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DEGREE REGULATIONS & PROGRAMMES OF STUDY 2016/2017

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DRPS : Course Catalogue : School of Social and Political Science : Postgrad (School of Social and Political Studies)

Postgraduate Course: Economic Development and Change in Africa (PGSP11451)

Course Outline
SchoolSchool of Social and Political Science CollegeCollege of Humanities and Social Science
Credit level (Normal year taken)SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) AvailabilityAvailable to all students
SCQF Credits20 ECTS Credits10
SummaryThe aim of this optional course is to provide an introduction to the study of the economies of Africa and to a range of key debates about economic development in Africa. The course will explore the drivers and outcomes of diverse processes of contemporary economic change across the continent. African economic development will be contextualized within a broad understanding of trends within the global economy.

The course will emphasize the heterogeneity of approaches within the study of economic development, drawing on political economy and heterodox economics as well as explaining neoclassical and other mainstream approaches to the economy

Topics covered include growth and economic development, African political economy, agriculture and the rural economy, industrialization, trade, aid and investment, multinationals and global value chains, China in Africa, banks and micro-finance, labour and the informal economy, poverty and inequality.

The course will provide students with an in-depth knowledge of African economies and will equip them to engage with the current debates that they will confront when engaging in African economies as engaged citizens, professionals and researchers.
Course description This course provides an introduction to the major debates on economic development and change in Africa. Students will develop awareness of African economies and of theories of economic development. Students will acquire skills to critically assess the findings of economic research on Africa through an awareness of the main methodologies and assumptions of different economic approaches.

Students will be encouraged to understand the heterogeneity of African economies by focussing on varied cases, sub-regions, countries and sectors. Students will acquire applied and substantial knowledge of African economic development.

The course will emphasize the plurality of approaches within the study of economic development, drawing on political economy and heterodox economics as well as explaining neoclassical and other mainstream approaches to economics. Students will gain experience in applying and evaluating economic theories in the context of Africa

The course requires no prior knowledge of economics or quantitative economic methodologies. The course is designed to be interesting and challenging to students with or without a prior background in economics. Theories and concepts will be presented in a non-technical and accessible way. This will allow students to master a range of economic concepts and develop robust critiques of the underlying ideologies, assumptions and methods of different approaches to the economy. To this end, the course will also draw on a range of disciplinary perspectives outside economics, including anthropology, sociology, history and politics, allowing for a rich and deep engagement with the nature of economic change in Africa and its implications for people's lives.

Topics covered include growth and economic development, African political economy, agriculture and the rural economy, industrialization, trade, aid and investment, multinationals and global value chains, China in Africa, banks and micro-finance, labour and the informal economy, poverty and inequality.
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
Pre-requisites Co-requisites
Prohibited Combinations Other requirements None
Information for Visiting Students
Pre-requisitesNone
High Demand Course? Yes
Course Delivery Information
Academic year 2016/17, Available to all students (SV1) Quota:  None
Course Start Semester 1
Timetable Timetable
Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) Total Hours: 200 ( Lecture Hours 20, Seminar/Tutorial Hours 10, Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4, Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours 166 )
Assessment (Further Info) Written Exam 0 %, Coursework 100 %, Practical Exam 0 %
Additional Information (Assessment) Formative feedback will be given through peer and seminar leader written in-class feedback on seminar presentations and group work (weeks 2-10). Students will also receive formative feedback on their short essay (wks 6 - 8) that will provide guidance in writing the longer essay. Verbal feedback will be offered to students in preparation of their final assignment (wk 7 - 10)

Students will be assessed on two summative assignments:

(i) A 1,000-word essay (20%) due in week 6 based on a question of their choice from the topics in the first half of the term. The purpose of the essay will be to i) ensure students have an emerging understanding of the concepts and different theoretical perspectives presented in the first half of the term and ii) to give them an opportunity to explore the application of those concepts to case study material. Students will receive feedback from this essay prior to the final summative assignment.

(ii) A 3,000-word essay (80%) based on a question of their choice from topics covered during the course.

The reason for the heavier weighting on the final assignment is to allow students who are new to economics to develop a good working understanding of technical concepts that will be introduced during the semester.
Feedback Not entered
No Exam Information
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
  1. Demonstrate extensive knowledge of African economic development in a range of countries and regions.
  2. Work with a critical understanding of the principal economic theories and concepts within the study of African economies and demonstrate awareness of the principle divisions within economic approaches.
  3. Critically review, analyse and form independent opinions on the contribution of different forms of economic research, data and policy documents on Africa.
  4. Apply knowledge, skills and understanding of economic development and the global economy to a range of contexts relevant to future professional and/or research activities.
  5. Communicate their knowledge about African economies effectively through written work and oral presentations.
Reading List
Mkandawire, Thandika. 2001. Thinking about Developmental States in Africa, Cambridge Journal of Economics, 25, 3, May, pp. 289-313.

Padayachee V. & K.Hart, 2010. "Introducing the African Economy", chapter 1, In: The Political Economy of Africa. Padayachee V. (ed), Routledge, London & New York, p1-16.

Cramer, Christopher, Carlos Oya and John Sender (2008), "Rural Labour Markets in Sub-Saharan Africa:A New View of Poverty, Power and Policy" Centre for Development Policy and Research Policy Brief

Gibbon P., and S. Ponte, 2005. Trading Down: Africa, Value Chains, and the Global Economy. Philadelphia: Temple University Press.

Besada, Hany, Yang Wang and John Whalley. 2008. China's Growing Economic Activity in Africa, Cambridge MA, NBER working paper 14024.

Arrighi, Giovanni 2002 "The African crisis: World Systemic and Regional Aspects", New Left Review, 15, p5-36
Additional Information
Graduate Attributes and Skills Not entered
KeywordsNot entered
Contacts
Course organiserDr Hazel Gray
Tel: (0131 6)50 3879
Email: Hazel.Gray@ed.ac.uk
Course secretaryMs Carol Ramsay
Tel: (0131 6)51 5066
Email: cramsay2@exseed.ed.ac.uk
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