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78237-01 - Course: Topics in Development Economics (3 CP)
| Semester | fall semester 2025 |
| Course frequency | Once only |
| Lecturers | |
| Content | Lecturer: Dr Matthias Flückiger (University of York) The following topics will be covered in the course: 1. Health and development 2. Public health campaigns and development 3. Epidemics and development 4. Favouritism and nation building Each topic will typically be discussed in a lecture plus case study. In the latter we will discuss one journal article in detail and also reproduce (some of) the results using statistical software (typically Stata). Although we will focus on one specific research question, the (empirical) methods used are very popular in social sciences. The case-study session will therefore provide an insight into how to empirically implement and test a broad range of research questions. |
| Learning objectives | Although we will focus on one specific research question, the (empirical) methods used are very popular in social sciences. The case-study session will therefore provide an insight into how to empirically implement and test a broad range of research questions. |
| Bibliography | Topic 1 Key articles: Daron Acemoglu and Simon Johnson. Disease and development: The effect of life expectancy on economic growth. Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, 115(6):925–985, December 2007 Sarah Baird, Jed Friedman, and Norbert Schady. Aggregate income shocks and infant mortality in the developing world. The Review of Economics and Statistics, 93(3):847– 856, 2011 Matteo Cervellati and Uwe Sunde. Life expectancy and economic growth: the role of the demographic transition. Journal of Economic Growth, 16(2):99–133, 2011 Manisha Shah and Bryce Millett Steinberg. Drought of opportunities: Contemporaneous and long-term impacts of rainfall shocks on human capital. Journal of Political Economy, 125(2):527–561, 2017 Topic 2 Key articles: Marcella Alsan and Claudia Goldin. Watersheds in child mortality: The role of effective water and sewerage infrastructure, 1880–1920. Journal of Political Economy, 127(2):586– 638, 2019 Matthias Flückiger and Markus Ludwig. Mobile phone coverage and infant mortality in sub-Saharan Africa. Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, 211:462–485, 2023 Adrienne M. Lucas. Malaria eradication and educational attainment: Evidence from Paraguay and Sri Lanka. American Economic Journal: Applied Economics, 2(2):46–71, April 2010 Topic 3 Key articles: Victoria Baranov and Hans-Peter Kohler. The impact of aids treatment on savings and human capital investment in Malawi. American Economic Journal: Applied Economics, 10(1):266–306, January 2018 Marshall Burke, Erick Gong, and Kelly Jones. Income shocks and HIV in Africa. The Economic Journal, 125(585):1157–1189, 2015 Matthias Flückiger, Markus Ludwig, and Ali Sina Önder. Ebola and State Legitimacy. The Economic Journal, 129(621):2064–2089, 01 2019 Raphael Franck and Ilia Rainer. Does the leader’s ethnicity matter? Ethnic favoritism, education, and health in Sub-Saharan Africa. American Political Science Review, 106(2):294– 325, 2012 Topic 4 Key articles: Roland Hodler and Paul A. Raschky. Regional Favoritism. The Quarterly Journal of Economics, 129(2):995–1033, 03 2014 Emilio Depetris-Chauvin, Ruben Durante, and Filipe Campante. Building nations through shared experiences: Evidence from African football. American Economic Review, 110(5):1572– 1602, May 2020 Matthias Flückiger, Markus Ludwig, and Ali Sina Önder. Ebola and State Legitimacy. The Economic Journal, 129(621):2064–2089, 01 2019 Further reading recommendations will be provided on ADAM. |
| Weblink | Europainstitut |
| Admission requirements | The number of participants is limited to 25. Places will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. Knowledge of econometrics is recommended, but not compulsory. |
| Language of instruction | English |
| Use of digital media | No specific media used |
| Interval | Weekday | Time | Room |
|---|---|---|---|
| unregelmässig | See individual dates | ||
Dates
| Date | Time | Room |
|---|---|---|
| Friday 07.11.2025 | 12.00-14.00 | Riehenstrasse 154, Seminarraum 00.022 |
| Friday 14.11.2025 | 12.00-14.00 | Riehenstrasse 154, Hörsaal 00.015 |
| Thursday 20.11.2025 | 18.00-20.00 | Riehenstrasse 154, Seminarraum 00.022 |
| Friday 21.11.2025 | 12.00-14.00 | Riehenstrasse 154, Seminarraum 00.022 |
| Modules |
Module: Fields: Environment and Development (Master's degree program: African Studies) Module: Policy Field: Health and Labor (Master's Studies: Economics and Public Policy) Module: Specific Electives in International Business, Trade and the Environment (Master's Studies: Business and Economics) Module: Specific Electives in Labor Economics, Human Resources and Organization (Master's Studies: Business and Economics) Specialization Module Global Europe: Global Ageing and Health (Master's Studies: European Global Studies) Specialization Module Global Europe: Statehood, Development and Globalization (Master's Studies: European Global Studies) |
| Assessment format | record of achievement |
| Assessment details | The assessment consists of one in-person exam. The date will be set in consultation with the students in the course. |
| Assessment registration/deregistration | Reg.: course registration; dereg.: not required |
| Repeat examination | no repeat examination |
| Scale | 1-6 0,5 |
| Repeated registration | no repetition |
| Responsible faculty | University of Basel |
| Offered by | Europainstitut |