MAN-BCU2040
Economic Development
Course infoSchedule
Course moduleMAN-BCU2040
Credits (ECTS)6
Category-
Language of instructionEnglish
Offered byRadboud University; Nijmegen School of Management; Bachelor Economics and Business Economics;
Lecturer(s)
Coordinator
dr. L.M. Metzger
Other course modules lecturer
Examiner
dr. L.M. Metzger
Other course modules lecturer
Lecturer
dr. L.M. Metzger
Other course modules lecturer
Contactperson for the course
dr. L.M. Metzger
Other course modules lecturer
Lecturer
prof. dr. N. Wagner
Other course modules lecturer
Academic year2022
Period
3  (30/01/2023 to 09/04/2023)
Starting block
3
Course mode
full-time
Remarks-
Registration using OSIRISYes
Course open to students from other facultiesYes
Pre-registrationNo
Waiting listNo
Placement procedure-
Aims
After following the course ‘economic development’ students are able to:
-              Explain the differences in economic development between countries and regions
-              Explain the influence of (regional) economic policy on the differences in economic development between countries and regions
-              Explain the two-way relation between economic development and other dimensions of development such as education and health
-              Explain the main causes and consequences of poverty and inequality
-              Present the main findings of earlier scientific research on the aforementioned topics 
-              Formulate critical questions with regard to earlier scientific research on the aforementioned topics
-              Calculate several poverty and inequality measures using STATA and Excel and use them to answer research questions on development related issues.
 
Content
The course deals with the determinants and spatial patterns of economic development and the relationship between development and poverty and inequality. Major questions addressed in the course are (a) What are the major determinants of the growth of regions/countries?, (b) how does the distribution of economic activity within and across countries and regions arise and develop?, (c) can this distribution be influenced by regional/development policy?, (d) how does economic development influence, and how is it influenced by, the distribution of resources and rewards within societies, (e) what are demographic aspects of development and what is the (changing) role of women in the development process?
(a) What are the major determinants of the growth of regions/countries?
Students will be provided with a broad overview of differences in development between countries and regions. Attention will be given to economic development as well as human development. The main economic growth theories will be presented with specific attention to the role of human capital. Specific attention will be given to the measurement and analysis of development data. Regarding data analysis students will learn the basics of using maps as a way to present data in the form of a GIS workshop, Gapminder and other online visualization tools. Finally, students will learn the basics of spatial econometrics such as spatial autocorrelation and how to deal with that in statistical analyses.
(b) How does the distribution of economic activity within and across countries and regions arise and develop?
This part of the course starts with focusing on why economic activities locate at certain places and not at others. Core element in this will be to understand why economic activity has a tendency to cluster in geographical space. Subsequently a dynamic element will be added to the spatial distribution of economic activities by considering how economic activities in regions grow and/or decline. Questions addressed include: Is regional specialization beneficial for regional growth or not? and can globalization and trade influence core-periphery structures?
(c) Can the distribution of economic activity be influenced by regional/development policy?
Having an understanding of how (regional) economic structures and differences come about and develop we move to the question whether, and if so how, these structures can be influenced by (regional) economic policy. Path dependency in economic processes and the resulting persistence of existing economic structures will play an important role in this part of the course.
(d) How does economic development influence - and is it influenced by - the distribution of resources and rewards within societies?
This part of the course will focus on poverty and inequality, including poverty and inequality measurement. We will discuss aspects such as the measurement of human development at household and national level, GDP, HDI, household expenditure, wealth indices and inequality indices. Attention will be paid to the effects of economic development on poverty and inequality and vice versa. In a similar vein we will discuss the relationships between economic development and variation in education, child labour and health inequalities. Theoretically, the capability approach will be central in this part of the course.
(e) Demographic aspects of development and the role of women
In many development processes women play a central role. Specific attention is paid to issues regarding gender and development, such as women's employment and empowerment, and related demographic aspects of development like the fertility transition, family planning and the demographic window of opportunity.
Level

Presumed foreknowledge
Basic knowledge of micro and macro economics (e.g. Economie van de Managementwetenschappen), Basic statistical knowledge (e.g. OIM A&B).
Test information
Written exam with MC and open questions, Group presentation, Group assignment and Computer Assignments. Partial result from previous year stay valid.
Specifics

Level
Ba 2 PM RE

Required materials
Articles
articles to be downloaded by students themselves

Instructional modes
Lecture

Practical computer training
Attendance MandatoryYes

Sustainability certificate

Working group
Attendance MandatoryYes

Tests
Exam
Test weight1
Test typeDigital exam with CIRRUS
OpportunitiesBlock 3, Block 4