Growth and Development
Unit Code: ECON20023
- Level: 2
- Credit point value: 20
- Unit Director: Professor Jonathan Temple
- Lecturers: Professor Jonathan Temple
- Teaching blocks: 1
- Prerequisites: None
- Number of lectures: 9
- Number of tutorials: 9
Description of the Unit
Why do some countries grow rich while others remain poor? This unit provides an introduction to theoretical and empirical research on economic growth and aggregate development.
Core topics include growth models; growth accounting; the causes and effects of population growth; trade policy and development; the links between growth and inequality; the role of government and institutions in development; foreign aid; and growth and the environment. An analytical approach is encouraged, based on the use of models and statistical evidence.
The main textbooks listed below, especially that by David Weil, provide a good indication of the topics and approaches covered in the course.
Assessment Methods
Two hour closed book exam in May/June.
Required Course Work
- one essay
- two exercise sets
Main Texts
- Helpman, Elhanan (2004), The Mystery of Economic Growth, Belknap, Harvard University Press, Cambridge MA. [HD 82 HEL]
- Jones, Charles I. (2002), An Introduction to Economic Growth, (2nd edition) Norton. [HD 82 JON]
- Weil, David N. (2005), Economic Growth, Pearson - Addison Wesley. [HD 82 WEI]
Syllabus
- Historical overview
- Growth models
- Convergence and divergence
- Growth accounting
- Population growth
- Growth and inequality
- Institutions and political economy
- Trade policy and development
- Foreign aid and conditionality
- Growth and the environment
- The future of economic growth