ECN450 Development and Global Change

The course focuses on global threats, challenges and opportunities for sustainable development (SDGs). The global challenges include climate change and policy responses, population growth and employment creation, migration and youth unemployment, land degradation and land policies, local and global food security, impacts of pandemics, inequality and political (in-)stability and armed conflicts. Contradicting perspectives include theories on the rationality of agents, Malthus versus Boserup, Hardin versus Ostrom, free trade versus protectionism, human rights, national sovereignty vs. international rules, and the roles of international institutions like the World Bank, International Monetary Fund, World Trade Organization, UN organizations and International agreements.

The main activity in the course is writing two essays on self-selected topics, and emphasis is put on systematizing the relevant literature and writing skills.

• Students will familiarize themselves with many of the big development challenges and learn about alternative perspectives related to these.
• Each student will select two issues that s/he will dig deeper into and write two scientific style papers.
• Learn to search for the most appropriate (high scientific standard) literature for the chosen topics. Get training in synthesizing the most relevant literature in a logical way.
• Learn to write in a scientific way and respond to comments through paper revision.
• Learn how to present their papers and comment on papers of others in a conference-style situation.