The Economic Foundations of Global Development

This course provides a foundational understanding of the role of economic theories and economists in driving the discourse and outcomes of global development. From theories of industrialization and modernization to sustainable development and socioeconomic equity, economic frameworks and approaches are often found at the very core of the intellectual constellations upon which these theories are built. Students explore how global development is dependent on economic thinking across the whole spectrum of theory building, policy making, project design, and impact evaluation. This course covers the essential concepts and tools from macroeconomics, microeconomics, behavioral economics, and finance that are applied in the global development industry today. Topics covered include macroeconomic policy making, global trade and finance, government expenditures and the Keynesian multiplier, game theory, incentive structures and the principles of econometrics, and economic analysis in support of impact evaluation. Students gain a deep understanding of how economic principles inform the discourse around global development and how they can be applied in support of development objectives and goals in various settings.