ECON 3351 DeGregori 1:00-2:30 TTH 110AH
Office: 209D M
Room Office hrs. : TTH 12-1, 4-5 PM.or by appointment
Email:
trdegreg@uh.edu
Special requirements:
David N. Weil, Economic Growth, Boston : Addison-Wesley (required only for
Economics majors and International Business doing a European concentration).
Stuart R. Lynn, Economic Development: Theory and Practice for a Divided World,
Prentice Hall, (required for all other students:)
Each of these two books comes in a package that includes a 15 week subscription
to the Financial Times
Required for all students:
Thomas R. DeGregori, Origins of the Organic Agriculture Debate: Blackwell
Professional.
Thomas R. DeGregori, The Environment, Our Natural Resources and Modern
Technology: Blackwell Professional paperback.
World Development Report 205, World Bank: Oxford University Press.
Assignment and Topic Choices
1) a Globalization of Agriculture, Food Production and Resources - or
b Conflict issues in Globalization (including WTO, GM food & ecoterrorism)
2) Trade issues in Economic Development including WTO, IMF, WIPO and the World
Bank
3) Economic Development in _____ Region of your choice
4) Policy Issues in Economic Development
5) Technology and Development
6) Population and Development
7) Agriculture and Development
8) Resources - what are they?
9) Environmental Issues
10) NGOs - defending the poor or opposing development?
Topics - Pick four of the above topics for a total of 25 to 30 or 35 pages
divided among the papers as you see fit submitted in any order. Check poster
syllabus as other options may be added though the above are sufficient.
5) - There will be a relatively easy pass/fail exam (maybe, even very easy for
those with a modicum of class attendance) on the last day of class based upon
class lectures and assigned readings. The latter includes an occasional article
in the Financial Times that I will periodically recommend to the class. The exam
will count at least 15% of your grade with failure resulting in a zero for the
exam. A passing grade means that the student's grade for the course will be the
average of the four papers. Any student wishing to take the course for
independent study will have to have permission at the beginning of the semester
and will be allowed to do so only if there is a reason why class attendance is
impossible because of work or class conflict. They will pick a fifth topic on
which to write and appropriate readings for it and have it approved. This
assignment will be confirmed by an exchange of emails which should be included
with the submission of the fifth paper. On an emergency basis such as a student
otherwise withdrawing from school or a change in working hours, a student may be
granted the right to have the course count as independent study at any time
during the semester.
An incomplete is automatically given to all those who have not completed all
their assigned work. The relatively easy pass/fail exam is still required for
those taking an incomplete unless otherwise excused or approved for taking the
course as independent study.
ALL PAPERS MUST INCLUDE SUBSTANTIVE REFERENCES TO THE ASSIGNED
MATERIAL.(INCLUDING USE OF THE FINANCIAL TIMES). ALL MATERIAL PRESENTED MUST
HAVE A SOURCE. YOU ARE REQUIRED TO FOLLOW THESE INSTRUCTIONS. THERE IS NO EXCUSE
FOR FAILING TO DO SO AND MAY RESULT IN HAVING YOUR PAPERS RETURNED MARKED REDO
OR WORSE - "D" OR AN "F.".
Course can also be taken as a special problems course for 1 or 2 hours credit by
students who are graduating in May and who have previously taken a course from
me. For special problems, please see Marion Foley in 208B M. Final due date for
all papers for students who do not want an incomplete is the next to last class
period. All papers turned in that time will be graded prior to turning in the
final roll sheet. Papers turned in later will be graded if possible. For those
taking an incomplete, no papers will be graded after the final roll sheet is
submitted until the fall term begins. NO EXCEPTIONS EVEN FOR STUDENTS GRADUATING
IN SUMMER!
Graduate students will do two papers of 10 and 30 to 40 pages each. Please see
me for details and assignment.