This assessment takes the form of a 1,500-word policy brief, in which you will propose a policy (or policy package) that will improve upon the status quo to a policy maker. Your argument for the adoption of your preferred policy (package) should be compelling, persuasive to your audience and will ned to be solidly based on relevant theory and evidence as applied to the case you address.
The aim of this assignment is to enable you to apply what you have studied in this module to real-world policy considerations in a format that is more applicable to your post-graduate career than the typical academic essay.
The Topic: Imagine that you are an economic advisor at the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development. Last month, the Economist recently published a piece entitled “How the world’s poor stopped catching up” (September 2024).
This piece argues that convergence between developing and developed countries has stalled since 2015, and advocates for further liberalization as a policy prescription. Your team manager has asked you for a policy brief evaluating this argument and proposing potential policy solutions for developing countries moving forward. In your brief, please consider the following questions:
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Do you agree with The Economist’s assessment that developing countries have stopped catching up to advanced industrialized states? What metrics do they use to make this claim? Are these the most appropriate metrics to use, or would you recommend different data sources to measure this convergence (or lack thereof)? What metrics are used to measure convergence what others can be used?
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What types of liberalizing economic reforms does the article suggest would be beneficial for developing countries to accelerate their growth processes? Do you agree with this assessment? Your answer should draw from theories and case study evidence discussed in class and in outside readings.
Draw on readings
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What would you put forth as a policy goal to address this widening gap between Global South and Global North countries? Be sure to draw from theories and evidence from successful (and unsuccessful) late developers to substantiate your claims. Draw on theories
The policy brief will have:
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A clear argument-focused thesis in the introduction
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An argument solidly based on theory and evidence from existing research
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Reference to and demonstrated understanding of the relevant reading-list sources beyond textbook/handbook chapters
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References to high-quality unassigned sources
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Clear and coherent organization (section headings are often be useful)
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Paraphrasing and analysis of source materials rather than direct quotes
All mandatory readings to reference are attached below and related to the MATERIAL document:
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Haggard, S. (2018). Developmental states. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. (Read Chapter 3, the whole book is posted online so you may skim the rest)
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Wade, R. H. (2003). What strategies are viable for developing countries today? The World Trade Organization and the shrinking of ‘development space.’ Review of International Political Economy, 10(4), 621–644
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Frieden, J. (1981). Third World indebted industrialization: international finance and state capitalism in Mexico, Brazil, Algeria, and South Korea. International Organization, 35(03)
Additional:
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Juhász, Réka, Nathan J Lane, and Dani Rodrik. ‘The New Economics of Industrial Policy’.
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Krueger, A. (1990). Government failures in development. Journal of Economic Perspectives, 4(3): 9- 23.
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Chang, Ha Joon. (2007). Kicking away the ladder: development strategy in historical perspective. London: Anthem Press. Read Chapters 2 and 4, available via UCL e-books)
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Dean, Adam. (2022). Opening Up by Cracking Down. Cambridge University Press. (Chapters 1 & 3)
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Rudra, Nita. “Globalization and the Decline of the Welfare State in Less Developed Countries,” International Organization, 56 (2), 411-445 (2002)
5. Foreign Direct Investment and Development
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Amsden, Alice. 2009. “Nationality of Ownership in Developing Countries: Who Should ‘Crowd Out’ Whom in Imperfect Markets?” In Industrial Policy and Development. Ed. Joseph Stiglitz, Giovani Dosi and M. Cimoli. Pp. 289-309. New York: Oxford University Press
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Moran, T. H. (2002). Beyond Sweatshops: Foreign Direct Investment and Globalization in Developing Countries. Brookings Institution Press (Chapters 2 & 3)
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Mark Anner. 2019. “Squeezing worker’s rights in global supply chains,” Review of International Political Economy.
Additional:
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Layna Mosley and Saika Uno 2007. Racing to the bottom or climbing to the top? Economic globalization and collective labor rights. Comparative Political Studies.
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Gereffi. G. (2018). Global Value Chains and Development. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. (Chapter 1)
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Hauge, J. (2020). Industrial policy in the era of global value chains: Towards a developmentalist framework drawing on the industrialisation experiences of South Korea and Taiwan. The World Economy, 43(8)
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Siddharth Kara: Cobalt Red: How the Blood of the Congo Powers Our Lives
Financial Times
Foreign Policy
Project Syndicate
Phenomenal World
Trade Talks (Podcast)
Jacobin
Harvard Atlas of Economic Complexity
Our World in Data
World Development Indicators (World Bank)
Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD)
UN Trade and Development Data Centre