ECF5590 · Poverty, inequality and opportunity

Overview

Ending poverty is justifiably an overarching aim of all development efforts, and it is enshrined as the first of the Sustainable Development Goals adopted by the United Nations. Likewise, tackling inequality in opportunities and outcomes has been at the forefront of a wide range of public policy debates. The unit will introduce you to the economics of poverty, inequality and opportunity by organising the unit material in three main parts. Part one will review key conceptual and methodological issues in the measurement and monitoring of poverty, inequality and opportunity, including a brief review of global evidence and ongoing debates, highlighting the diversity and the complexities of this evidence. It will also introduce common methods of “macro” and “micro” level analysis of distributional issues. Part two will discuss the key driving forces for poverty and inequality. These include poverty traps, the role of the labour market and other factor markets, inequality and deprivation in education and health, inequality of opportunity, and intergenerational inequality and mobility. Part three will focus on the policy space. You will explore economy-wide issues related to the pace and pattern of economic growth, pro-poor growth, sectoral policies, especially for education and health, targeted and untargeted transfer and safety net programs, and the evidence on what works in diverse contexts.

Offerings

Assessment

The Handbook does not list a final examination among the assessment items. That is not a guarantee there is none.

Assessment details may change. Please refer to the assessment information in Moodle closer to the start of the teaching period.

Requisites

The Handbook lists no prerequisite, corequisite or prohibition for this unit.

Learning outcomes

1. understand key concepts, including an appreciation of ongoing debates, about the measurement and monitoring of poverty and inequality, including inequality of opportunity
2. become familiar with the global evidence on poverty and inequality
3. understand the main tools of distributional analysis at “macro” and “micro” levels
4. gain an understanding of policies to combat poverty and inequality including economy-wide policies promoting pro-poor growth, sectoral policies especially in relation to education and health, and targeted policies such as cash and in-kind transfers, public employment programs.

Workload

Minimum total expected workload to achieve the learning outcomes for this unit is 144 hours per semester typically comprising a mixture of scheduled learning activities and independent study. Independent study may include associated readings, assessment and preparation for scheduled activities. You are expected to complete all pre-class activities prior to your scheduled class, and post-class activities should be completed after your scheduled class. Learning activities may include a combination of teacher directed, peer directed and online engagement activities.

Student experience, not official rules. Nothing here changes what the Handbook says.