Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World

Course Outlines

Summer 2026 - ECON 455W D100

Topics in Economic Development (3)

Class Number: 2085

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    May 11 – Aug 10, 2026: Wed, 9:30 a.m.–12:20 p.m.
    Burnaby

  • Prerequisites:

    ECON 333 with a minimum grade of C-.

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

In-depth analysis of various topics related to economic development. Specific topics will vary from term to term, but may include institutions, political economy, social capital and networks, financial markets and contracts, agricultural organization, women’s empowerment, culture, conflict, and natural resources. Students with credit for ECON 455 may not take this course for further credit. Writing.

COURSE DETAILS:

Exclusions: Students with credit for ECON455 may not take this course for further credit.

Description

This seminar-format course focuses on reading, discussing, and writing about original research in development economics. Students are expected to prepare weekly writing assignments and participate in weekly discussions. Students also give one presentation of a research paper and submit one term paper. There are opportunities to submit several drafts of the term paper for writing feedback prior to final submission.

Issues to be addressed include: the major economic forces that drive development and growth, why countries differ in their level of poverty and inequality, empowering women entrepreneurs, structural features of labor, capital, and land markets in developing economies, market imperfections, and economic policies and institutions.

Students learn to write critical evaluations of published economics research, present others’ original research to an audience, and constructively discuss both completed research and early research ideas. Students learn to perform a literature review, including defining a scope, synthesizing others’ research, forming an opinion, and suggesting directions for future research. Students have the option to extend their literature review into a research proposal, which is recommended for students targeting graduate studies.

Most of the research papers discussed feature experimental and/or applied econometric methods. We discuss research design and assess how successful researchers are in answering their stated research questions. We discuss implications of each paper’s research findings for economic development, including potential macroeconomic impacts of development policy.

Course Learning Outcomes

Students build on their ability to analyze and interpret economic models, and critically assess economic arguments, assumptions, and evidence. Students learn to use oral and written and methods to communicate economic insights. Students learn to use economic concepts to understand real-world human activity and public policy.

Topics

1. Introduction: goals and measures in development economics
2. Poverty
3. Inequality
4. Debt, credit markets, microcredit
5. Risk and insurance
6. Policy evaluation and quasi-experiments
7. Randomized controlled trial (RCT) field experiments
8. Adaptive sampling development experiments
9. Foreign aid
10. Political economy and economic institutions

Grading

NOTES:

Grading:

This is a writing-intensive (W) class. Written assignments account for most of the final
grade. This course will be graded using specifications grading (Nilson, 2015).
The purpose of this style of grading is to incentivize students to develop and display
competency in the ability to read and communicate about economic research. Most
professional work in government, academic research, and the private sector is not
assigned a numerical grade; it either meets the standard on all dimensions or it does not.
Students will receive a letter grade based on their completion of relevant activities
according to the table below (subject to change in the first week of classes). There are
only three activities that are assessed subjectively, and they are all assessed on a
PASS/FAIL basis. Additional tables specifying PASS/FAIL criteria on memos, the
presentation, and the term paper will be included in the syllabus. A student must achieve
ALL specified activities to achieve the letter grade.

Materials

REQUIRED READING:

There is no required textbook for the course. Weekly readings of academic papers will be assigned. All readings will be freely accessible on the SFU library website.

REQUIRED READING NOTES:

Your personalized Course Material list, including digital and physical textbooks, are available through the SFU Bookstore website by simply entering your Computing ID at: shop.sfu.ca/course-materials/my-personalized-course-materials.

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.

Final exam schedules will be released during the second month of classes. If your course has a final exam, please ensure that you are available during the entire final exam period 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

At SFU, you are expected to act honestly and responsibly in all your academic work. Cheating, plagiarism, or any other form of academic dishonesty harms your own learning, undermines the efforts of your classmates who pursue their studies honestly, and goes against the core values of the university.

To learn more about the academic disciplinary process and relevant academic supports, visit: 


RELIGIOUS ACCOMMODATION

Students with a faith background who may need accommodations during the term are encouraged to assess their needs as soon as possible and review the Multifaith religious accommodations website. The page outlines ways they begin working toward an accommodation and ensure solutions can be reached in a timely fashion.