economics theory

Length: Maximum 5,000 words

4. Theory of institutions as a source of growth

5. Theory of cooperative group selection

Using relevant material from lectures and readings, and at least six sources from your own

research, write a critical analysis of each theory in a structured essay that considers 1)

how they relate to globalization, 2) the evidence for/against them, 3) how they can inform

policy, and 4) their limits.

Recommended essay format:

(no introduction, no conclusions, no unnecessary sentences)

Use subsections to organize your analysis. A suggested structure for each of the two theories

is:

Theory 1: Short name of theory

Section 1: Overview of theory

— A complete exposition of the key elements of the theory and making sure to explain how

global integration (financial or trade) fits with the theory. Include diagrams and equations, if

necessary.

Section 2: Supporting evidence

— Cite at least two other papers here for each theory. Recreate tables, graphs etc. from source

material if it is useful.

Section 3: Policy implications

— Describe how does the theory can inform policy-making?

Section 4: Critique and alternative explanations

— Cite at least two other papers here. Add further tables, graphs etc. if necessary.

Course reading about these two theories: use these as reference in essay, at least use two.

Thanks.

Week 5

Should Industrial Policy in Developing Countries Conform to Comparative Advantage or

Defy it? ADebate Between Justin Lin and Ha-Joon Chang. Development Policy Review,

2009, 27 (5):483-502

Deardorff, A. (1984). Testing trade theories and predicting trade flows. Chapter 10 of

Handbook of International Economics. Section 6 only.

Reinert, E. S. (2007). How rich countries got rich and why poor countries stay poor.

Constable. Chapter 4 - Globalization - The Arguments in Favour are also the Arguments

Against.

Week 6

Bryan, K. (2015). Douglass North, an economist’s historian.

https://voxeu.org/article/douglass-north-economist-s-historian

Aron,J. (2000). Growth and Institutions: A Review of the Evidence. The World Bank

Research Observer, vol. 15, No. 1.

https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/0a5a/4e2eaaa232c8250770c5db6f69abe15b0fa6.pdf

Rodrick, D. (2018). Straight Talk on Trade : Ideas for a Sane World Economy. New Jersey

Princeton University Press. Chapter 2 - How Nations Work.

Week 8

Where do pro-social institutions come from? Posted on 2015-10-04. Pseudoerasmus (anon.)

https://pseudoerasmus.com/2015/10/04/ce/

Scheidel, W. (2017). The Great Leveler: Violence and the history of inequality from the stone

age to the twenty-first century. Princeton University Press. Chapter 4 — Total War.

Turchin, P. (2017). Ultra Society: How 10,000 years of war made humans the greatest

cooperators on earth. Beresta Books.