Each student with be responsible for researching the major industries, trade related, and economic goals of a country. Over the course of the semester, you will become an expert on this particular country, and will be asked to discuss the country in the context of class topics. Students will be given country choices from different income/development categories of the world, as determined by the World Bank.
There are two components of this project: three short papers and an in-class Development Summit Simulation. During this in class summit, you will caucus with other countries to promote the broader interests of your region and area.
You are required to write three reaction papers. In these papers, you are required to pick two of the four topics below and do a reaction paper that has two parts. In the first part of the paper, you are required to briefly summarize the key arguments, ideas, and concepts of the readings. In the second part of the paper, you will apply these ideas to your country case. I have provided guiding questions to help you apply these ideas.
Everyone is required to write a paper on the economic history topic, and thus must write about the economic history of their country. After the first paper, students will write on two of the three remaining paper topics.
- Economic history: 9/15 or 9/17 (Everyone must write one of these days)
How has colonialism and industrialization affected the economic history of your country? Was your country a colony or a metropole (colonial ruler)? What kinds of economic activities did your country participate in historically? When did your country engage in industrialization, and under what kinds of political conditions? (i.e. democracy, dictatorship, colonial rule, etc.)
- Trade: 9/22 or 9/29
What are the big imports and exports of your country? What are the key issues relating to trade that your country cares about in trade negotiations? What kinds of regional and bilateral trade agreements does your country participate in? Are there any trade-related issues that seem to be of significance to your country?
- Finance: 10/15
Does your country often receive IMF loans and bailouts? If so, under what conditions? What are the issues relating to interest rates and exchange rates that matter in your country? Does your country have a sovereign currency? What kinds of exchange rate policies does your country engage in, and how do they relate to trade and development goals? If you country holds a lot of external debt, what has been the result?
- Development: 11/3
In general, what level of economic development does your country enjoy? How has it reached that level of development (slowly over time? The result of state-led industrial policy? The result of aid and international organizations?) What are the major economic development goals for the future, strengths, and challenges? Explain if there major demographic concerns relating to development concerns.
Teaching Writing at John Jay College 