Dr Elliott Green

and other ID staff

This course is compulsory on the MSc in African Development and MSc in International Development and Humanitarian Emergencies. This course is available on the MSc in Anthropology and Development, MSc in Anthropology and Development Management, MSc in Development Management, MSc in Development Studies, MSc in Development Studies (Research), MSc in Environment and Development, MSc in Political Economy of Late Development, MSc in Population and Development and MSc in Urbanisation and Development. This course is not available as an outside option.

This course provides an overview of the key issues and debates in international development. It features lectures from leading LSE experts on subjects such as climate change, conflict, poverty, the financial crisis, demography and democratisation, among other topics.

15 hours of lectures and 15 hours of seminars in the MT.

There will also be visiting speaker lectures each Friday in the Michaelmas Term (10 x 2 hours). 

There will be a ninety minute revision session in late LT or early ST.

Students will give at least one class presentation.

The following are recommended basic readings for the course: D. Acemoglu and J. Robinson, Why Nations Fail: The Origins of Power, Prosperity and Poverty (Profile, 2012). Abhijit Banerjee, Roland Benabou and Dilip Mookjerhjee, eds, Understanding Poverty (Oxford University Press, 2006). A Sen, Development as Freedom (Anchor, 1999).

Exam (75%, duration: 2 hours) in the main exam period.
Essay (25%, 2000 words) in the LT.