Faculty
Cand.merc

Course Coordinator
Søren Jeppesen og Peter Wad

Bachelor degree – Knowledge of the political economy of globalisation and development is an advantage, but it is not a precondition.

The aim of the course is to enhance the student’s capabilities to understand theories, models and concepts of development strategies and policies of developing countries with regard to fostering industrial development, competitiveness and integration in a global economy. Key questions are why some developing countries succeed in bringing about industrial development and poverty reduction, while others seemingly fail? The focus is on the role of developing country governments in the development process and their relationships to different organizations and actors nationally and internationally (e.g. civil society and market organizations, donor agencies and international institutions). It combines (international) business studies and development studies with the key ambition to understand the international and domestic structural and institutional conditions, collective actors and change processes that frame and facilitate economic, social and private sector development. The course is divided into four modules:

The first module gives an introduction to development thinking, the evolution of development thinking and various theoretical perspectives on development. A particular emphasis is on perspectives of the role of the state in development processes under changing internationalconditions, various types of states in developing countries and explanations of the emergence and change of these states.

The second module focuses on the challenges of industrial development of the world’s major developing regions, emphasizing the changes in economic development strategies and policies toward enhancedcompetitiveness in an era of increasing global integration and volatility. The module presents classic, trade-oriented industrial strategies and new industrial policies focusing on the role of industrial districts and clusters and of systems of innovation while examining the challenges that economic globalization and crises pose for developing countries.

The third module deals with the evolution of business systems and the role of civil society institutions and organisations for development. The module presents different theoretical perspectives on domestic institutions and economic development and emphases the role of these institutions (political, economic, organisational and cultural) as developmental actors and their impact on economic efficiency, growth and poverty alleviation.

The fourth and final module takes a larger and integrated view on issues of the international political economy as it relates to developing country government’s room of manoeuvre emphasizing problems and options of development governance under regimes of bilateral, regional and global trade regulations and international political institutions and alliances of the 21st Century.

Having completed the course the students should be able to:

· describe and critically discuss theories and approaches that address the strategies and policies of developing country governments and other stakeholders with regard to fostering industrial development, competitiveness and integration in a global economy on the one hand and poverty reduction and sustainable development on the other hand,

· relate these theories to each other and identify similarities and differences in relation to internal and external factors and actors of the developmental dynamic,

· apply development theories and strategies to empirical evidence about development trajectories and challenges, policies and practices of developing country states, and

· analyze and synthesize impacts of strategies and policies of developing country governments and other stakeholders in terms of national competitiveness and sustainable development.

Four hours written, open book exam, where the students will be required to answer one of two questions related to the course literature. Evaluation is done by internal and external examiners. Not electronic aid is permitted.

The course is designed to present and discuss theoretical perspectives and analytical approaches to development strategy and policy in the Global South. The course is conducted by CBS faculty and external lecturers and includes active participation of students through student’s presentations, group discussions and plenum debates. Student presenters must coordinate their input with the teachers in charge of the session. The syllabus will comprise theoretical and empirical material, amounting to approx. 800-900 pages which are collected in a compendium (for sale at Samfundslitteratur, Dalgas Have)

To be announced, but most likely,

The syllabus will comprise theoretical and empirical material, amounting to approx. 800-900 pages which are collected in a compendium (for sale at Samfundslitteratur, Dalgas Have).

OECD (2004), “Development Co-operation Report 2003”. OECD, Geneva

Schulpen, L. & Peter Gibbon (2001) “Private Sector Development”. Copenhagen: Centre for Development Research.