Course Spotlight - EC307: Development Economics

Today, we're chatting with Opeyemi, who studied EC307: Development Economics at Summer School, to hear more about her experience - she covers an average day as a student on this course, her favourite parts and the quality of the teaching.

Why did you decide to attend LSE Summer School?

I have always had the desire to pursue my passion and further my career as an Applied Economist in a top institution. LSE is not only a top social science university but also has one of the highest-ranking Department of Economics in the world, and an equally excellent world-class faculty. As a master’s student, my research is centred on the economic sustainability of the African food system. I intended to improve my research outputs and capabilities by learning about probable solutions and interventions to curb the problem of poverty and food insecurity in many parts of the world, especially developing countries. LSE is one of the best places to acquire this knowledge.

Why did you choose your course?

My first introduction to the study of development economics was during my coursework for my master’s degree in Sustainable Development Practice from the University of Ibadan, Nigeria. I felt it was too short a time and wanted more knowledge and insight on this subject matter. The LSE Summer School course EC307 requires one to think practically and develop solutions to the problem of poverty which presents itself in different forms. In a perfect world, distributing cash to those who live in poverty as a solution is a no-brainer, however, no country has a perfect economic or market structure. I chose this course to satisfy my interest in helping people live good lives by finding out what they really need. The pressing question is “how do we increase the welfare of the poorest people in the world?”. I believed that the EC307 course would provide expository modules to answer this question and it did!

Tell us about an average day as a student on your course.

A typical day for me started with a seminar facilitated by my teaching assistant. In the seminar, we spent an hour and a half discussing problem sets based on the module taught the previous day. Usually, seminars would focus on pre-assigned reading, which would have been uploaded on Moodle, the Summer School learning platform. This meant you had enough time to study them before seminars. After the seminar, there was at least an hour break during which I had lunch or attended a Spark event, if scheduled. Thereafter came my main lecture spanning three hours from 14:00 - 17:00.

What was your favourite part of your course?

My favourite part of the course was the module on behavioural economics and development. We looked at the choices people make and how this ultimately can be a leading cause of poverty. Thus, as a policy maker, I would have to develop policies to help people make better choices. Throughout the course, it was intriguing to see concepts come to life as problem sets were discussed. Development economics entails thinking deeply, applying various methodologies and developing policies to combat market failures. I love how the faculty gave room for us to have these light bulb moments connecting economic facts to rational solutions.

What advice would you give to students considering your course?

The course is an intensive learning package requiring focus and hard work. I would advise you to come into the EC307 course with an open mind, ready to build on your theoretical knowledge base and learn new methodologies. Take part in lectures, seminar discussions and ask questions. Through the modules, I learnt there is not just one way to increase the welfare of an individual or community, but several! So, prepare your mind to gain new perspectives and share your unique contributions, especially those that apply to your home country. It is also important to plan your study time – there is quite a lot to read, but every lecture is recorded and you can have both self-paced study and group study with your course mates – this proved very helpful for me. I recommend the 4th floor of the library as a perfect study spot!

What are your short-term professional goals, and how does your course contribute to these goals?

My short term professional goal is to complete my master’s degree and graduate. Through the course, I gained insights to build on my research thesis as well as a drive to pursue my future professional goal of a PhD, and a career in international development.

Was meeting and talking to other students on your course easy?

Oh yes! I tend to be reserved but the course made interaction easy. I remember my first day, while asking a fellow Summer School student for directions, she happened to be taking EC307 as well! We hit it off talking, and became friends for the rest of the summer. Also, seminars had fewer students, making it easier to have close contact with my course mates. My teaching assistant ensured we had group debates; and one time, asked us to write ‘how are you?’ in our various languages as an ice-breaker. During lectures, our lecturer would insist we have a 5-minute chat with a fellow student to go over a concept we just learnt. We even had a ‘play auction’ to explain the concept of a perfect market, demand and supply. All these made me meet and speak to students on my course without feeling weird or uncomfortable.

How would you explain your course to someone who has never heard of it?

Imagine you are in a world with 10 people, but 9 of these 10 are extremely poor, and only 1 is rich. Assuming there is a pool of resources available, the EC307 course attempts to answer the big question of how to share these resources among the remaining 9 poor people in the best possible way to make their lives better.

How did you find the British teaching style?

My first contact with the British teaching style was at LSE Summer School. Firstly, I would say the state of the art lecture rooms and teaching facilities made learning all the more motivating. The long hours of lectures were not new to me, as I have experienced this at my home university. However, I did appreciate the scheduled breaks during lectures. We also had access to the learning platform Moodle, with all our lectures and reading materials pre-uploaded. This facilitated a form of mental preparedness before each class. I also loved that we had the recordings of our lectures because access to these assisted me in reading and preparation for the mid-term and final exams.

Did you feel supported by your lecturers?

Absolutely! I would say, more than I expected. My lecturer spared no effort in explaining concepts, graphs and formulas over and over again. Same with my teaching assistant during classes. She simplified the problem sets and gave attention to each student’s questions. We also had feedback forms after each lecture, where we asked questions about the content and my lecturer gave answers the following day. Often, there was a long line of individual students waiting to ask questions after lectures or class and each one of us was given full attention. I also remember having career conversations with both of my teachers, and they were extremely patient listeners who provided me with much needed guidance.

 

This interview was written by one of our 2024 Student Ambassadors, who are here to share their stories and help you understand the summer school experience at LSE.