California State University, Bakersfield

International Economic Development (ECON 4108)

Abbas P. Grammy, Ph.D.

Department
of Economics

Hours: TuTh 10-11:30 & W 10 a.m.12

E-mail: Course website on Blackboard

Office: BDC 223

Telephone: 661-654-2466

Course Arrangements:
Class time: Online (see Course Procedure)
First day of class: Tuesday, August 23, 2016
Last day of class: Tuesday, December 6, 2016
Midterm exam: Thursday, October 6, 2016
Final exam: Tuesday, December 13, 2016
Research Proposal: Thursday, September 1, 2016
Research Progress Report: Thursday, October 20, 2016
Research Paper: Tuesday, November 29, 2016
Course Description
This course is a study theories and policies of international economic
development. Topics covered include: defining and measuring growth and
development, theories of growth and development, poverty and income
distribution, population growth, human capital investment, agricultural
development, urbanization, role of the international sector, role of the
government, stabilization policy, and foreign aid and investment. Prerequisite: an
introductory course in economics.
Learning Goals and Objectives
In addition to be an upper division requirement for the economics major, this
course satisfies Theme 3: Social and Behavioral Sciences of the General
Education Program. Courses offered under this theme will focus on human,
social, economic, and political behavior and institutions and their historical
backgrounds. These courses will enable students to gain knowledge of
contemporary social and behavioral issues as well as individual initiatives and
public policies, which address those issues. The course learning objectives are:

Students will learn concepts and theories of development economics

Students will apply these concepts and theories to situations of developing
countries and their relations with developed nations
Students will make an in-depth study of a developing country to explore
challenges and opportunities facing that country
Students will conduct independent research on the problems and policies
of economic development

This course addresses several learning objectives established for the Economics
major:

Students will enhance communication and presentation skills (i.e., writing,

oral, and slide presentation)
Students will improve information competency by collecting and analyzing
information and data for analysis and decision making
Students will gain a working knowledge of economic concepts and theories
Students will be able to apply the major in authentic contexts (e.g.,
external economic environments and public policy analysis)

These learning objectives are achieved by readings, a country study, case

studies, term-long research, and examinations.
Course Materials
Michael P. Todaro and Stephen C. Smith, Economic Development, 12th edition,
Pearson-Addison Wesley, 2015.
My lecture notes in the format of PowerPoint slides are available on the course
website on Blackboard.
Course Procedures
This is a lecture-discussion course offered in the on-line instruction mode. We use
Blackboard as the main communication channel of our class. I use its E-mail
system to correspond with and Announcement Page/Discussion Board to
correspond with the entire class. You may also talk with each other via E-mail.
You must contact me with your questions and concerns via E-mail and submit
your assignments and examinations to me as E-mail attachments. I post
assignments and examinations on the Announcement Page one week prior to
their due dates. I report your credit for assignments, research projects, and
examinations on the Blackboards Grade Center.
I am accessible via Blackboards E-mail system on weekdays. I respond to your
E-mail inquiries within 24 hours. I am NOT accessible during weekends. I
respond to inquiries sent after 12:00 p.m. Friday the following Monday morning.
I am available in my office to receive visitors and telephone calls during my
weekly hours. I am also available by appointment.
Grading System
All course requirements amount to 300 points. I assign letter grades according
to the total points you earn in the course, according to the following distribution.
Student not taking the final examination will receive a failure grade (F)
regardless of their total points from other course requirements.
285-300
270-285
260-270
250-260

A
AB+
B

240-250
230-240
220-230
210-220

Requirements and Grades

BC+
C
C300 points

195-210
180-195
150-180
< 150

D+
D
DF

Mid-term Examination
75 points
Final Examination
75 points
Research Paper
75 points
Homework Assignments
75 points
Assignment Policy: There will be no make-up exams or assignments. Late
assignments will not be graded unless you have serious and compelling medical
reasons with supporting certifications from credible sources. Exams and
assignments cannot be made up for other reasons. Exams and assignments
must be submitted on their respective due dates to be graded. If you happen to
miss any exams, projects, or assignments, your grade will be based on the
requirements you have completed. Incomplete grades will not be assigned to
prevent failure.
Learning Activities
Examinations: There are two examinations in this course. These take-home
examinations consist of essay questions and case studies. The mid-term exam
covers Chapters 1-7 and the final exam covers Chapters 8-15. Exams are posted
on Blackboard one week before their due dates.
I will use a holistic grading method. I will evaluate your answers using the
following rubric:

Excellent: Covering all essential aspects of the question in a lengthy

and detailed essay based on readings from the textbook and supported
by data and/or graphical illustrations
Very Good: Covering essential aspects of the question in a lengthy
essay based on readings from the textbook and supported by data
and/or graphical illustration
Good: Covering all essential aspects of the question in a lengthy and
detailed essay based on readings from the textbook
Mediocre: Covering some essential aspects of the question in an essay
based on readings from the textbook
Poor: Covering nonessential or irrelevant aspects of the question in a
brief essay

Research Paper: You must choose a development topic to research. Topics

should include materials presented in the course and applied to a developing
country. Your assignment is to present:
a) A proposal of your research in the form of a 2-page double-spaced typed
paper (not including the cover page; use font number 12). Indicate your
research topic, describe your research interest and activity, and identify at
least 3 references (books and articles). Do not use Internet articles
(like ones posted on Wikipedia) unless they are published in
academic journals (10 points).
b) A progress report in the form of a 1-page double-spaced typed paper (5
points).

c) A lengthy and well-written essay to report results of the research activity

in the form of a 10 to 12 page double-spaced typed paper (not counting
the cover page; use font number 12) with 8 to 10 academic references
(books and articles). Do not use Internet articles (like ones posted
on Wikipedia) unless they are published in academic journals (60
points).
Examples of paper topics:
Women and Poverty: The Experience of Jamaica
Women Seeking Socioeconomic Freedom: The Case of Iran
Poverty and Development: The Case of Bangladesh
Privatization and Economic Growth in Mexico
Religion and Economic Development: The Case of Saudi Arabia
Income Distribution and Economic Development in Sri Lanka
Population Growth and Economic Development: The Experience of India
Environmental Decay and Economic Development: The Experience of
Brazil
AIDS and Development: The Case of South Africa
Urbanization and Unemployment in Kenya
Unemployment and Inflation in Iran
Comparative Economic Development: Botswana vs. Zimbabwe
Military Conflict and Economic Development: The Experience of Israel
The Form of Government and Economic Development: The Case of
Kuwait
How Does War Hinder Economic Development? The Case of Iraq
Trade Strategy and Economic Development: The Case of South Korea
The Effect of the Internet on Economic and Political Change in China
Transition to Capitalism: The Experience of Poland
Papers are evaluated on content, length, organization, references, and
writing mechanics. Those using data and graphs to support discussions
receive special considerations.
Homework Assignments: Every week, I post a homework assignment on the
Discussion Board. In each assignment, I will ask you questions from textbooks
Case Studies and Questions for Discussion. Your answers should be based on
your reading assignments. Your answers are evaluated on content, length,
and writing mechanics.
Academic Honesty
Students are expected to do all assigned work without unauthorized assistance.
CSUB policy requires that instructors: (1) refer possible violations (with evidence)
to the Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities for investigation and possible
disciplinary action and (2) impose a grade penalty deemed appropriate, which
includes possibly assigning a final grade of F. Campus policy on academic honesty
can be found by doing a word search for "academic integrity" in the online CSUB
4

Catalog. In this course, you are expected to do your own work on exams (including
take-home components), following all guidelines for use of calculators and
allowable reference materials. In particular, answers taken from outside sources
such as the textbooks Instructors Manual and seemingly identical examinations
and assignments will be subject to the cheating and plagiarism policy. You must
work independently in the completion of all assignments and examinations in
this course. All course requirements are not group activities.
Accommodations for Students with Disabilities
The mission of the Services for Students with Disabilities Office (SSD) is to
provide support services that will enable every student, regardless of disability,
to have access to a university education. Students who think they may have a
disability should contact the SSD Office in SA 140 to apply for services. SSD
evaluates the application and recommends appropriate accommodations for the
disabilities that it certifies. I follow all SSD recommendations. Do a word search
for "Services for Students with Disabilities" in the online CSUB Catalog for a
description of policies and support services and a listing of disabling conditions
currently recognized by SSD.
Reading Assignments
Wee
k
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11

Reading Assignment
Introducing Economic Development
Case Study: Brazil
Comparative Economic Development
Case Study: Pakistan and Bangladesh
Classical Theories of Economic Growth and
Development
Case Study: South Korea vs. Argentina
Contemporary Models of Development and
Underdevelopment
Case Study: China
Poverty, Inequality, and Development
Case Study: Ghana and Cote dIvoire
Population Growth and Economic Development
Case Study: China and India
Urbanization and Rural-Urban Migration
Case Study: India and Botswana
Education and Health in Economic Development
Case Study: Mexico
Agricultural Transformation and Rural
Development
Case Study: Kenya
The Environment and Development
Case Study: Haiti and Dominican Republic
Development Policymaking and Roles of Markets,
State, Civil Society
5

Textbook
Chapter
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11

12
13
14
15-16

Case Study: BRAC and Grameen Bank

International Trade Theory and Development
Strategy
Case Study: Taiwan
Balance of Payments, Debt, Financial Crises, and
Stabilization Policies
Case Study: South Korea
Foreign Finance, Investment, Aid, and Conflict
Case Study: Costa Rica, Guatemala, and
Honduras
Finance and Fiscal Policy for Development
Case Study: Botswana

12
13
14
15