Course

ECN352 Poverty and Inequality

Credits (ECTS):10

Course responsible:Arild Angelsen

Campus / Online:Taught campus Ås

Teaching language:Engelsk

Course frequency:Annually

Nominal workload:250 hours

Teaching and exam period:This course starts in Spring parallel. This course has teaching/evaluation in Spring parallel.

About this course

The course covers the central debates in the current poverty and inequality literature. It is divided into three parts: (i) concepts and perspectives on the causes of poverty and inequality; (ii) methods and tools for measuring poverty and inequality; (iii) and policies and instruments to reduce poverty and inequality.

Learning outcome

Knowledge

  • Has solid knowledge about key perspectives, theories and debates on poverty and inequality.
  • Has an overview of key empirical facts on recent trends and the status on global poverty and inequality.
  • Knows and can apply the main indicators for poverty an inequality.
  • Has advanced knowledge, including the relevant literature, on the topic chosen for the presentation.

Skills

  • Can critically evaluate policy proposals for reducing poverty and inequality.
  • Can estimate and discuss key poverty and inequality indicators based on datasets of household /individual income and other variables.
  • Can identify the key literature for the presentation topic, including structuring the literature, and critically discussing the theory, data, methods and conclusions.

General competence

  • Can present their own work on a self-selected topic in a structured and engaging way.
  • Can work in small teams on a joint project.
  • Learning activities
    A combination of lectures, student presentations and class discussions. There are two assignments which each counts for 30% of the grade: one home assignment on poverty and inequality calculations, and one class presentation, in pairs, on a self-selected topic of relevance to the course.
  • Teaching support
    The instructors hold office hours and are available through e-mail consultations. Detailed feedback is provided on the assignments, including feedback provided electronically throughout the semester. There is a separate training session on Excel for those not familiar with the programme.
  • Assessment method
    Combined assessment, consisting of three separate parts: (1) an individual assignment on quantitative poverty and inequality analysis (30%); (2) one in-class presentation on a chosen topic (two students collaborate on the presentation) (30%), and (3) a closed-book, school exam with a combination of open-ended and multiple-choice questions (40%). If you fail one of them, you fail the course. All assignments will be given letter grades, and the course grade is the average of the three grades on the assignments.

  • Examiner scheme
    External examiner controls the quality of syllabus, course contents, and the evaluation method. The assignments are graded by internal examiners.
  • Mandatory activity
    Compulsory 80% attendance of the classes with student presentations. Mandatory activities are valid until the next time the course is offered.
  • Notes
    The course is in English. Incoming students can contact student advisors at the School of Economics and Business (studieveileder-hh@nmbu.no) for admission to the course.
  • Teaching hours
    Approx. 18 lectures (2 hours each) + 4-6 classes with student presentations.
  • Admission requirements
    Minimum requirements for entrance to higher education in Norway (generell studiekompetanse).