Senior Seminar: Determinants of Economic Growth
ECON BC3063     Fall 2007

Professor Mariana Colacelli

Email: mcolacelli@barnard.edu; mc2602@columbia.edu
Office: Room 3 Lehman Hall (Barnard)

This senior seminar starts by asking the question "Why are the "poor" poor and the "rich" rich?" During the semester we will study different attempts to answer this central question in macroeconomics. Possible answers fall into four main categories. First, we will study the answers related to the capital stock of an economy, its accumulation and financial markets imperfections. The second group of answers to study centers on the population and labor force of the economy, its education and nutrition. Thirdly we will analyze explanations based on technology development. Lastly we will investigate a variety of additional forces which have proven to have a strong impact on the economic growth of countries such as institutions, culture, the role of the government, international trade, geography, and inequality.

The course requirements include weekly email responses to the readings (15% of the final grade), class participation (20%), leading two discussions during the semester (25%) and a research paper and its presentation (40%). The research-paper project entails the submission of a research proposal early in the semester, a first draft, a presentation to the class, and a final draft.

Pre requisites:
Econometrics is not formally required, but it is strongly recommended as you are expected to write an empirical research paper. If you have not taken this class yet, you may consider taking it this semester if possible.

Required Course Material:
-Required articles will be posted in the course website.
-Recommended Course Material (Required reading for week leaders):
Book: Economic Growth, D.N. Weil. Addison-Wesley Publisher.

Class Meetings: Tuesdays 2:10-4:00pm