Not offered 2007-2008
ECON 466 Economic Growth: Theories and Evidence
This seminar will examine recent advances in the study of economic growth. Why are some countries richer than other countries? What accounts for differences in growth rates across countries and over time? What are the respective roles of factor accumulation and productivity growth? The answers to these questions have important implications for policy, both in rich and poor countries, and for development assistance from rich to poor. We will review literature, including both technical papers and more popular writing, that offer explanations linked to capital investment, human capital accumulation, policy distortions and poor institutions, geography, agricultural technology, and other sources. Not only will we seek to learn the main policy messages of these papers, but also we will try to understand why different models lead to different conclusions and how economic research progresses over time.
Format: seminar. Evaluation will be based on either five 5- to 6-page papers or one long paper and a series of critiques, as well as class participation.
Prerequisites: Economics 251, 252, 253 or 255 or the equivalent. Enrollment limit: 19 (expected: 19). Preference will be given to senior Economics majors. Admission requires permission of the Instructor.

D. GOLLIN