IDS333

Economic development is the study of regional poverty. Why is it that some regions fall into poverty and cant escape, even in the developed world? What can we do about this? The course focuses on studies of interventions into the lives, businesses and government of poor regions. For students interested in pursuing not-for-profit work, this course offers an overview of research into providing health, education and welfare services to the poorest people in society. For students interested in for profit work, this course provides the information necessary to take advantage of the great opportunity that these poor regions represent; these regions are effectively not achieving their full potential, and providing services that help alleviate that problem can be an opportunity to do well by doing good. For example, Muhammad Yunus has made a large, profitable enterprise out of specialized loans to the poorest people in the developing world. These loans have so positively influenced the lives of their recipients that Yunus was awarded the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize. Finally, for those students interested in government work, the course deals with the provision of public services for the most needy and helps to explain how government decisions and action create or destroy opportunities.

Fall Semester