Course Outline: ECON 2611 - 70 Economic Development

 

Syllabus  (PDF)     Additional Articles     Country Report     Country Report Suggestions    

 Grading Scale          Websites          Country Report Presentation Schedule

DATES

 TOPICS

 READINGS AND ASSIGNMENT

Week 1

 

August

 

24, 26

Economic Development:

 A Global Perspective 

Text Reading: Todaro, Chapter 1   


Chapter 1 Lecture - Introducing Economic Development: A Global Perspective     (PPT)

 
Additional Readings: Christopher B. Barrett, Development Economics: An Overview       


Websites: Global Goals for Sustainable Development   Goal of the Month   Happy Planet Index   Our World in Data SDG Tracker

 

Videos: Poverty in Asia   Poverty in Africa   Poorest Countries in the World

 

Assignment 1 (Due September 14) - Choose a developing country in which you are particularly interested. Prepare a 750-word (or 7-10 PPT slides) report of what you perceive to be the lifestyle of a typical family in this country. While you will need to rely on statistics, the presentation of the report should be done in a narrative format with specific examples. Feel free to discuss why this poverty exists in the country. Those who prepare slides may volunteer to present to class. (NOTE: If you are from a developing country, please choose one different from yours).

Week 2

 

August 31

 

September 2

Comparative Economic Development

Looking at Some of the Data

Text Reading: Todaro, Chapter 2 

Chapter 2 Lecture - Comparative Economic Development     (PPT)

Additional Reading:  Human Development Reports 2024: Global Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI)


Websites: Human Development Reports   Human Development Insights   World Bank Data 

Week 3

 

September

 

7, 9

Classic Theories of Economic Growth and Development

Text Reading: Todaro, Chapter 3

Chapter 3 Lecture - Classic Theories of Economic Growth and Development     (PPT)

Additional Reading: We need an economic model that works for people and the planet

Week 4

 

September

 

14, 16

Classic Theories of Economic Growth and Development Cont’d

 

Lifestyle Presentations

(Wednesday, January 29)

Text Reading: Todaro, Chapter 3

 

Chapter 3 Lecture - Classic Theories of Economic Growth and Development     (PPT)

 

Chapter 3 Lecture - Solow Growth Model     (PPT)

Videos: Watch the following video a Nobel Prize winner in Economics - Why Nations Fail

 

Additional Reading: Also, read this criticism of the Nobel prize winner’s work.  Are We Allowed to be Unimpressed by Nobel Prize Winners? Hope So 

Week 5

 

September

 

21, 23

Contemporary Models of Development and Underdevelopment

 

Poverty, Inequality,

and Development

Text Reading: Todaro, Chapters 4 and 5

 

Chapter 4 Lecture - Contemporary Models of Development and Underdevelopment     (PPT)

 

Chapter 5 Lecture - Poverty, Inequality, and Development     (PPT)

 

Additional Reading: Cambodia Systematic Country Diagnostic

 

Excellent Sites: Systematic Country Diagnostics   ADB Country Diagnostic Studies

Week 6

 

September

 

28, 30

Poverty, Inequality,

and Development Cont’d

 

Population Growth and Economic Development: Causes, Consequences, and Controversies

Text Reading: Todaro, Chapters 5 and 6


Chapter 5 Lecture - Poverty, Inequality, and Development     (PPT)

 

Chapter 6 Lecture - Population Growth and Economic Development: Causes, Consequences, and Controversies     (PPT)


Additional Readings: Poverty Overview   Where Will the World’s Next 1,000 Babies Be Born?

Websites: Economic Inequality   World Bank Multidimensional Poverty Measure   UNWomen

 

Videos: India   Brazil   One Hundred Homes

Week 7

 

October

 

5, 7

Population Growth and Economic Development: Causes, Consequences, and Controversies

Cont’d

Text Reading: Todaro, Chapter 6


Chapter 6 Lecture - Population Growth and Economic Development: Causes, Consequences, and Controversies     (PPT)

 

Additional Reading: Demographics and Human Development

 

See the Following Websites for Data: IndexMundi   Monthly Bulletin of Statistics   Population Reference Bureau   UN Demographic and Social Statistics   United Nations Population Fund

Take-Home Exam 1 - (Exam Due October 28)

Week 8, Sunday, October 12, 2025 – Thursday, October 16, 2025

Fall Break, No Classes

Week 9

 

 

October

 

19, 21

 

Urbanization and Rural-Urban Migration: Theory and Policy

 

 

Human Capital: Education and Health in Economic Development

Text Reading: Todaro, Chapters 6 and 7


Chapter 7 Lecture - Urbanization and Rural-Urban Migration: Theory and Policy     (PPT) 

 

Chapter 8 Lecture - Human Capital: Education and Health in Economic Development     (PPT)

 

Video: The Impact of Urbanisation in Africa, Explained   Water Crisis India   Aids in Africa

 
Additional Readings: UNAIDS   Goal 5: Achieve Gender Equality and Empower All Women and Girls  

 

Websites: International Organization for Migration   World Health Organization   


Assignment 2 (Due November 4) - Choose a developing country other than that which is the focus of your Country Report. Submit a 500-word report examining a health or education issue that is particularly relevant to that country. Reference at least 3 sources (internet sites are fine). THIS NOT A GROUP REPORT.

 

Please arrange an appointment to meet and discuss Country Report Topic

 

Week 10

 

October

 

26, 28

Education and Health in Economic Development Cont’d

 

The Environment and Development

Text Reading: Todaro, Chapters 8 and 10

 

Chapter 8 Lecture - Human Capital: Education and Health in Economic Development     (PPT)

 

Chapter 10 Lecture - The Environment and Development     (PPT)     

 

Websites: United Nations Division for Sustainable Development    

 

Final Date to Submit Country Report Title is November 2

WEEK 11

November

 

2, 4

The Environment and Development Con’t

 

Development Policymaking and the Roles of Market, State, and Civil Society
+
 Economics of Corruption

Text Reading: Todaro, Chapters 10 and 11


Chapter 10 Lecture - The Environment and Development     (PPT)     

 

Chapter 11 Lecture: Development Policymaking + Economics of Corruption     (PPT)

Additional Reading: Environmental Kuznets Curve 


Videos: Gender, Climate and Water   83 Cities With the Worst Air Pollution in India: W.H.O

 

Websites: International Institute for Environment and Development     Transparency International   Corruption Perceptions Index    Index of Economic Freedom         


Video: Hands     How Corruption Starts

WEEK 12

November

 

9, 11

International Trade Theory and Development Strategy

 

Foreign Finance, Investment and Aid: Controversies and Opportunities

Text Reading: Todaro, Chapter 12 and 14

 

Chapter 12 Lecture - International Trade Theory and Development Strategy     (PPT)

 

Chapter 14 Lecture: Foreign Finance, Investment, and Aid: Controversies and Opportunities     (PPT)

 

Websites: FINCA   International Monetary Fund   World Bank   World Trade Organization     WTO Trade Data

WEEK 13

November

 

16 (no class), 18

Meeting with Groups

 

Finance and Fiscal Policy for Development

 

Chapter 15 Lecture - Finance and Fiscal Policy for Development     (PPT)   

Additional Readings: Microfinance is Empowering Underserved Communities in the GCC

 

November 19 - Last Day to Withdraw from Courses with grade of W

WEEK 14

November

 

23, 25

Presentations

The Poem   

WEEK 13

November 30

December 2

Presentations

 

Exam Week

Final Exam

Final Exam will be made available on Canvas