Economic Development

Spring 2002

Economics 3351, Section 12831 

Time: MW 2:30-4 PM

Room 122M

Thomas R. DeGregori

Office: 209D M

Office hrs. MW. 11:30AM-1PM or by appointment

Email: trdegreg@uh.edu 

Required reading:

Thomas R. DeGregori, Agriculture and Modern Technology: A Defense, Iowa State University Press

Dean M. Hanink - Principles and Applications of Economic Geography: Economic Policy Environment

World Bank - World Development Report 2002 - Oxford University Press

Recommended reading

John Bryson, Nick Henry, David Keeble, Ron Martin - The Economic Geography Reader - John Wiley

Topics for papers

1) Globalization of Agriculture, Food Production and Resources

2) Conflict issues in Globalization (including GM food & ecoterrorism)

3) Economic Development in _____ - Region of your choice

4) Development issues in Conflict and Terrorism

Topics. On topics 1 & 2, do papers of between 5 to 8 pages with a total of about 10 to 15 pages. The third and fourth papers should be between 10 to 20 pages. An outline for each of the topics will be made available in class during the first week of the semester.

The reading assignments for topic 4 are being assembled and should be available by early in the semester. The internet will be used extensively for this topic. The readings and internet assignments will focus on developments in areas where the instructor has worked such as Pakistan/Afghanistan, Sudan/Uganda, Peru, the Philippines, the Middle East and other areas depending on what happens between the time of this posting and the start of the class.

ALL PAPERS MUST INCLUDE SUBSTANTIVE REFERENCES TO THE ASSIGNED MATERIAL. ALL MATERIAL PRESENTED MUST HAVE A SOURCE. THE FINAL PAPER MUST ALSO INCLUDE ADDITIONAL MATERIAL FROM RESEARCH IN THE LIBRARY OR THE WWW. USE OF INFORMATION FROM THE WWW IS REQUIRED FOR AT LEAST ONE PAPER. HYPER LINKS TO SOME OF THE MOST IMPORTANT SITES ARE PROVIDED ON MY HOME PAGE (http://www.uh.edu/~trdegreg).  PLEASE GIVE AS COMPLETE A CITATION AS POSSIBLE INCLUDING THE URL.


This course can also be taken as a special problems course for 1, 2 or 3 hours credit. You may sign up for it any time up to May 1, 2002. For special problems, please see Marion Foley in 208B M. Final due date for all papers for special problems, December 1, 2002.

Those taking the course for 1 hour credit will do one 10 to 15 page paper. Those taking it for 2 hours credit, will do one 20 to 25 page paper. Graduate students will do two papers of 10 and 30 to 40 pages each. Please see me for details and assignment.