DEVELOPMENT ECONOMICS

Academic year
2025/2026 Syllabus of previous years
Official course title
DEVELOPMENT ECONOMICS
Course code
PHD220 (AF:585621 AR:331915)
Teaching language
English
Modality
On campus classes
ECTS credits
6
Degree level
Corso di Dottorato (D.M.226/2021)
Academic Discipline
SECS-P/03
Period
1st Semester
Course year
1
Where
VENEZIA
Moodle
Go to Moodle page
This course provides an introduction to applied research in development economics. There
will be a focus on the statistical and econometric methods used, followed by a survey of
different topics, reading the best papers in each case. We will discuss carefully the theory
behind the questions investigated, the identification strategy used in each study, and the
lessons we can gather in each topic.
This course aims to provide PhD students with the capacity to analyse and understand
key issues in the field of development economics using standard tools of theoretical and
empirical economic analysis. In addition to the standard econometric tools we will focus
on the use of field experiments in the literature and the recent innovation which combines
experimental data with structural micro models. The latter will be understood through a
replication exercise.
Students must be familiar with Econometrics and Microeconomic courses offered within the PhD program.
Course topics
• State Capacity and Taxation
• Corporate and Personal Income taxation
• Corruption
• Public Goods and Externalities
• Education
• Health and Nutrition
• Targeting transfers
• Family Economics
The course will heavily draw from existing and seminal research in the field of Development Economics. A detailed reading list for this class will be available on Moodle.
Assessment is based on the work developed during the course and includes class presentations and a short empirical project/research paper to be submitted at the end of the course.
written
A+ 4,25
A 4,00
A- 3,75
A/B 3,5
B+ 3,25
B 3,00
B- 2,75
B/C 2,5
C+ 2,25
C 2,00
C- 1,75
C/D 1,5

PhD students must obtain an average higher than 3.00 (B)
In class lectures. Lecture material will be posted ahead of time on Moodle.

This subject deals with topics related to the macro-area "Poverty and inequalities" and contributes to the achievement of one or more goals of U. N. Agenda for Sustainable Development

Definitive programme.
Last update of the programme: 28/02/2025