The Political Economy of Development

In this course we will take an economic and political perspective in examining some of the most significant current questions in the field of development. Why have some countries developed more rapidly than others? How can governments help or hinder development prospects? These broad questions will be addressed by analyzing the development experiences of Asian, Latin American, and African countries. To gain historical perspective, we will study selected theories of development and the experiences of the now "developed" countries, followed by an examination of how countries have confronted the dilemmas of development such as poverty, inequality, and corruption.