International Development Policy and Analysis

The course will analyse a variety of disciplinary theory and application relating to the formation, analysis and evaluation of some of the main international development policies currently pertaining to developing country governments.

5 ECTS Credits — Studies start 18 March 2019 — University of Helsinki

Course dates

18 March 2019 – 10 May 2019

Registration period

11 February 2019 – 1 March 2019

Coordinating university

University of Helsinki

Coordinators

David Lawson

Credits

5 ECTS

Course level

General

Course Summary

The course will analyse a variety of disciplinary theory and application relating to the formation, analysis and evaluation of some of the main international development policies currently pertaining to developing country governments.

The course will cover theoretical motivations looking at issues such as new public management; public policy formation/modelling; corruption and development; health and education, public sector downsizing how governments (and donors) target the most vulnerable and poorest in society and how effective this is. In addition to providing topic based theory and application, the course will provide details on how cross disciplinary approaches can be used to analyse the impact of reforms/development policy success.

Objectives

On completion of the unit students will be able to:

  • Understand some of the main theories and principles underpinning some key international development policy issues.
  • Understand the linkage between theory and practice, and how to analyse the impact of policy.
  • Consider the role and effectiveness of policy in the context of the economic interactions existing between government, markets, and households in developing countries, whilst providing a series of applied examples from developing countries
  • Develop policy analysis skills
  • Critique problems/policy and demonstrate awareness of the central issues and core evidence relating to many important economic/other policy topics in developing countries.
  • Compare and contrast country experiences and cross sector experiences of development policy
  • Communicate effectively in written formats

Learning methods

  • Pre course questionnaire (to be completed by all those registered)
  • Reading,
  • Lectures (ppoint)
  • Online video links and presentations focusing on individual country case studies (Material sources will include public access sites such as youtube).
  • Focus work sheet exercises from which students will be required to submit answers/one page summaries of reviewed evidence and literature and case studies all based on online sourcing;
  • Individual short work assignments based on the lectures literature readings.
  • Final assessment essay

Study materials

All material will be in English
The core reading for each lecture is based around journal chapters/working papers, several of which will be provided by the lecturer. No one text covers the entire course, however for individual topics specific books will be recommended.
Extensive www-materials will be used, therefore access to internet essential.

Assessment

Grade 0-5.

The final mark will consist
1) An evaluation of a final essay (3000 words) — 75%
2) one pager tutorial answers — 25%

Additional information

The maximum number of students is 40

Targeted level of students is at the BA level 2nd or 3rd year students or MA level students.

Please note that there will be a compulsory pre-course questionnaire, to be completed in the first few days of the course, that will require you to state your intentions for undertaking the course.

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