Political Economy and Economic Development
ECON 1445
Subject & Catalog Number
Course Information
Description
In this class, we will study some of the key theoretical ideas for how politics affect economic development. We will also look at various empirical examples drawn from the developing world. Topics include the historical determinants of development, conflict, voting, media, the political economy of social protection, the political economy of taxation, and corruption.
By the end of the course, students are expected to (1) have acquired a foundation for thinking critically about the role of political economy in understanding economic development; (2) demonstrate an understanding of the core theoretical concepts in political economy, and be able to support them with illustrations from developing countries; (3) understand empirical evidence in economics, including what makes a good empirical study and what empirical techniques can be used to understand the world better.
Course Notes
Students who are currently taking one or both of the pre-requisite classes and are interested in enrolling should contact Professor Bergeron before registering.
Available for Harvard Cross Registration
