course is 5 EC (1 EC = 28 hours), this equals 140 hours, broken down by:
Atending lectures: 2 hours per week x 12 weeks: 24 hrs
Atending attending tutorials 2 hours per three weeks: 8 hrs
Assessment hours (midterms and final exam): 4 hrs
Time for studying the compulsory literature: 68 hrs
Time for completing assignments, preparation classes and exams: 36 hrs
Assessment method
Assessment
Midterm Exam:
Written examination with closed questions (eg multiple choice)
Final exam:Written examination with closed questions (eg multiple choice) and written examination with short open questions
Weighing
Tutorials 30%
Midterm Exam 30%
Final Exam 40 %
To complete the final mark, please take notice of the following: the final mark for the course is established by determining the weighted average.
Resit
If the final grade is insufficient (lower than a 6), there is the possibility of retaking the full 70% of the exam material, replacing both the earlier mid- and endterm grades. No resit for the tutorials is possible.
Blackboard
Blackboard will be used. For tutorial groups: please enroll in blackboard after your enrolment in uSis
Students are requested to register on Blackboard for this course.
Reading list
Michael P. Todaro & Stephen C. Smith, Economic Development (12th Edition), Pearson, 2015
Further material (digital, statistical, written and video) will be distributed during the course and uploaded on Blackboard
Registration
Enrolment through uSis is mandatory.
General information about uSis is available in English and Dutch
Registration Studeren à la carte and Contractonderwijs
Not applicable