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.