About this course

The course focuses on global threats, challenges, and opportunities for sustainable development. 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, inequality and political instability, and armed conflicts. Since 2025, international relations have changed, with some arguing that we are reverting to 1800s protectionism, or even 1600s royalism. Autocracy is increasingly characterizing the largest countries in the world, and the rule of the global order is being rewritten. Whether this represents a permanent shift or just a temporary situation remains to be seen.

Economic and political/social science theories can help us understand this situation. At the same time. Contradictory or competing perspectives exist: rational decision making versus behavioural perspectives, trade versus protectionism, universal human rights versus context specific norms, global climate governance and targets versus nationally determined contributions, and more generally global governance vs. national sovereignty, exemplified by debates on the role of international institutions such as 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, with emphasis on systematizing and critically discussing the relevant literature and on writing skills.

Learning outcome

  • 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.

  • Learning activities

    • Study of material in Canvas (Readings, links to YouTube films)
    • Preparation of two journal-style papers on two self-selected course-relevant topics (Mandatory)
    • Participation in a presentation of own papers in two digital course conferences (Mandatory)
    • Reading and commenting (written and oral) on two assigned papers of other students in the two course conferences (Mandatory)
    • Revision of papers based on comments before final submission (Mandatory)

  • Teaching support

    Canvas material (literature, YouTube links, exercises, guidelines for essay writing).

    Lectures on choice of topics, choice of research questions, outlining of papers, literature search, and writing.

    Supervision related to paper topic choice, problem formulation, theoretical approach, use of literature, and writing papers.

    Comments from the teacher on outlines of papers and drafts.

    Comments from other students on own papers and presentations.

  • Syllabus

    Material prepared in Canvas (multiple sources). Additonal literature for self-selected essay topics.

  • Prerequisites

    Basic knowledge in Economics. English writing and speaking skills.

  • Assessment method

    Portfolio: Course grades (A-F) based on:

    Submission of two draft papers per stated deadlines in the course. Oral presentation of own two papers in two course workshops. Provide written and oral comments to two papers by other students in the two course workshops. Revise the two own papers based on comments from other student and teacher and final submission of the two papers within set deadlines.

    1. 2 completed and submitted papers (by the deadline set) and presentations (2*40%).
    2. 2 comments given (written and oral) to two papers presented by other students (2*10%).


    Portfolio Karakterregel: Letter grades

  • About use of AI

    For the exam (two articles and two comments) and any other activities:

    K3 - Full use of AI is allowed, but must comply with NMBU's AI guidelines.

    Descriptions of AI-category codes.

  • Examiner scheme

    External sensor assesses the course outline and material. The grading is done by the teacher(s).

  • Mandatory activity

    Participation in course conferences presenting own papers and commenting on two papers by other students

  • Notes

    The course is organized jointly with a MSc-version of the course (ECN350). A higher standard is set for the papers in ECN450 than in ECN350.

  • Reduction of credits

    The course is run jointly with ECN350

  • Admission requirements

    The course is for PhD-students.