Economic Development.

Catalog description

Examines the plight of the world’s poor countries. Discussions of the extent of world poverty. and a review of the evolution of ideas on the topic of economic development over the past three decades are included. The course considers the following types of questions: What are the causes of development and/or underdevelopment? Are Third World countries merely at a primitive stage of development analogous to European countries prior to the Industrial Revolution? What are the roles of climate, the legal system, education, health and sanitation, natural resources, technology, multinational corporations, religious beliefs and so on? Are rich countries making a meaningful effort to aid poor countries? Can we, or even should we, help? Should emphasis be placed on the agricultural or industrial sector? This course is also listed as an SIS course. Prerequisites: ECON 053 and ECON 055 or permission of instructor.