ECHI8007 Advanced Topics in Poverty, Public Policy and Development

Offered By	School of Economics
Academic Career	Graduate Coursework
Course Subject	Economic History
Offered in	First Semester, 2011 and Second Semester, 2012
Unit Value	6 units
Course Description	The content of this course varies from year to year. This year the topics will be although not necessarily in the order listed here: The fundamental factors that facilitate economic development in developing countries. Empirical evidence on the distribution of total world income amongst the population of the world. A broad discussion of the causes of famines and how famines may be mitigated with the application of appropriate public policy. Particular topics discussed are: (i) explanations of the Great Bengal Famine of 1943; (ii) the causes of famines in late nineteenth century India; (iii) how failures in various markets systems may contribute towards precipitating famines; (iv) the appropriate design of public policy to mitigate these markets failures in the attempt to mitigate famine; (v) application of some of these ideas to understanding how Bangladesh avoided famine in the late 1990s. A range of topics concerned with the use of microfinance systems in developing countries to diminish the level of poverty. The deep factors that determine the level of gross domestic product per capita in developing countries. Recent demographic history suggests that an increase in the level of per capita real income in some developing countries tends to induce a decline, and in others tends to induce an increase in the level of the total fertility rate for the country concerned. The relevant lectures are concerned with attempting to explain these contradictory demographic experiences by making use of the theory of the quality/quantity theory of fertility.
Indicative Assessment	Essay Examination
Workload	3 hours per week plus private study time.
Course Classification(s)	AdvancedAdvanced courses are designed for students having reached 'first degree' level of assumed knowledge, which provide a deep understanding of contemporary issues; or 'second degree' and higher levels of knowledge; or for transition to research training programs.
Areas of Interest	Economic History and Economics
Eligibility	At least an average of 65% (or equivalent) in the final two years of an Australian undergraduate degree with introductory level courses in Economics, Statistics and Econometrics.
Prescribed Texts	See Course Website: http://ecocomm.anu.edu.au/courses/course.asp?code=ECHI8007
Preliminary Reading	See Course Website: http://ecocomm.anu.edu.au/courses/course.asp?code=ECHI8007
Indicative Reading List	See Course Website: http://ecocomm.anu.edu.au/courses/course.asp?code=ECHI8007
Other Information	For further information please refer to http://ecocomm.anu.edu.au/courses/course.asp?code=ECHI8007
Academic Contact	See http://ecocomm.anu.edu.au/courses/course.asp?code=ECHI8007

The information published on the Study at ANU 2011 website applies to the 2011 academic year only. All information provided on this website replaces the information contained in the Study at ANU 2010 website.