Course Outline

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT (3.30314)

1. GENERAL COURSE INFORMATION

1.1 COURSE DETAILS

Course Code: 3.30314 Course: Economic Development

Coordinating Unit: School of Business Administration, Division of Economics

Term: Semester 2, 2015 Mode: Internal

Level: Undergraduate coursework
Location/s: UPNG Main Campus
Units: 3
Contact: Up to 3 hours

Assumed Knowledge: Intermediate Microeconomics, Intermediate Macroeconomics

Course Description:
About 1.7 billion people live in absolute poverty, with many more facing severe need.

The aim of the course is provide students with an understanding of the immense and varied
economic challenges facing the world’s impoverished and developing economies in general, and
what practical and effective policies can be implemented to address these challenges.

1.2 COURSE STAFF

LECTURER-IN-CHARGE
Name: Mr. Michael Cornish
Location: Room 1.20, SBA Building
Email: [email protected]
Office hours: Wednesday 10:00 – 12:00 midday, starting in the first week; other
appointments subject to availability

1.3 COURSE TIMETABLE

The course will be comprised of 2 x 1hr lectures plus 1 x 1hr tutorial each week; tutorials start in
the second week.

Day Time Room

Lectures Wednesday 9 – 10 am KD 100
Thursday 11 – 12 midday KD 100

Tutorials Tuesday 9 – 10 am KD 223

Tuesday 10 – 11 am KD 225

You will be allocated a tutorial time in the first lecture of the course.

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 2. LEARNING OBJECTIVES

2.1 COURSE LEARNING OBJECTIVES

This course is designed to attain the following learning objectives:

(1) To explain and apply key development economic growth theories, international trade
development theories, and related economic development theories

(2) To analyse and describe the features of less developed economies and the macroeconomic
and microeconomic development challenges they face

(3) To analyse and describe significant policy options available to government and international
organisation to address economic development challenges

(4) To develop analytical and critical thinking skills and use them to judge the appropriateness of
economic development policy options

(5) To identify and appraise economic development policy failures, and suggest adjustments or
alternatives

(6) To develop research skills and skills in persuasive oral and written argument, including: data
collection; interpretation by way of analytical commentary; demonstrated ability to support
analysis through empirical evidence and draw critical conclusions, and; presentation skills

(7) To develop teamwork skills through tutorial activities and assignments

2.2 UNIVERSITY GRADUATE ATTRIBUTE(S)

This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attribute(s)
specified below:

UNIVERSITY GRADUATE ATTRIBUTE COURSE LEARNING

OBJECTIVE(S)
Knowledge and understanding of the content and techniques of (1), (2), (3), (4), (5)
a chosen discipline at advanced levels that are internationally
recognised.
The ability to locate, analyse, evaluate and synthesise (5), (6)
information from a wide variety of sources in a planned and
timely manner.
An ability to apply effective, creative and innovative solutions, (5), (6)
both independently and cooperatively, to current and future
problems.
Skills of a high order in interpersonal understanding, teamwork (7)
and communication.
A proficiency in the appropriate use of contemporary (6)
technologies.
A commitment to continuous learning and the capacity to (2), (3), (4), (5)
maintain intellectual curiosity throughout life.
A commitment to the highest standards of professional (5), (6)
endeavour and the ability to take a leadership role in the
community.
An awareness of ethical, social and cultural issues within a (2), (3), (4), (5)
global context and their importance in the exercise of
professional skills and responsibilities.

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 3. LEARNING RESOURCES

3.1 REQUIRED RESOURCES

th
Textbook: Todaro and Smith, Economic Development, 12 Edition, Addison-Wesley, 2015
th th
[However, 11 and 10 Edition are also fine]. The lecturer will do his best to provide the
required textbook readings.

The relevant chapters from the textbook are highlighted in the course timetable above (see 4.2:
Learning Activities Summary).

Additional required readings will be provided on the lecturer’s personal website:

www.michaelcornish.org under the tab “Economic Development”.

3.2 ONLINE LEARNING

The following material will be made available on the lecturer’s website

(www.michaelcornish.org):

• Powerpoint slides used for each lecture

• Required readings
• Tutorial questions
• Assignment questions

4. TEACHING & LEARNING ACTIVITIES

4.1 TEACHING & LEARNING MODES

The course will consist of two lectures and one tutorial session per week. The tutorials aim to
encourage discussion on both the theoretical and real-world aspects of the material covered in
the lectures and readings.

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 4.2 LEARNING ACTIVITIES SUMMARY

Week Date Chapter Topic

1 July 22 1 Introduction

July 23 Public Holiday (Remembrance Day) – No Lecture

2 July 29 2 Features of Developing Economies

Growth Theories I: Linear Stages Theory, Structural Change, International

July 30 3
Dependence

3 August 5 3 Growth Theories II: Neoclassical Growth

August 6 3, 4 Growth Theories III: Endogenous Growth, Contemporary Growth Models

4 August 12 5 Inequality and Growth

August 13 6 Population

5 August 19 9 Agriculture, Rural Development

August 20 7 Urbanisation, Rural-Urban Migration

6 August 26 Public Holiday (National Repentance Day) – No Lecture

August 27 8 Human Capital: Education

7 Sept. 2
CONSOLIDATION WEEK (No Lectures)
Sept. 3

8 Sept. 9 8 Human Capital: Health

Sept. 10 10 Environment

9 Sept. 16 Public Holiday (National Independence Day) – No Lecture

Sept. 17 Readings Gender , Child Poverty, Income Support

10 Sept. 23 11 Economic Governance

Sept. 24 12 Trade I: Theory

11 Sept. 30 13 Balance of Payments, Macroeconomic Stability

Oct. 1 14 Foreign Investment

12 Oct. 7 15 Financial Systems

Oct. 8 14 International Aid

13 Oct. 14 15 Fiscal Policy

Oct. 15 All Revision

End of semester examinations

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 5. ASSESSMENT

5.1 ASSESSMENT SUMMARY

The assessment scheme is:

Tutorial participation 5%
Tutorial hand-ins 15%
Final exam 50% [or 70% if Assignment II is not submitted]
Assignment I 10%
Assignment II [Optional] 20%

Tutorial participation will be assessed throughout the semester. If a student misses a tutorial
session due to medical reasons or for reasons of compassion, arrangements can be made for
the student to submit additional written work instead.

Tutorial hand-ins will be assessed every week, starting in Week 3 and finishing Week 13 (not
including consolidation week), of which all 10 hand-ins will count towards your final mark.

The final exam will be held during the University final exam period and will be 3 hrs and 10 mins
in duration – this includes 10 minutes reading time.

The due dates for assignments are:

Assignment I: August 20, 2015

Assignment II: October 8, 2015

Please note that Assignment II is an optional, redeemable assessment component (see 5.3
below).

The identification of the learning objectives addressed by the assessment task:

Tutorial participation: (1), (2), (3), (4), (5), (7)

Tutorial hand-ins: (1), (2), (3), (4), (5), (6)
Final exam: (1), (2), (3), (4), (5), (6)
Assignment I: (2), (3), (4), (6), (7)
Assignment II: (3), (4), (5), (6), (7)

5.2 REQUIREMENTS

Attendance at tutorials is strongly encouraged and is required to receive marks in tutorial

participation.

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 5.3 ASSESSMENT DETAIL

Tutorial participation will include participation in group discussions and tutorial activities.

Tutorial hand-ins will be submitted weekly and will consist of a written answer to a question
identified the previous week (usually one of the questions listed for discussion in tutorials).
Hand-ins are expected to be under 250 words and thus extremely succinct – submissions
significantly over 250 words may not be marked. All 10 will be counted towards the final marks.

Assignment I will focus upon analysing the economic development challenges facing a
developing country of the students’ choice. The full details of the assignment will be available in
the first week, but it will have an 800 word limit. Students will be expected to work and
submit in pairs.

Assignment II is optional and redeemable by the exam (this means that the higher mark of the
two will be counted for the 20%) and will focus on the exploration and analysis of policy options
for a given case study. The full details of the assignment will be available in Week 8, but it will
have a 1,800 word limit. Students will be expected to work and submit in pairs or threes.

5.4 SUBMISSION

Tutorial hand-ins are to be submitted every week at the beginning of tutorials, and will be
marked and returned in the week of class following their submission.

Late submissions of tutorial hand-ins will not be marked.

Assignments are to be submitted in hard copy at the beginning of the lecture on the due date.

Penalty for late submission of assignments will be a 10% deduction of marks for each 24 hour
period after the due date and time. Extensions to due dates may be given on medical or
compassionate grounds with evidence (for example, a doctor’s certificate). Assignment marks
will be posted on the Economics notice board as soon as they are available.

Re-submission of any work will not be marked, penalties for inaccurately stating word-counts
will remain at the discretion of the marker.

Good luck with the course!

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