Dr Patrick Wallis

This course is compulsory on the MSc in Political Economy of Late Development. This course is not available as an outside option.

The dissertation must present the results of an enquiry into a carefully defined problem in the field, whether by a critical survey of existing literature, or by the use of primary evidence. It must demonstrate adequate knowledge of relevant theoretical and empirical literature in Economic History and Development Studies, and an ability to handle problems of evidence and explanation.

Supervision: EH414 Theories, Paths and Patterns of Late Development gives essential training for the dissertation. Starting in the first term, students will receive advice on the choice of topic and how to tackle it, both in the form of a document from the Economic History Department and individual advice from their respective supervisors. There will be meetings during the course of the year. The student must submit a draft by the last Monday of that term. The draft will form the basis of a paper which the student must present to a dissertation workshop held later that week. Verbal feedback will be provided by teachers and fellow students. The student will also receive detailed written comments on this draft.

6 hours of lectures in the MT. 2 hours of lectures in the LT.

Dissertation (100%, 6000 words) post-summer term.

The dissertation should not exceed 6,000 words, excluding tables, references, and bibliography. The title must be approved in advance by the student's supervisor. The dissertation will not be returned to the student, who should therefore make a copy before submission.

Survey questions on feedback to students may be non-informative because assessed work comes later in the term than the survey.