This master's level course explores the microeconomic foundations of economic policymaking in developing countries. Classes will combine economic theory and empirical analysis to better understand the impact of economic development policy on development goals. We will focus on specific examples chosen from cases worldwide to learn which policies have worked, which ones have not, and how a rigorous evaluation of these experiences can inform the design of better economic development policies in the future. The course is organized around four main themes: (1) Human Development (Health,...

Despite it being a huge humanitarian problem, why is HIV/AIDS the wrong disease to attack in Africa even if the objective is lowering overall HIV prevalence? What do neuroscience and economics have in common? If monthly gym members pay higher fees than annual gym members for the option to cancel each month, why are they much more likely to stay enrolled beyond one year than users committing for a year? If the price for an average meal has stayed relatively stable, how can restaurants afford offering increasingly bigger food portions to their customers? Does poor health cause poverty or...