Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World

Course Outlines

Fall 2020 - ECON 455W D100

Seminar in Economic Development (3)

Class Number: 2364

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Sep 9 – Dec 8, 2020: Wed, 1:30–2:20 p.m.
    Burnaby

    Sep 9 – Dec 8, 2020: Fri, 12:30–2:20 p.m.
    Burnaby

  • Exam Times + Location:

    Dec 13, 2020
    Sun, 3:30–6:30 p.m.
    Burnaby

  • Prerequisites:

    ECON 333.

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

Topics in economic development. Students with credit for ECON 455 may not take this course for further credit. Writing/Quantitative.

COURSE DETAILS:

This seminar-format course introduces students to current topics and economic theories in development economics. The issues to be addressed include: major economic forces that drive development and growth, the structural features of labor, capital and land markets in developing economies; market imperfections and the sources of good economic policies and institutions. The course will focus on microeconomic foundations but without ignoring the macroeconomic “big picture” and will combine economic theory with basic data analysis. The main goal is gain better understanding of how the development process works, what factors matter for whether some countries are poor while others are rich, and whether policy can make a difference.

This is a writing-intensive class. Several types of written assignments account for the majority of the final grade. The first written assignment type is a “memo”, which is a very brief (half a page maximum) written comment on a specific point, idea or argument from an assigned weekly discussion paper. These memos will be graded on a rough scale (e.g. “ok”, “not ok”). Second, each student must prepare a 20-25 minute summary of an article from the reading list which he/she will present in front of the class. Finally, the course requires an original term paper to be submitted at the end of the course. The final grade will be determined based on all written assignments, the term paper and a final exam. Interim and final feedback will be provided on all written work.

Grading

  • Six memos on discussion papers 15%
  • Paper summary and in-class presentation 15%
  • Class participation and in-class short written quiz 15%
  • Term paper 25%
  • Final exam 30%

Materials

REQUIRED READING:

There is no required textbook for the course. An optional reference which can be used to supplement some of the theoretical topics is:

Ray, D. (1998), Development Economics, Princeton University Press, NJ, USA

Some policy-related and empirical topics that we will discuss are also covered on a very accessible level in:

Easterly, W., 2001, The Elusive Quest for Growth, MIT Press, Cambridge, MA, USA

There is also a list of required and optional readings (academic papers) available electronically from the SFU library. Each week a “discussion paper” will be assigned to be analyzed and debated in class. 


Department Undergraduate Notes:

Please note that, as per Policy T20.01, the course requirements (and grading scheme) outlined here are subject to change up until the end of the first week of classes.

Starting Fall 2020, final exam schedules will be released in October. This will allow students to avoid enrollment conflicts, and will significantly reduce instances of exam hardship. If your course has a final exam, please ensure that you are available during the final exam period December 9 - 20 until you receive confirmation of your exam dates. 

Students requiring accommodations as a result of a disability must contact the Centre for Accessible Learning (CAL) at 778-782-3112 or caladmin@sfu.ca.

***NO TUTORIALS DURING THE FIRST WEEK OF CLASSES***

Registrar Notes:

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS

SFU’s Academic Integrity web site http://www.sfu.ca/students/academicintegrity.html is filled with information on what is meant by academic dishonesty, where you can find resources to help with your studies and the consequences of cheating.  Check out the site for more information and videos that help explain the issues in plain English.

Each student is responsible for his or her conduct as it affects the University community.  Academic dishonesty, in whatever form, is ultimately destructive of the values of the University. Furthermore, it is unfair and discouraging to the majority of students who pursue their studies honestly. Scholarly integrity is required of all members of the University. http://www.sfu.ca/policies/gazette/student/s10-01.html

TEACHING AT SFU IN FALL 2020

Teaching at SFU in fall 2020 will be conducted primarily through remote methods. There will be in-person course components in a few exceptional cases where this is fundamental to the educational goals of the course. Such course components will be clearly identified at registration, as will course components that will be “live” (synchronous) vs. at your own pace (asynchronous). Enrollment acknowledges that remote study may entail different modes of learning, interaction with your instructor, and ways of getting feedback on your work than may be the case for in-person classes. To ensure you can access all course materials, we recommend you have access to a computer with a microphone and camera, and the internet. In some cases your instructor may use Zoom or other means requiring a camera and microphone to invigilate exams. If proctoring software will be used, this will be confirmed in the first week of class.

Students with hidden or visible disabilities who believe they may need class or exam accommodations, including in the current context of remote learning, are encouraged to register with the SFU Centre for Accessible Learning (caladmin@sfu.ca or 778-782-3112).