B030095 - SUSTAINABLE HUMAN DEVELOPMENT AND INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION

English

In the first part the relationships between the economic development theories and the strategies of international cooperation and the main changes occurred on priorities of international aid after the second world war are presented. Human development paradigm and the capability approach of Amartya Sen are analysed. In the second part the main issues are analysed. In the third part seminars will be held on issues regarding international coop. Paper/Research proposal attending students

Book chapters
Tarp F. (Eds) (2000) Foreign Aid and Development: Lessons Learnt and Directions for the Future, Routledge, London CHAPTERS, introd. 1, 2, 3, 4, 8, 9, 10, 11, 13, 15, 17, 18, 19
Deneulin, S. (Ed) (2009), An Introduction to the Human Development and Capability Approach: Freedom and Agency, Earthscan, London CHAPTERS 1, 2, 4, 6
or in alternative
Mehrotra S. Delamonica E. (2007), Eliminating Human Poverty, Zed Books, CHAPTERS, 1, 2, 3, 10.

ARTICLES AND CHAPTERS
1) Bacha E.L. (1990), "A Three-Gap Model of Foreign Transfers and the GDP Growth Rate in Developing Countries", Journal of Development Economics, Vol. 32, pp. 279-296 (Only dual gap model).
2) Biggeri M. (2007) Notes from paper presented at ACDC conference
3) Biggeri M. and Ferrannini A. (2011), “Human Development at Local Level: An alternative strategy to make international cooperation more effective and expand individual and collective capabilities”, paper presented at the HDCA annual conference. The Hague
4) Biggeri M., and Sanfilippo M., (2009), “Understanding the China’s Move to Africa: An Empirical Investigation”, in Zhongmin Wu (ed) Financial Sector Reform and International Integration of China, Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group.
5) COGNEAU D., NAUDET J-D. (2004), “Who Deserves Aid? Equality of Opportunity, International Aid and Poverty Reduction” Document de travail DIAL/Unité de Recherche CIPRÉ, November
6) Kharas H. (2008), "The New Reality of Aid", in L. Brainard, D. Chollet (eds), Global Development. Can Philanthropist, the Public, and the Poor Make Poverty History?, The Brookings Institution, Washington D.C.
7) Mehrotra S., Biggeri M. (2007), “Upgrading Informal Micro- and Small Enterprises through Clusters – Towards a Policy Agenda”, Chapter 11 in Mehrotra S., Biggeri M., (Editors) (2007), Asian Informal Workers: Global Risks Local Protection Routledge, London (and New Delhi for Asian Countries)
8) Rajan, R.G., and A. Subramanian (2007). ‘Aid and Growth: What Does the Cross-Country Evidence Really Show?’, The Review of Economics and Statistics, 90(4): 643-65 (same see WP 2007)
9) Severino, J.M., Ray O. (2009), "The End of ODA: Death and Rebirth of a Global Public Policy", Center for Global Development Working Paper, No. 167, Washington D.C.
10) White H. and Feeny S. (2003), “An Examination of the Long-Run Trends and Recent Developments in Foreign Aid”, Journal of Economic Development, Volume 28, Number 1, June, p. 113-134

The objective of this course is twofold. The first is to introduce the student to the analysis of issues relating to International Cooperation from a theoretical and empirical perspective.
The second is to introduce the student to the UNDP paradigm of Human Development with reference also to the local context.
Economic theory and quantitative and qualitative methods will be used to introduce students to empirical research, field research and case studies.
The course covers theories, objectives and instruments as well as the analysis of the economic and social effects of international cooperation programs, economic aid and development projects. Following some introductory lectures on the changing landscape of international cooperation and general theoretical and descriptive issues with a focus on human development (part A), the course will address key theoretical and empirical issues regarding international assistance and cooperation for development (part B) which is accompanied by case studies. Some seminars will also be held during the course (part C).

The student after the program will become aware of issues related to International cooperation and human development and at the same time to improve your skills and capacities in research, to answer a call for papers, Research proposals and paper writing.

Requirements: as those for the admission to the Laurea Magistrale (at least the following undergraduate courses: Political Economy, Statistics and Mathematics - undergraduate level).
For more information please visit the web site https://www.development-lm.unifi.it/
Recommended: Political and Development Economics. (I level)

Classes will be held in form of traditional lectures, seminars, practical class or lab style (see details).
The teaching method aims to help you to become aware of issues related to International Cooperation and Human Development and at the same time to improve your skills and capacities in research, report writing and presentation at seminars and conferences.

You will be asked to answer to a call for proposals and follow a standard process up to a Conference. Therefore you will be asked to write an essay or a research proposal and a related power point presentation

Lectures, seminars, practical classes and readings remain a central part of the course and in order to successfully prepare the exam but with this method I would like to give you a further opportunity to be part of a real conference or seminar where you will be the main participants. On my side I am going to explain all the phases from the abstract proposal to the paper contents to the presentation in a very precise manner in tutorials at the end of some classes.

Steps and deadlines:
0. – At the end of September 2020 you will receive the call for papers
1. - You are suppose to write an abstract proposal. The end of the third week of October 2020 is the deadline for abstract proposal to be sent to mario.biggeri@unifi.it
2. - - After four days you will receive a communication by the scientific committee (which is composed by me and an unknown assistant professor) by e-mail if the paper is accepted or rejected. In this case you have one week to present a new proposal. If the proposal is rejected the issue given by the professor.
3. - If the paper proposal is accepted you will be invited to write your contribution (a paper or a research proposal up to 3500 words). The end of November is the deadline for full paper submission.

Attending Students

ATTENDANCE / PARTICIPATION / BEHAVIOUR

Attendance is mandatory (also in case of make-up classes).
If a student misses a class it will be his/her responsibility to catch up with what he missed (notes, readings, assignments, etc.). To this aim, exchanging email addresses and phone numbers is highly recommended.
If a student misses more than 30% of the scheduled class hours he will not be considered as attending student.
Students are required to behave properly within the school premises. Classrooms are to be left in order and clean. Students must take care of available equipment and materials and promptly report any damage and loss.

Attending student ASSESSMENT/EXAM
The student assessment comes from:
- 50% from activities during the course:
- written paper or research proposal and related power point
- 50% oral exam at the end of the course
Non attending student EXAMS
The student assessment comes from:
100% oral exam

Oral Exam

Issue (Type of Class)
Introduction to the course and exam Frontal
International Cooperation: a Panorama and the main actors and international relations Frontal
Aid typologies and characteristics Frontal
Theoretical Approaches and Aid Policies and Global public goods Frontal
TUTORIALS Abstract and paper structure Practice
Macroeconomics of aid: Fungibility and Conditionality of international aid Frontal
Macroeconomics of aid: Gaps' Models, fiscal and production effects Frontal
Macroeconomics of aid: Aid and Growth, Debt and Aid Allocation Frontal
Capability approach Frontal
Human and Sustainable Development paradigm and International aid for poverty reduction Frontal
Local as an alternative for HD and International cooperation, Informal sector activities and clusters of SMEs Frontal
Data sources - Aid Orphans and Fragmentation Practice
Foundations and social business Seminar
Evolution and challenges of Italian and European Union international cooperation for development Seminar
Debate: on an issue Seminar
South-South cooperation and China in Africa Seminar
Development at what costs? Pagano Didla NGO Seeds Int Seminar
Research methods: introduction to research design Frontal
Research methods: Project appraisal and monitoring (with Enrico Testi) Practice
Research methods: an example on China Practice
Research methods: quantitative impact evaluation (India) Practice
Research methods: qualitative impact evaluation (Uganda), Colombia Practice
Research methods with children and youths: two experiences Practice