Organizers: Oriana Bandiera (London School of Economics and IZA), Ahmed Elsayed (IZA)
Event Manager: Viola Hartmann
IZA/FCDO Program on Gender, Growth and Labor Markets in Low-Income Countries (G²LM|LIC) sponsored the ONLINE EVENT: “Development Economics Course for Sub-Saharan Africa,” which took place from September 17 to November 17, 2021.
The course focused on one of the central questions in economics: why fundamentally equal humans living in different countries experience vastly different standards of living. It brought together cutting-edge research in development economics to explore this puzzle. Following the arc of development, the course examined the progression from small subsistence entrepreneurs—often in agriculture—to large multinational enterprises. It further analyzed how organizations interact with each other, how they shape their environments, and how those environments shape them in return. The role of the state in regulating markets, coordinating activities, and managing externalities was also explored.
The course was organized into eight thematic blocks. Each block included a prerecorded lecture and a live online class held once or twice per week. Modeled after the award-winning undergraduate development course at the London School of Economics (LSE), the curriculum was based entirely on research articles.
Designed primarily for undergraduate students, the course also accepted graduate students, with residence in Africa being a strict requirement. While some knowledge of economics, statistics, or mathematics was helpful, no formal prerequisites were required beyond curiosity and interest. The course aimed to provide participants with insight into the world of economic research and what economics can offer.
Language of instruction: English
Instructors
* Oriana Bandiera (London School of Economics and IZA)
* Robin Burgess (London School of Economics)
Teaching Assistants
* Ananya Kotia (PhD Student, LSE)
* Michelle Rao (PhD Student, LSE)