31700 - Theory of Growth, Institutions and Development

Academic Year 2014/2015

  • Teaching Mode: Traditional lectures
  • Campus: Forli
  • Corso: Second cycle degree programme (LM) in International relations and diplomatic affairs (cod. 8783)

Course contents

The first part of the course introduces the basic theoretical and empirical tools used in the field of political economics of institutional change. This part of course requires some basic knowledge of needed to understand the theoretical frameworks. In particular, calcolus, algebra, optimization theory (static and dynamic), game theory and basic knowledge of panel data econometrics and causal identification. The second part of the course provides a guide through recent publications that investigate the determinants and consequences of institutional change.

Readings/Bibliography

The lectures of the first part of the course will make partial reference to the texts: 
- Political Economics: Explaining Economic Policy (Zeuthen Lectures). MIT Press 2000 by T. Persson and G. Tabellini  - Economic Origins of Dictatorship and Democracy, MIT Press 2009 by D. Acemoglu and J. Robinson 

For the second part of the course, a selection of articles published in professional journals (in English) will be proposed from a reading list of topics that will be selected on the basis of the skills and interests of students.

Teaching methods

Lectures and students' presentations.

Assessment methods

Exams during the course and a final presentation of a published article.

Teaching tools

Lectures with slides and blackboard.

Office hours

See the website of Matteo Cervellati