Economic Development         Spring 2006
Thomas R. DeGregori
Economics, Section 04513
Time - 1:00-2:30PM TTh
Room <http://www.uh.edu/campus_map/buildings/AH.html>110-AH

Office: 209D M, Office hrs. TTh12-1 PM & 4-5 PM & or by appointment
Email: <mailto:trdegreg@uh.edu>trdegreg@uh.edu

Required reading:

Michael P. Todaro and Stephen C. Smith, Economic Development (9th Edition) (Addison-Wesley Series in Economics)
Thomas R. DeGregori, The Environment, Our Natural Resources and Modern Technology, Blackwell Professional paperback.
Thomas R. DeGregori, Origins of the Organic Agriculture Debate, Blackwell.
Thomas R. DeGregori Bountiful Harvest, Cato Institute paperback


Assignment and Topics for papers

1)  What is economic development?
2)  Economic Development since 1950.
3)  Asian (or China or India) Economic Development since 1979.
4)  Poverty and inequality in Asia/Africa/ or elsewhere and what can be done     about it. -  pick a region or country
5)  Major issues in Asian/African Development: IMF, Debt etc.
6)  The Asian Development model: What is it and what is its future?
7)  Economic Development of China
8)  Economic Development of India
9)  What role do women play in economic development?
10) Globalization of Agriculture, Food Production and Resources
11) Conflict issues in Globalization (including GM food & ecoterrorism)
12) Economic Development in _____ Region of your choice
13) Technology and Development
14)    AIDs and development

Students taking the course for credit in Africa, Asia or Latin America/Caribbean - both topics one & three will have to have a focus on the region for which you are receiving credit.

Pick five topics. On the first four papers should be roughly 5 to 7 pages with a total of about 20 - 25 pages. The fourth and final paper should be between 15 to 20 pages - for those doing five papers (the distribution of pages per paper is purely advisory but the total for the four is mandatory). Total pages all papers taken together should be between 30 to 40 pages. Students who opt to attend class regularly will be given an extraordinarily simple pass/fail exam toward the end of the semester and no later than the next to last day of class. This exam will count for one paper giving a total of four papers and circa 25 pages.

ALL PAPERS HAVE TO INCLUDE SUBSTANTIAL CITED MATERIAL FROM THE ASSIGNED READINGS AND A SOURCE MUST BE IDENTIFIED FOR ALL MATERIAL PRESENTED. YOU MAY USE OTHER RESEARCH MATERIAL AS WELL. THINK OF YOUR PAPERS AS A KIND OF FINAL EXAM FOR THE COURSE. IF YOU TOOK A FINAL IN ANOTHER COURSE AND MISSED HALF OR MORE OF THE QUESTIONS BECAUSE YOU READ OTHER THAN THE ASSIGNED SOURCES, I DOUBT THAT YOU WOULD GET MUCH SYMPATHY. SELECT TOPICS THAT ALLOW YOU TO USE THE ASSIGNED SOURCES AND IF ONE OF YOUR TOPICS IS NOT ON THE LIST, SEND ME AN EMAIL REQUESTING PREMISSION TO WRITE ON IT.

MY HOME PAGE - <<http://www.uh.edu/%7Etrdegreg>http://www.uh.edu/~trdegreg>http://www.uh.edu/~trdegreg.


PLEASE GIVE AS COMPLETE A CITATION AS POSSIBLE INCLUDING THE URL. - SEE POSTED MANDATORY SUPPLEMENTARY INSTRUCTIONS FOR MORE DETAILS.

I am enforcing these rules more firmly than in previous offerings. It is strongly recommended that you make extensive use of the assigned material throughout each paper. I have returned papers or given C-s & D-s because they did not follow the basic requirements and will do so whenever necessary. Given that these rules have now been in effect for over one year, I will be far less likely to give students an opportunity to re-do their papers so follow the rules and do them correctly the first time.

Additional topic options will be offered in class. If there is another topic on which you wish to write and on which you can use the assigned sources, you may get approval by email with the email exchange being turned in with the final papers.

Course can also be taken as a special problems course for 1 or 2 hours credit. For special problems, please see Marion Foley in 208B M. Students wanting their grade recorded on the class role sheet, all papers are due in by the next to last day of class. Graduate students will do two papers of 10 and 30 to 40 pages each. Please see me for details and assignment.