Course Type: Postgraduate (taught)
Training Provider: University of Glasgow
School/Institute/Dept./Centre: Centre for Development Studies (CDS)

 
2. government officials wishing to expand their knowledge of various aspects of economic development;
3. those working in this subject area in international agencies or in other organisations concerned with economic development.
 

Programme structure

Students take three core courses and select three optional courses from the list below. MSc candidates also write a 12,000-15,000 word dissertation. Students are required to attend a course on research methodology in preparation for writing the dissertation.

Core courses

Development Policy
This course analyses some of the main social and developmental problems facing less developed countries and examines possible policy responses. Four main sets of problems are considered. The course looks first at poverty and income distribution and goes on to consider population growth and education. A third part of the course deals with rural-urban migration and poses the question why this should continue even though migrants often find at best poorly paid jobs in the cities to which they go. The course ends with a series of lectures on financial development and policies to build financial institutions. Throughout, the course attempts to provide a basis for formulating alternative policy responses and encourage an understanding of the limitations of different policies along with the importance of specific country conditions.

Growth and Development
This course sets out critically to analyse the main theories and concepts which seek to explain economic development or its absence. The course first considers different measures of economic growth and development and how this has been analysed. Lectures then focus on the development process and on a number of the main models that try to explain it. Topics include the Solow model, endogenous growth, dual economy models including the Lewis model, agricultural development, and strategies of trade, development and industrialisation. The course has two main aims. One is to promote an understanding of the economies of transition from less developed to developed status. The other is to provide an analytical framework for evaluating development strategies. These objectives are interdependent and a high premium is placed on a critical approach to the models considered and an understanding of their empirical basis.

The IMF, World Bank and Economic Growth
The first part of the course reviews the literature about economic growth in developing countries. In this context, special attention is paid to the role of technological progress and policies to promote it. The second part of the course analyses IMF- and World Bank-supported programmes. The course looks at the theories underlying the programmes, problems in programme implementation and the effectiveness of the programmes in practice. Current issues in policy-based lending are also discussed.

Optional courses

• Theory and Principles of Sustainability
• Policies for Sustainability and Development 
• Basic Econometrics
• Environmental Economics
• International Trade
• Money, Finance and Growth
• Project Planning, Appraisal and Implementation
• Quantitative Methods for Planning - Forecasting
• Advanced Econometrics
• Economic Appraisal of Development Projects
• Financial Institutions and Markets in Developing Countries
• Globalisation, Trade and Economic Development
• Poverty: Concept, Analysis and Policies
• Quantitative Methods for Planning - Optimal Decision Making
• Aid and Development
• Financial Sector Stability and Growth
• The Economics of Inequality and Deprivation

Students may also choose relevant options from other MSc Programmes subject to approval.

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Staff:
http://www.gla.ac.uk/departments/economics/ourstaff/

Entry Requirements:
Applicants for MSc programmes will be expected to have at least an upper second class honours degree, or comparable non-UK degree. Normally, this should be a degree in economics or a joint degree containing a significant amount of economics, although in the case of the programme in Development Studies, an upper second class honours degree in an area of the social sciences is acceptable, while applicants for Environment and Sustainable Development should have the equivalent of an upper second class degree in a relevant field of study. Occasionally candidates with other qualifications and/or relevant work experience may also be admitted. Well-qualified applicants who do not meet the requirements for MSc programmes may be accepted for a programme of study leading to the award of a postgraduate Diploma.

Course Duration:
MSc: 12 months (October-September) full-time, 24 months part-time. Diploma: 9months (October-June) full-time, 2*9 months over two sessions part-time.

Language(s) of Instruction:

• English

Mode of Study:

• residential

Thematic Focus:

• Development Economics
• Development Studies
• Globalisation
• Poverty Analysis
• Project Planning
• Social Policy and Development
• :Other:

Country(ies):

• United Kingdom

Town(s) or City(ies):
Glasgow

Course fees:
Please see http://www.gla.ac.uk/registry/students/fees/feeindex.html for details.

Scholarships & Awards:
Please see http://www.gla.ac.uk/studying/scholarships/ for details.

Course's Webpage:
http://www.gla.ac.uk/centres/developmentstudies/postgraduatetaughtprogrammes/mscineconomicdevelopment/