Syllabus
Registration via LPIS
| Day | Date | Time | Room |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wednesday | 10/08/25 | 12:00 PM - 02:00 PM | D1.1.078 |
| Wednesday | 10/15/25 | 12:00 PM - 02:00 PM | TC.3.12 |
| Wednesday | 10/22/25 | 12:00 PM - 02:00 PM | TC.3.12 |
| Wednesday | 10/29/25 | 12:00 PM - 02:00 PM | TC.3.12 |
| Wednesday | 11/05/25 | 12:00 PM - 02:00 PM | TC.3.12 |
| Wednesday | 11/12/25 | 12:00 PM - 02:00 PM | TC.3.12 |
| Wednesday | 11/19/25 | 12:00 PM - 02:00 PM | TC.3.12 |
| Wednesday | 11/26/25 | 12:00 PM - 02:00 PM | TC.3.12 |
| Wednesday | 12/03/25 | 12:00 PM - 02:00 PM | TC.3.12 |
| Wednesday | 12/10/25 | 12:00 PM - 02:00 PM | TC.3.12 |
| Wednesday | 12/17/25 | 12:00 PM - 02:00 PM | TC.3.12 |
| Wednesday | 01/07/26 | 12:00 PM - 02:00 PM | TC.3.12 |
| Wednesday | 01/14/26 | 12:00 PM - 02:00 PM | TC.3.12 |
| Wednesday | 01/21/26 | 12:00 PM - 02:00 PM | TC.3.12 |
This course focuses on the problems of developing countries in an international and macro economic context. We shall first discuss theories of economic development and examine how international trade and foreign direct investment contribute to development. Second, in a macroeconomic part, we shall look at the role of different exchange rate systems, currency crises, balance of payment problems and foreign debt.
After this course, participants of this course should be in a position to understand the typical problems of developing countries and their causes and should be able to evaluate efficient measure to overcome them.
In class participation is an important element of this course. Therefore, students are requested to attend the course regularly. Attendance will be checked in each unit. You can miss the course twice without notice. Further absence only in case of serious reasons.
Students will prepare a seminar paper for the final units. The final part of the course is reserved for the presentation of seminar papers and their discussion.
The main part of the course will be covered by presentations of the course leader.
3 homeworks and 4 short quizzes during the teaching units will permit to check how familiar students are with the content.
Homeworks should be handed in on time on Canvas Late submissions cannot be accepted.
From the 3 quizzes, the 2 best are counted for the grade. Quizzes are announced in the unit before, they can only be done in class.
The final exam covering the teaching units will be on December 17.
Students will prepare a short seminar paper in a group of 2-3 students for the end of the term. Seminar papers will be presented and discussed by the groups in the last part of the course (Jan. 14 and 21). Seminar papers have to be handed in 1 week after the presentation.
Students are encouraged to participate activly in class. For substantial contributions in class, points can be collected (1 point per unit). Points are registered at the end of each class by the teacher. Please make sure that your points are registered. Claims later during the term cannot be considered.
The final grade is based on
- Homeworks and quizzes (30%)
- Participation in class (10%)
- Final exam (30%)
- Presentation and submission of the seminar paper (30%)
For a positive grade, the final test must be positive and the seminar paper presented and submitted
Notenschlüssel:
50-62 points Sufficient
63-74 points Satisfied
75-86 points Good
87-100 points Excellent
The themes of the seminar papers and the dates for presentation will be fixed on October 22. Seminar papers and presentations will be elaborated in a team of 2 (max 3) students.
The course earns 5 ECTS (for Incoming Exchange Studierende the information of the ZAS applies).
Please safe the date of the final exam and your presentation in your calendar.
Sie should have completed the course in „International Macroeconomics" and „Applied Microeconomics“.
For those who have already registered for this course:
Your presence in the first unit is necessary to confirm your participation in this course. If you are unable to attend, you need to inform the course lecturer in advance in order not to loose your place in the course.
If you wish to cancel your registration after the registration deadline, inform the course lecturer immediately via e-mail.
For those on the waiting list:
Vacant places will be allocated to students on the waiting list in the first unit.
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Seminar Papers - Topics and Guidelines:
Students will start the seminar paper with a an exposé (to be submitted in Canvas) which will be commented by the teacher. This exposé has to include a table of contents, a short description of the included sections, and a list of the used literature.
The seminar paper is a team work (2 students, joint grade), length:15-20 pages, minimum 10 references of academic papers, reports of international organisations, and similar documents. In their seminar paper, students have to demonstrate that they can work independently on a problem and can write their own text on that. Please make sure that you cite all literature and data sources you employed correctly and completly (see the guidelines of the WU Economics Department for bachelor theses http://www.wu.ac.at/ie/studium/ for correct citation). Attention: Any work that represents plagiarism will be rejected and you will not be able to pass the course.
Seminar papers should be uploaded on Canvas 1 week after presentation.
PROPOSED TOPICS
Please feel free to propose a topic by yourself by October 28
Distribution of topics seminar papers on October 28
An outline of your paper should be submitted by December 10 on Canvas
(capital loss, investment requirements, foreign aid, labor market effects, poverty, heath system...)
(Looking at example of Sudan, or Congo, Mali, Niger,...)
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