UCL - Seminar: Analysis and Economic Policy

[ECGE1232]

[30h + 10h] 5 credits

Teacher(s): Frédéric Docquier

Language: French

Level: First

Aims
Main themes
Content and teaching methods
Other information (prerequisite, evaluation (assessment methods), course materials recommended readings, ...)

Aims

The seminar aims to introduce students to the macroeconomic analysis of the causes of poverty in less developed nations and development policies. Students are asked to select a specific theme, to synthesize existing work and analyze data related to the lessons of literature.

Main themes

The seminar focuses on the analysis of multiple characteristics of developing countries. The following subjects will be discussed (non-exhaustive list):
- Poor governance and corruption
- The low life expectancy
- The lack of human capital
- Political instability
- inequalities in income distribution
- The lack of infrastructure (transport, hospitals, etc..)
- The brain drain
- The ethnic or religious
- Effectiveness of international aid
- Etc.

Content and teaching methods

At the beginning of the semester, students attend two presentations ex cathedra during which the teacher will introduce the issues to be examined (with references minimum), will present the available data sources and methods for carrying out the work.
After these two sessions, students have a week to choose a theme (personal or group) and framing the issue to be analyzed in their work.
Then, for several weeks, students write a written summary of their analysis in a paper 5 10 pages. During the semester, helplines are provided by the teacher to advise students and evaluate the progress of their work.
At the end of the semester, two to three sessions are held during which each student (each group) is invited to present orally its results.

Other information (prerequisite, evaluation (assessment methods), course materials recommended readings, ...)

Prerequisite: Courses Political Economy
Assessment: Students will be assessed on the basis of their written summary of their oral presentation.
Support: Reading list and data bases at the beginning of semester