While it is widely acknowledged that the fundamental determinants of development success are domestic in nature, external factors can be important. Indeed, developed countries are becoming increasingly activist in their deployment of a range of tools, from aid to migration to military intervention to promote development (or at least halt deterioration) in poor and often unstable countries around the world. The course will introduce students to available analysis and the debates around overseas development assistance and other policy tools which rich countries can use, either intentionally or inadvertently, to promote or hinder development in poor countries.

Course Syllabus 

Students will gain:

i) an understanding of the main debates around aid and other rich country development policies;

ii) knowledge of the economic tools which can be used to assess these policies;

iii) experience in the assessment of particular rich country development policies.

Policy memo, 1000 words (20%), long essay, 4000 words (40%), exam (40%).

The policy memo provides an introductory assessment task and provides some real world flavour. The long essay requires students to go into depth on some particular issue. The exam encourages students to engage with the breadth of the course and tests understanding as well as absorption.