THEORIES OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Single discipline educational activity

Course Sheet

Course code:

TSE555

Academic Year of enrolment:

2017

Year of supply:

2019/2020

Type of Course:

Characterising

Degree:

Course of 1st Cycle Degree in ECONOMY, MARKETS AND DEVELOPMENT

Disciplinary Sector:

Political Economy

Language:

Italian

Location:

PESCARA

Credits:

Programme Year:

Professor and Collaborators:

PAGLIARI Carmen

Cycle:

Second semester

Hours of classroom activity:

Individual study hours:

153

Prerequisites:

The prerequisites of the course are the basic knowledge of Microeconomics and Macroeconomics

Objectives

FORMATIVE OBJECTIVES
The course is designed to provide students with the basic knowledge to deal with appropriate interpretations and analyses of real phenomena related to economic growth and economic development, passing through the normative foundations deriving from both traditional and recent theoretical approaches. The course also aims to stimulate the student's reflection on the ethical profiles of the various theories of economic development and on the theme of inequality. The contents of the course are, therefore, important elements to achieve "a training aimed at understanding the functioning of modern economic and financial systems according to the study of the issues concerning socio-economic development", in line with the educational regulations of the Degree Program as a whole.

EXPECTED LEARNING RESULTS

KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING
At the end of the course the student should know the elements of the various economic theories on development and must have acquired an understanding of the main mechanisms of economic growth, without neglecting the qualitative aspects that make the difference between "growth" and "development" of a country. The student must know both the most widespread methods of measuring development, and the "laws" characteristics of the processes of economic growth, following the evolution of economic thought. In particular, he must have learned the fundamentals of the theory of endogenous growth according to the most important scientific contributions, with particular reference to the role of savings and productive capital (in its material and immaterial components), as well as to the role of the Government. The student must also have acquired theoretical elements deriving from the comparison between the traditional approach to the analysis of material well-being and the innovative approach of A.K. Sen, based on the concepts of functionality, capabilitiy, as well as economic development seen as achieving the different " freedoms to act "on the part of individuals.

CAPACITY TO APPLY KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING
At the end of the course the student should have acquired basic knowledge on the main theories concerning the theme of growth and economic development, in order to have the theoretical and normative tools essential to face critical and/or quantitative analyses on real phenomena related to the development of contemporary economic systems.

COMMUNICATION SKILLS
At the end of the course the students will have acquired the following communication skills:
- to know how to use economic language adequately;
- to expose and rigorously discuss the relationships between the macroeconomic variables present in the growth and development models studied.

Contents

The course is based on the following topics:
- difference between the concept of growth and that of development and definitions of economic development;
- the problem of measuring the degree of development and the main indicators of economic development;
- classical, neoclassical and neokeynesian theories of economic growth;
- endogenous growth theory: productive capital and the role of the Government;
- capability approach to the analysis of economic development and relative innovative vision of the latter (according to the thought of A. K. Sen).

Extended Syllabus

From the text of Pagliari C. (2009 - 2016 reprint), "Elements of Economic Development Theory", Ed. Franco Angeli, Milan:
Introduction - A little history of economic thinking on growth.
Chapter 1 - Introductory notions and the problem of the measure of development.
Appendix to Chapter 1 - The ethical profiles of the Economy of Wellness.
Chapter 2 - Methodological premises.
Chapter 3 - Elements of Classical Theory of Economic Growth.
Chapter 4 - A step forward in the literature: from the problem of industrial take-off to that of the continuity of economic growth.
Chapter 5 - Two growth theories supporting the self-regulation of the capitalist system over the long term:Neoclassical and Neokeynesian Theory.
Chapter 6 - The Endogenous Growth Theory from its origin to the most recent results.
Chapter 7 - Correlation between inequality and economic development.

From the text of Sen A. "Development as freedom" (Italian translation) 2001 - Ed. Mondadori, Milan:
Introduction - Development as freedom.
Chapter 1 - The perspective of freedom.
Chapter 2 - The ends and the means of development.
Chapter 3 - Freedom and the foundations of justice.

Recommended Bibliography

1) Pagliari C. (2009), "Elementi di Teoria dello Sviluppo Economico", Ed. Franco Angeli, Milan (reprint 2016).
2) Sen A. K. (2001), "Development as Freedom", (Italian translation) Ed. Mondadori, Milan (Introduction and first three Chapters).

Methods of Provision

Conventional

Teaching Methods

The teaching methods are essentially the following: traditional lectures with the use of slides. The frontal teaching activities will focus on theoretical topics and will be carried out by the teacher with the opening to critical discussions with the students on the topics covered and with the solicitation to compare the theory results with the reality of contemporary economic systems. Attendance is optional, but recommended.

Evaluation methods

Verification of learning:

The method for verifying learning is as follows: written test and oral interview conducted jointly. In particular, the written test is based on three open-ended questions, two of which are related to the content of the reference text 1) and one relates to the content of the reference text 2). Written answers are required in a schematic way. The oral interview is based on the topics to which the questions of the written test refer, with the aim of deepening, integrating and clarifying what reported by the student in writing the same written test. The assessment is not attributed to the two verification phases in a separate way, but in a joint way with a single overall evaluation (expressed in thirtieths) that is communicated to the student at the end of the interview.

Contacts/More Information

Day and time of receipt and e-mail address:
WEDNESDAY
10.00 -11.00 and 13.00-14.00.
e-mail address: carmen.pagliari@unich.it

Università degli Studi
"G. d'Annunzio"

Chieti - Pescara

Aree