Course Description

This course focuses on low-income and middle-income economies. Topics covered include: poverty,   income   inequality,   population   growth,   health,   education,   migration,   and government  role  in  the  economy,  among  others.  The  focus  of  the  course  is  on  how economic theories and analysis explain why some nations are poor while others are rich, and the role played by governments and institutions in shaping these economies.

Course objective

By the  end  of this  course,  students  should  be  able  to  identify  economic  development theories and their components, understand different stages of development, and carry on a small research project on a developing country with emphasis on one or two economic problem and apply economic tools learned during the course.

Pre-requisite Knowledge    Principles of Microeconomics (ECON 101) and Principles of Macroeconomics (ECON 102).

Course Material

-    Main textbook: The syllabus is based on Economic Development, by M. Todaro and S. Smith, 13th  Edition (2020). The textbook is required.

-    The rest of the course material (the slides, assignments and exams) will be posted on ilearn prior to relevant lecture.

Assignment Policy

There will be weekly assignments that cover the previous chapter’s material. They consist of multiple-choice   questions.   The   main   objective   of  the   assignment   is   to   test  your understanding for the main concepts of the relevant chapter. The assignment will be open online at least one week prior to the due date. All assignments must be done on ilearn. Late assignment will NOT be accepted under any circumstances. At the end of the semester, I will drop the lowest two scores.

Exam Policy

There are 2 non-cumulative exams in this semester. Make-up exams will not be provided unless there is a strong and written proof of unavoidable circumstances. A grade of zero will be given for any missed exam without an official medical report or valid excuse.

Research Paper

• Students are expected to form two-student teams.

• Each team should choose a developing country that interests them.

• You will write a research project and present it. This project consists of two parts:

o In the first part, you’ll study the general growth and development experience of the country that you selected. You’ll include data on the key indicators of growth and development.

The first part will be submitted on Oct. 16 and will be presented on Oct. 18 & 20.

o In the second part, each team keeps the same country and study a more specific problem such as poverty, income inequality, population growth, etc. The second part will be submitted on Dec. 2 and presented on Dec. 6 & 8.

• Late submission of any of the components of the paper will result in 10% reduction in your points per each late day.

Tentative Course outline

Note that the instructor has the right to make any necessary changes in the syllabus during thesemester.

Grading

Standard University Grading Scale:

93% - 100%:  A

90% - 92%:    A-

87% - 89%:    B+

83% - 86%:    B

80% - 82%:    B-

77% - 79%:  C+

73% - 76%:  C

70% - 72%:  C-

67% - 69%:  D+

63% - 66%:  D

60% - 62%:            D-

0% - 59%:              F

SF State Policies

Disclosure of Sexual Violence

SF State fosters a campus free of sexual violence, including sexual harassment, domestic  violence, dating violence, stalking, and/or any form of sex or gender discrimination. If you disclose a personal experience as an SF State student, the course instructor is required to notify the Dean of Students. To disclose any such violence confidentially, contact:             The SAFE Place - (415) 338-2208; http://www.sfsu.edu/~safe_plc

Counseling and Psychological Services Center - (415) 338-2208;http://psyservs.sfsu.edu For more information on your rights and available resources: http://titleix.sfsu.edu

Disability Access

Students with disabilities who need reasonable accommodations are encouraged to contact the instructor. The Disability Programs and Resource Center(DPRC) is available to facilitate the reasonable accommodations process. The DPRC is located in the Student Service          Building and can be reached by telephone (voice/TTY 415-338-2472) or by email              to dprc@sfsu.edu.

Health & Safety Commitments

Your health and safety are our paramount concern at SF State. We ask every member of our campus community to join a pledge to make and follow plans to keep fellow students,        faculty, and staff safe and well. Feeling confident, safe and well will help you focus on your  academic success. To participate in this class, all students are asked expected to:

•   stay informed on the most up-to-date information related to SF State’s COVID- 19 response and Campus Comeback plan

•   plan ahead for possible class disruptions due to COVID- 19 or other unexpected events, such as unhealthy air quality caused by smoke

•   take care of yourself and others by staying home when you aren’t feeling well or believe you have been exposed to COVID- 19, and

•   follow all required health and safety guidelines, including verifying your proof of        vaccination or exemption status before coming to class; and wearing a multilayered   mask over your nose and mouth at all times when indoors on campus; and wash your hands as often as possible (i.e. soap and water, hand sanitizer).

For more information about SF State’s response to COVID- 19 and how you can keep    yourself and others safe and well, visit the Campus ComebackWebsite. To plan for how you will maintain your academic success when unexpected events disrupt regular          teaching and learning activities, follow the information on the course syllabus and         consult the Keep Learning guide.