Instructions: Please choose one of the following essay questions, I would
expect an essay which consists of approximately 500 words, but there is no
automatic penalty for shorter essay and no automatic reward for longer ones.
The quality of the essay is what counts. In your answers, please indicate the
source of ideas and statistics that are key to your argument, but you should
provide formal citations with all the bibliographic trimmings. Please, do not
forget to indicate the number of the topic you choose in the beginning of
your essay.
Good luck!
1. Why might the use of more advanced technology not be a sucient
condition for sustained economic growth?
2. Apply what you have learned about development and development the-
ories so speculate on the following thought experiment: What if any-
thing might be di erent about todays international economic order if
the Spanish had colonized North America and the English had colonized
South America? (Careful reasoning and application of the material is
necessary.)
3. Provide a concise statement about the relationship between popula-
tion growth and absolute poverty, female wages, rural-urban migration,
availability of pensions, availability of healthcare, availability of educa-
tion, and rate of investment.
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4. Are developing countries experiencing a demographic transition much
like the one developed countries did at their earlier stages of economic
development or are there important di erences?
5. Why have poor nations invested so much money in education and
health? Evaluate the soundness of these reasons.
6. Explain why the education of girls is probably the most cost-e ective
development investment. Be sure to include in your answer some dis-
cussion of at least two of the following: absolute poverty, health and
development, fertility, and agriculture.
7. How will global warming and climate change adversely impact the poor,
particularly in developing nations?
8. What economic bene ts might a developing country gain by reducing
corruption? Discuss only economic bene ts and provide examples from
speci c developing countries.
9. Can all countries pursue export led growth and be successful? What
are the limitations if any? Compare and contrast a successful strategy
of import substitution (e.g. Korea, Taiwan) with a disastrous one (e.g.
Argentina).
10. Explain how international trade and trade policy helped South Korea
transform itself from an underdeveloped country to a high income coun-
try in the space of a single generation. You might begin by discussing
South Koreas trade strategy. Why do you think international trade is
of such vital importance to South Korea?
11. Critically evaluate the following statement: If no other assistance is
available, tied aid should be accepted anyway, on the grounds that de-
veloping countries should accept any help they can get. (Hint : Discuss
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the costs and bene ts of tied aid, which can lead to net positive or
negative bene ts.)
12. It has been argued that the spread of HIV/AIDS is a new plague that
will have severe demographic consequences. Compare the similarities
and di erences in the impact of plagues in the past and HIV/AIDS at
the present. If a medical intervention for AIDS is not discovered in
the near future, what are the implications for the future of the world’s
population?
13. In the coming decades, most people will reside in cities and the great-
est share of resources will be consumed in these areas. What policies
should be implemented to encourage sustainability in our current and
future cities?
14. What are some of the positive social and ecological aspects of concen-
trating the human population into urban areas? What are some of the
disadvantages?
15. What responsibility does the government have to provide infrastructure
and suitable living environments for poor people? What policies and
programs could be implemented to better serve the poor?
16. What are the drivers for worldwide population growth in urban slums?
What advantages and disadvantages to slums provide to their residents?
17. The irony of many slums is that residents often pay the highest prices
for essential goods such as water and education. What causes this dis-
parity? How could things be improved?
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