Description of Assignment:

Students research and write a 3000 word paper using recommended and other quality materials, independently but with academic support and consultation, dealing with a topic chosen form a list set by the tutor. Use conventional referencing and bibliography and academic rules. Submitted online.

Deadline:

Friday 12th March 11 pm (week 10)

Grading Criteria (what constitutes a good assignment?):

1. Foundations:Evidence of independent research using adequate spread of good quality materials and adequate use and coverage of empirical data.
2. Content:Adequate scope of inquiry (is it relevant, does it deal with the big issues?). Grasp of key issues and ideas, general quality of the analysis—how intelligent how deeply does it probe and understand, how critical and independent, does it take into account competing views and possible counter arguments to the those advanced?) Adequacy of support for the analysis—using evidence and sound argument.
3. Form: Quality of the written product—logical clarity of structure and writing, and general ‘finish’—including maturity of tone and quality of language.

Questions

Write 3000 words on one of the following topics.

Be aware of the guidelines (in the syllabus) for good work and marking criteria.

You must make sure what you write is relevant and uses serious sources and that you are aware of the key positions and themes in the debates over these issues. You must of course take note of normal referencing and formatting and plagiarism guidelines.

You should show awareness and ability to discuss rival theories but also if you can, use empirical data and cases. But do not let individual cases swamp the discussion (these are not case studies but exercises in argumentation).

1. Support for ‘industrial policy’ has revived in the last several years, even though it offends against the free market ideas that had been dominant in recent development thinking. One reason is the success of the so called ‘East Asian model’ and associated notions of ‘Developmental States’. Examine the case for and against such policies. Where do you stand and why?
2. Is free tradethe optimum policy for development?
3. Is financial market liberalization(in both senses—domestic deregulation and free-ing of international private capital flows) the best model for developing country finance?
4. Privatizationhas been a crucial part of the neoliberal reform agenda for developing nations—justified by the need to liberate market forces. Yet critics argue it is based on unproven and flawed presumptions about private enterprise, markets and states. Examine the case for and against.
5. Justin Lin and Ha Joon Chang recently disputed whether policy ought to aim at remaking or conforming to nations’ ‘comparative advantage’. Explain this debate and say which view is most convincing and why.
6. What factors best explain China’s stunning recordof successful growth in the past several decades?
7. It is currently fashionable to argue that ‘good governance’ is an important underpinning for successful development and effective markets. But some critics argue that the list of characteristics that are commonly cited does not accurately pick out the necessary preconditions. What is the basis for the argument on either side and what do you think arethe necessary institutional bases for successful development?

Written paper guidance and reading suggestions

This page is intended to provide some guidance on reading and preparation for your written. I will suggest which of the course readings are good to use for your essay and where possible provide links to other material. Obviously you are not restricted to my suggestions but you do need to ensure you read an adequate amount of good quality resources (including in most cases book extracts and academic papers not just web clippings), to give a good answer.  

1) Support for ‘industrial policy’ has revived in the last several years, even though it offends against the free market ideas that had been dominant in recent development thinking. One reason is the success of the so called ‘East Asian model’ and associated notions of ‘Developmental States’. Examine the case for and against such policies. Where do you stand and why?

Readings on East Asia are mostly relevant, I won’t list them but you may read them with benefit. Theoretical discussions and debates are….