Course 2014-2015 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, agriculture and microcredit policies as well as governance reforms. In this context, we introduce the empirical approach of program evaluation and we illustrate how this approach can be applied using micro level data. 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.
We also encourage students to work directly on the data through econometric applications.

Course Content Summary

• Impact evaluation methodology.
• Economics of the family.
• Education and health policies.
• Land markets.
• Risk sharing and insurance.
• Credit markets and microfinance.
• Firms and micro-enterprises in LDCs.
• Media and development.
• Political economy of development.
  

Detailed Description of Assessment Methods

The final written exam consists of analytical exercises and discussion of empirical results.

Textbooks

The reading list and lecture notes are posted on the You@B Diary.

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

Prerequisites

It is advisable to have taken a course in econometrics (at least introductory).

Last change 25/03/2014 15:30