Prospectus

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Economies of South and Southeast Asia

Course
2017-2018

Admission requirements

Students who have successfully completed State, Politics and Economy in Modern South and Southeast Asia (BA South and Southeast Asian Studies, Year 1) will be admitted automatically. If you do not meet this criterion but would still like to take the course, please send a mail both to lecturer Dr. Rizal Shidiq and to study coordinator Dr Nicole van Os, explaining your interest in the economies of Southeast Asia and listing any relevant previous courses you have taken in Leiden or elsewhere. Students admitted to this course without having completed its prequel State, Politics and Economy in Modern South and Southeast Asia are advised to familiarize themselves before the start of the lectures and contact Dr. Rizal Shidiq for some preliminary readings.

Description

This course offers a broad survey of today’s economies of South and Southeast Asia. The main focus is on the long-run economic growth and social change in the area. Why did some countries in the areas perform far better than the others? How did long run growth take places in South and Southeast Asian economies in the last 30-40 years? How were the Southeast Asia economies affected by the financial crisis in the late 1990s? Has the economic growth brought significant social development in South and Southeast Asia?

In comparing economies in these two regions, this course is structured around the development of determinants of long run economic growth: physical and human capital accumulation as well as technological change. This course also looks at changes in social development and political economy of the long run growth. Special attention is given to the role of the state and economic policy. Students are expected to work on an individual research topic resulting in class presentation and essay.

Course objectives

Upon completion of this course, students will acquire:

  • Empirical knowledge on the major features of the economic performance of South and Southeast Asian countries.

  • Analytical skills to apply simple economic concepts and theories to understand what makes South and Southeast Asian economies differ in their economic performances and long run growth.

  • Practical training for data analysis and oral and written presentation.

Timetable

Timetable

Mode of instruction

  • Lecture and seminar

Attendance and active participation are obligatory for lectures and seminars. Students are required to prepare for and attend all sessions. The convenors need to be informed without delay of any classes missed for a good reason (i.e. due to unforeseen circumstances such as illness, family issues, problems with residence permits, the Dutch railways in winter, etc.). In these cases, it is up to the discretion of the convener(s) of the course whether or not the missed class will have to be made up with an extra assignment. The maximum of such absences during a semester is two. Being absent without notification and/or more than two times can result in exclusion from the term end exams and a failing grade for the course.

Course load

Consists of the following:

  • 26 hrs class

  • 34 hrs readings for class

  • 40 hrs individual literature study

  • 40 hrs compilation of essay

Assessment method

Assessment

  • Performance in class: attendance, presentations, participation

  • Final essay of 4000 words

Weighing

  • Performance in class: attendance, presentations, participation (30%)

  • Final essay of 4000 words (70%)

Resit

The final paper is written in two stages: a first version which will be commented on and a final version. Students who do not meet the deadline for the first version (17 May 2017) will lose the right to get comments and will only be graded based on their final version (due on 21 June 2017). The final mark is made up of the weighted average of the essay and the performance in class. In order to pass the course, students must obtain an overall mark of “5.50” (=6) or higher.

The course is an integrated whole. The final examination and the assignments must be completed in the same academic year. No partial marks can be carried over into following years.

Exam review

If a student requests in writing a review of his/her paper within 30 days after publication of the exam results, an paper review will be organized.

Blackboard

Students are requested to register on Blackboard for this course.

Reading list

Selected recent articles on the economies of South and Southeast Asia. The complete list of articles will be announced in the first class.

Registration

Students are required to register through uSis. To avoid mistakes and problems, students are strongly advised to register in uSis through the activity number which can be found in the timetable in the column under the heading “Act.nbr.”.

Registration Studeren à la carte and Contractonderwijs

Contractonderwijs.
(Studeren à la carte is not possible for this course.)

Contact

Dr. A.R. Shidiq

Remarks

Students with disabilities

The university is committed to supporting and accommodating students with disabilities as stated in the university protocol (especially pages 3-5). Students should contact Fenestra Disability Centre at least four weeks before the start of their courses to ensure that all necessary academic accommodations can be made in time conform the abovementioned protocol.

Academic Integrity

Students are expected to be familiar with Leiden University policies on plagiarism and academic integrity. Plagiarism will not be tolerated. If you submit any work with your name affixed to it, it is assumed to be your own work with all sources used properly indicated and documented in the text (with quotations and/or citations).