Prospectus

nl en

Economic Growth and Development

Course
2020-2021

Admission requirements

Required courses:

Microeconomics (preferred), Macroeconomics, International Economics, or the instructor’s permission.

Recommended:

Quantitative Research Methods

Description

This 300-level course will present students with the basic theories and empirical evidence on economic growth and human development --- processes that affect each other as they influence our lives on the extensive (quantified growth) and intensive (quality of life) margins, respectively. It will cover conventional economic theories of growth, the role of institutions, and review empirical evidence from the past thousand years.

Course Objectives

Skills:

  • Have mastered, presented and written up a growth and/or development case study that explores the drivers, costs, benefits, and barriers to a growth and/or development topic of their choice

  • Critical assessment of challenges, case studies and policy documents.

Knowledge:

  • The role of individuals, groups and nations in innovation and productivity.

  • The impact of equality, access and opportunity on development.

  • The connections between theories and empirical evidence for growth.

  • Growth/development via, e.g., comparative advantage, colonial mercantilism, resource exploitation, and institutional evolution.

  • The connections among growth, human development, sustainability and international relations

Timetable

Timetables for courses offered at Leiden University College in 2020-2021 will be published on this page of the e-Prospectus.

Mode of instruction

The course is taught through two-hour (online or face-to-face) seminars. Students will be expected to participate in both large and small group discussions; present and defend their ideas within an academic setting; and take part in group projects. The instructor will facilitate and ensure the efficient running of the discussion, but students are responsible for its quality.

Assessment Method

Class participation: 10% (continuous weeks 1-7)
Reading group: 10% (continuous weeks 1-7)
Blog post: 10% (due week 4)
Peer reviews: 2x10% (due week 5)
Individual Presentation: 10% (due week 7)
Case study paper: 40% (due reading week)

Reading list

Roughly 25 academic papers (approx 550-600 pages).

Registration

Courses offered at Leiden University College (LUC) are usually only open to LUC students and LUC exchange students. Leiden University students who participate in one of the university’s Honours tracks or programmes may register for one LUC, if availability permits. Registration is coordinated by the Education Coordinator, course.administration@luc.leidenuniv.nl.

Contact

David Zetland, d.j.zetland@luc.leidenuniv.nl

Remarks

-