Course 2010-2011 a.y.

Go to class group/s: 31 - 32

CLMG (6 credits - II sem. - OP  |  SECS-P/01) - M (6 credits - II sem. - OP  |  SECS-P/01) - IM (6 credits - II sem. - OP  |  SECS-P/01) - MM (6 credits - II sem. - OP  |  SECS-P/01) - AFC (6 credits - II sem. - OP  |  SECS-P/01) - CLAPI (6 credits - II sem. - OP  |  SECS-P/01) - CLEFIN-FINANCE (6 credits - II sem. - OP  |  SECS-P/01) - CLELI (6 credits - II sem. - OP  |  SECS-P/01) - ACME (6 credits - II sem. - OP  |  SECS-P/01) - DES-ESS (6 credits - II sem. - OP  |  SECS-P/01) - EMIT (6 credits - II sem. - OP  |  SECS-P/01)

Course Director:
ELIANA LA FERRARA

Course Objectives

The purpose of this course is to provide students with analytical and empirical tools that enable them to understand the functioning of markets and institutions in Less Developed Countries (LDCs). The methodological approach emphasizes the role of Information and incentives in examining from a microeconomic point of view how LDCs cope with market imperfections. We analyze in depth the informal sector and the emergence of social norms that can be interpreted as a rational response to the economic environment.
Particular emphasis is placed on the evaluation of the effectiveness of education, health and microcredit policies. In this context we introduce the empirical approach of program evaluation and illustrate how this approach can be applied to a wide range of questions such as evaluating the effects of antipoverty programs, infrastructure programs, preventive health care and family planning programs. For each topic, recent theoretical contributions are proposed and compared to existing empirical evidence, in order to train the student to develop a research process that goes from the formulation to the test of hypotheses.

Course Content Summary

• Economics of the family.
• Education and health policies.
• Land markets.
• Credit markets and microfinance.
• Risk sharing and insurance.
• Social capital, groups and networks.
• Corruption and firms' performance.
• Economic causes and effects of civil conflict.
• Media and economic development.

Detailed Description of Assessment Methods

There will be a written final exam, consisting of analytical exercises and discussion of empirical results.

Textbooks

The reading list and lecture notes will be posted on the Agenda You@B

Exam textbooks & Online Articles (check availability at the Library)

Last change 23/06/2010 16:30