Course Syllabus
Obiettivi formativi
Il corso fornisce agli studenti gli strumenti teorici ed empirici necessari per comprendere i principali temi macroeconomici dell’economia dello sviluppo. Particolare attenzione è dedicata al ruolo della geografia e delle istituzioni nello sviluppo economico, alla relazione tra aiuti internazionali e sviluppo e ai problemi di debito sovrano nei paesi in via di sviluppo.
Al termine del corso, gli studenti dovranno aver conseguito i seguenti risultati di apprendimento.
Conoscenza e capacità di comprensione
Gli studenti acquisiranno conoscenza e comprensione:
delle principali teorie relative al ruolo della geografia e delle istituzioni nello sviluppo economico di lungo periodo;
delle determinanti dell’allocazione degli aiuti internazionali, sia bilaterali sia multilaterali;
del dibattito teorico ed empirico sull’efficacia degli aiuti allo sviluppo;
delle cause e delle conseguenze dei problemi di debito sovrano nei paesi in via di sviluppo;
dei principali strumenti di gestione e risoluzione delle crisi debitorie.
Capacità di applicare conoscenza e comprensione
Gli studenti saranno in grado di applicare gli strumenti teorici ed empirici introdotti durante il corso all’analisi dei problemi di sviluppo economico.
In particolare, saranno in grado di:
interpretare i principali modelli teorici affrontati durante il corso;
analizzare e confrontare spiegazioni alternative delle differenze nei livelli di sviluppo tra paesi;
interpretare i risultati dei contributi empirici e valutarne la rilevanza economica;
comprendere le strategie di identificazione utilizzate nella letteratura;
collegare i risultati della ricerca accademica alle principali questioni di politica economica.
Attraverso i progetti econometrici, gli studenti svilupperanno inoltre la capacità di formulare una domanda di ricerca, utilizzare dati appropriati, applicare metodi empirici di base e interpretare i risultati ottenuti.
Autonomia di giudizio
Gli studenti svilupperanno la capacità di valutare criticamente i contributi teorici ed empirici nell’ambito dell’economia dello sviluppo.
Saranno in grado di valutare:
le ipotesi e i limiti delle diverse spiegazioni teoriche;
la credibilità delle strategie di identificazione empirica;
la robustezza e l’interpretazione dei risultati;
la misura in cui l’evidenza disponibile sostiene determinate conclusioni di politica economica.
Gli studenti saranno inoltre in grado di formulare valutazioni autonome sui dibattiti relativi alle istituzioni, agli aiuti internazionali e al debito sovrano.
Abilità comunicative
Gli studenti saranno in grado di illustrare e discutere i principali meccanismi teorici e risultati empirici affrontati durante il corso, utilizzando una terminologia economica appropriata.
Svilupperanno inoltre la capacità di:
esporre argomentazioni economiche in modo chiaro e logicamente strutturato;
fornire risposte scritte concise, accurate e critiche;
presentare una domanda di ricerca empirica;
descrivere la metodologia utilizzata e interpretare i risultati ottenuti.
Capacità di apprendimento
Gli studenti acquisiranno le competenze analitiche e metodologiche necessarie per approfondire autonomamente i temi dell’economia dello sviluppo.
Saranno in grado di:
leggere e analizzare criticamente articoli scientifici;
individuare la domanda di ricerca e il contributo principale di uno studio;
comprendere il rapporto tra argomentazioni teoriche ed evidenza empirica;
confrontare approcci alternativi alla stessa domanda di ricerca;
approfondire autonomamente gli sviluppi successivi della letteratura.
Contenuti sintetici
1: GEOGRAPHY VERSUS INSTITUTIONS
2: FOREIGN AID
3: SOVEREIGN DEBT
Programma esteso
Contents
1: GEOGRAPHY VERSUS INSTITUTIONS
a) Geography and growth
b) Institutions and Development
2: FOREIGN AID
a) Aid allocation (bilateral aid and multilateral aid)
b) Aid effectiveness
3: SOVEREIGN DEBT
a) Distortions:
b) Remedies
Prerequisiti
È richiesta una buona conoscenza dei concetti fondamentali di microeconomia e macroeconomia, nonché una familiarità con i principali metodi econometrici di base.
Metodi didattici
Il corso prevede lezioni in presenza. Le lezioni presentano i principali modelli teorici, metodi empirici e contributi della letteratura di economia dello sviluppo. Particolare attenzione è dedicata all’interpretazione e alla discussione critica degli articoli teorici ed empirici.
Modalità di verifica dell'apprendimento
Students will be evaluated on their ability to critically analyse both theoretical and empirical papers. A mock exam has been uploaded on the course website for practice.
Assessment is based on a final written exam lasting 90 minutes. The exam consists of three open-ended questions aimed at evaluating students’ ability to critically analyse theoretical and empirical models. Two questions are worth 10 points each, while one question is worth 12 points.
Students who pass the written exam may request to take an oral exam. In this case, the final grade will be determined as the average of the written and oral exam grades, provided that both are satisfactory. The oral exam grade may be higher or lower than the written exam grade. Students who fail the oral exam will be required to retake the written exam in a subsequent exam session.
No midterm exams are scheduled. All assessments will take place exclusively during the official exam sessions (appelli d’esame).
Testi di riferimento
Non è previsto un unico manuale ufficiale. Il corso si basa su una selezione di articoli scientifici, capitoli di libro e ulteriori materiali didattici.
Le letture obbligatorie e facoltative sono indicate nelle sezioni specifiche dedicate ai singoli argomenti e rese disponibili sulla piattaforma didattica.
Periodo di erogazione dell'insegnamento
Second semester.
Lingua di insegnamento
English.
Sustainable Development Goals
Learning objectives
The course provides students with the theoretical and empirical tools required to understand the main macroeconomic issues in development economics. Particular attention is devoted to the role of geography and institutions in economic development, the relationship between foreign aid and development, and sovereign debt problems in developing countries.
By the end of the course, students are expected to achieve the following learning outcomes.
Knowledge and understanding
Students will acquire knowledge and understanding of:
the main theories concerning the role of geography and institutions in long-run economic development;
the determinants of the allocation of both bilateral and multilateral foreign aid;
the theoretical and empirical debate on aid effectiveness;
the causes and consequences of sovereign debt problems in developing countries;
the main instruments for managing and resolving sovereign debt crises.
Applying knowledge and understanding
Students will be able to apply the theoretical and empirical tools introduced during the course to the analysis of economic development issues.
In particular, they will be able to:
interpret the main theoretical models covered in the course;
analyse and compare alternative explanations for differences in development levels across countries;
interpret empirical findings and assess their economic relevance;
understand the identification strategies used in the relevant literature;
relate the findings of academic research to major economic policy questions.
Through the econometric projects, students will also develop the ability to formulate a research question, use appropriate data, apply basic empirical methods and interpret the results obtained.
Making judgements
Students will develop the ability to critically evaluate theoretical and empirical contributions in development economics.
They will be able to assess:
the assumptions and limitations of alternative theoretical explanations;
the credibility of empirical identification strategies;
the robustness and interpretation of empirical findings;
the extent to which the available evidence supports specific economic policy conclusions.
Students will also be able to form independent judgements on debates concerning institutions, foreign aid and sovereign debt.
Communication skills
Students will be able to explain and discuss the main theoretical mechanisms and empirical findings covered during the course using appropriate economic terminology.
They will also develop the ability to:
present economic arguments clearly and in a logically structured manner;
provide concise, accurate and critical written answers;
present an empirical research question;
describe the methodology employed and interpret the results obtained.
Learning skills
Students will acquire the analytical and methodological skills required to explore development economics topics independently.
They will be able to:
read and critically analyse academic papers;
identify the research question and main contribution of a study;
understand the relationship between theoretical arguments and empirical evidence;
compare alternative approaches to the same research question;
independently explore further developments in the relevant literature.
Contents
1: GEOGRAPHY VERSUS INSTITUTIONS
2: FOREIGN AID
3: SOVEREIGN DEBT
Detailed program
Contents
1: GEOGRAPHY VERSUS INSTITUTIONS
a) Geography and growth
b) Institutions and Development
2: FOREIGN AID
a) Aid allocation (bilateral aid and multilateral aid)
b) Aid effectiveness
3: SOVEREIGN DEBT
a) Distortions:
b) Remedies
For more details see the specific sections of the module.
Prerequisites
Students are expected to have a good knowledge of the fundamental concepts of microeconomics and macroeconomics, as well as familiarity with basic econometric methods.
Teaching methods
The course consists of in-person lectures. Lectures introduce the main theoretical models, empirical methods and contributions in the development economics literature. Particular attention is devoted to the interpretation and critical discussion of theoretical and empirical papers.
Assessment methods
Assessment is based on a final written examination lasting 90 minutes.
The examination consists of three open-ended questions designed to assess students’ ability to understand and critically analyse the theoretical and empirical contributions covered during the course. Two questions are worth 10 points each, while one question is worth 12 points.
The examination assesses:
knowledge and understanding of the main theories and empirical findings;
the ability to apply theoretical and empirical concepts to the analysis of development issues;
the ability to critically evaluate theoretical models, empirical methodologies and identification strategies;
the ability to compare alternative explanations and findings;
the ability to present economic arguments clearly, accurately and using appropriate terminology.
A mock examination is available on the course website to help students prepare.
Students who pass the written examination may request an oral examination. In this case, the final grade is determined as the average of the written and oral examination grades, provided that both examinations are passed.
The oral examination grade may be higher or lower than the written examination grade. Students who fail the oral examination must retake the written examination in a subsequent official examination session.
No midterm examinations are scheduled. All assessments take place exclusively during the official examination sessions.
Textbooks and Reading Materials
There is no single official textbook. The course is based on selected academic papers, book chapters and additional teaching materials.
Required and optional readings are listed in the sections devoted to each topic and are made available through the course platform.
Semester
Second semester.
Teaching language
English.
