Global Economy

The course on Economics of Global South focuses on the study of economic development in the Global South from a long-term perspective. This course complements the knowledge acquired by the students in the courses on International Political Economy, Development Politics and Poverty and Inequality. It offers to students the possibility of deepening their knowledge about key sectors of the global economy in which the countries of the Global South play a key role.

Public sector, private sector, research, international cooperation, consulting, academia, and public policy development and analysis, among others.

Part 1: Introduction

1. Doughnut Economics

2. Circular Economy

Part 2: Regional Approach

3. Latin America and the Caribbean

4. Middle East and North Africa

5. Sub-Saharan Africa

6. South Asia

7. East Asia and the Pacific

8. Central Asia

The course on Economics of Global South includes a combination of three different practical activities:

• Seminars: Students will analyze suggested texts and undertake writing activities every week. Students will have to present written essays with their own thoughts and conclusions through Studium and participate in class discussion and debates.
• Readings: A set of books are recommended. Students have to read at least one of the books and write a short essay answering a set of questions provided by the teacher. A debate will be organized in class.
• Active learning activity: A simulation or another active learning activity will be organized to allow students to better understand the status of poverty and inequality conditions in the World.

BS1. Students must demonstrate to understand and manage specific knowledge for this area of study, based on general higher education. This knowledge is commonly based on advanced text books, but may also include some aspects belonging to the forefront of its area of study.

BS2. Students must demonstrate to know how to apply the acquired knowledge to their professional career or to their vocation in a professional way, and to have all required competencies that are usually demonstrated by building and defending arguments, and by solving problems within the area of study.

BS3. Students must show ability to gather and interpret relevant data, usually from their area of study, to make judgements based on a reflection on relevant topics from a social, scientific and ethical perspective.

BS4. Students must be able to transmit information, ideas, problems and solutions to a specialized and non-specialized audience.

GS1. To apply the acquired knowledge to solve specific problems in new or unknown environments, within a wider (or multidisciplinary) contexts.

GS2. To know and apply several research methods in the area of social sciences with the purpose of analyzing problems linked to their area of expertise.

GS3. To develop organizational skills, task planning and project coordination, in order to foster teamwork.

GS4. To develop a set of skills to design and implement plans and problem-solving programs, from a global and multidisciplinary perspective.

SS9. To know and understand the basic notions of Political Economy, and its financial and commercial dimensions.

SS13. To identify and understand the different decision-making and problem-solving mechanisms within he international context.

• Bavinck, Maarten; Lorenzo Pellegrini, and Erik Mostert. 2014. Conflicts over Natural Resources in the Global South. Conceptual Approaches.
• Blewitt, John. 2018. Understanding Sustainable Development. Routledge.
• Carroll, Toby; Shahar Hameiri, and Lee Jones. 2020. The Political Economy of Southeast Asia. Palgrave
• Dargin, Justin. 2013. The Rise of the Global South. Philosophical, Geopolitical and Economic Trends of the 21st Century. World Scientific.
• Gray, Kevin and Barry K. Gills. 2017. Rising Powers and South-South Cooperation. Routledge
• Kopnina, Helene; Poldner, Kim (editors) 2022. Circular Economy. Challenges and Opportunities for Ethical and Sustainable Business. Routledge.
• Lacy, Peter; Jessica Long, Wesley Spindler. 2020. The Circular Economy Handbook. Palgrave
• Raworth, Kate. 2018. Doughnut Economics. Seven Ways to Think Like a 21st-Century Economist. Routledge
• Schröder, Patrick; Manisha Anantharaman, Kartika Anggraeni, and Timothy J. Foxon. 2019. The Circular Economy and the Global South. Sustainable Lifestyles and Green Industrial Development. Routledge 
• Stahel, Walter R. 2019. The Circular Economy. A User’s Guide. Routledge
• Woertz, Eckart. 2017. Reconfiguration of the Global South. Africa and Latin America and the ‘Asian Century’. Routledge

Students must demonstrate a sufficient level of the required general, basic and specific skills to pass the course.

The evaluation includes theory and practice, and it is structured in two different parts: continuous evaluation and a final exam. Continuous work and the final exam represent 50 % and 50 % of the final grade, respectively. It is mandatory to successfully perform on both parts of the evaluation to pass the course (At least 25% of the grade on each).

Continuous evaluation (50 % of the final grade):

Seminars (Weekly practical activities): 20 % of the final grade.

Reading: 10 % of the final grade.

Simulation or another active learning activity: 20 % of the final grade.

Final exam (50% of the final grade):

The final exam includes theoretical and practical knowledge acquired over the course. It will be based on the concepts studied in the master classes and the weekly seminars.

Constant work during the different activities in which the continuous evaluations is divided. Active participation in theoretical classes and seminars.

Constant work during the different activities in which the continuous evaluations is divided. Active participation in theoretical master classes and seminars.