Guías Académicas

POVERTY AND INEQUALITY

POVERTY AND INEQUALITY

Estudios Globales / Global Studies

Curso 2023/2024

1. Subject Information

(Date last modified: 10-10-23 8:53)
Code
140507
Plan
405
ECTS
6.00
Type
Basic
Year
1
Duration
Second semester
Language
ENGLISH
Area
ECONOMÍA APLICADA
Departament
Economía Aplicada
Virtual platform

Campus Virtual de la Universidad de Salamanca

Professor Information

Profesor/Profesora
Javier Sierra Pierna
Group/s
Único
Centre
Fac. Derecho
Office
113 (Facultad de Derecho)
Office hours
Wednesday (from 13:00 to 15:00)
Web address
https://derecho.usal.es/staff/sierra-pierna-javier/
E-mail
jsierra@usal.es
Phone
923294500 ext.1689

2. Association of the subject matter within the study plan

Curricular area to which the subject matter pertains.

Global Economy

Purpose of the subject within the curricular area and study plan.

Despite of progress made to tackle global poverty in recent decades, there is a widespread consensus on the perception that economic growth has not been fairly distributed, and that the recent economic and financial crisis has contributed to widen the gap between rich and poor. Poverty and inequality are global problems that require global solutions. The course on Poverty and Inequality will allow students to understand the root causes of poverty and inequality, and to develop a set of skills needed to analyze its multiple dimensions.

Professional profile.

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

3. Prerequisites

No specific previous skills are required.

4. Learning objectives

The main objective of the course is to allow students to apply concepts and metrics from Development Economics to analyze countries and regions from a global perspective.

5. Contents

Theory.

  1. Introduction: A World Without Poverty
  2. Measuring Poverty
  3. Health
  4. Geographical and Spatial Poverty
  5. Gender
  6. Governance and Poverty
  7. Conflict and Poverty
  8. Education
  9. The Environment and Poverty
  10. Financial Services for Development

Practice.

The course on Poverty and Inequality 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.

6. Competences acquired

Basic / General.

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.

Specific.

SS10. To identify and describe poverty and inequality situations. Identify causal factors and analyze the evolution and achievements of different cases.

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

7. Teaching methods

Master classes and practical sessions. Both formats require active participation by students.

8. Anticipated distribution of the use of the different teaching methods

9. Resources

Other bibliographic references, electronic or other types of resources.

Basic text book:

Cosgrove, Serena, and Benjamin Curtis (2022). Understanding Global Poverty. Causes, Solutions and Capabilities. Routledge. Second Edition

Recommended readings:

Milanovic, Branco (2016). Global Inequality. A New Approach for the Age of Globalization. Harvard University 

Press.

Atkinson, Anthony B. (2015). Inequality. What Can Be Done? Harvard University Press.

Bourguignon, François (2015). The Globalization of Inequality. Princeton University Press.

Hickel, Jason. (2018). The Divide. A Brief Guide to Global Inequality and its Solutions. Penguin.

Wisor, Scott (2017). The Ethics of Global Poverty. An Introduction. Routledge.

Additional references:

Ravallion, Martin (2016). The economics of Poverty. History, Measurement and Policy. Oxford University Press.

Cypher, James (2014). The Process of Economic Development. 4th edition. Taylor & Francis.

Mac Ginty, Roger, and Andrew Williams (2016). Conflict and Development. Routledge. Second Edition

10. Assessment

General considerations.

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

Assessment criteria.

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.

Assessment tools.

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.

Assessment recommendations.

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

Guidelines in the case of failing the subject.

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

11. Weekly teaching organization