This course will integrate the analysis of macroeconomic, structural, social, institutional, and political dimensions of development in the design of an overall development strategy. The course reviews determinants of growth, macroeconomic stability, and income distribution. It will analyze the effects of institutional arrangements surrounding fiscal, monetary, financial, trade, investment, and labor policy. It will also analyze the relationship between political institutions and policy problems. Students will learn to use all available information to generate a diagnostic of the development challenges and opportunities that countries face and will be required to design an overall development strategy for a country of their choice. This course is intended for second-year MPA/ID students. Open to non-HKS students by permission of instructor only.

Looks into the determinants of growth, volatility, and inequality and links them to the current themes in development policy. The course covers the relationship between these three problems and a varied class of determinants such as savings, human capital accumulation, demography, geography, and the macroeconomic, structural, contractual, and political institutions. Prerequisite: There are no formal prerequisites, but familiarity with economics is strongly recommended. Students without this background may find the material difficult. This course meets the requirement for an introductory course to the PED area of concentration.