16 Mar Should states be involved in shaping economic development, or should the free market (with minimal state involvement) guide development? If states are involved, how should they be involved? Is free trade between countries a beneficial arrangement for everyone? How does aid from rich countries to poor countries affect various parties? How do technology, agrarian relations, and land distribution affect the lives and livelihoods of rural people? Should the state ever get involved in attempting to control prices? What is the informal sector, and how can policy affect the lives and livelihoods of those involved in the informal sector? In many of these debates, claims of mainstream economics are challenged by heterodox approaches. Pick out 2-3 of these debates, articulate different theories pertinent to the debates, and then reflect on what available empirical evidence tells us about these debates.
Write a 5-7 page paper (double spaced, 12 point font, standard margins) on the topic below. Your title page and bibliography (and any other pages that are not writing) do not count towards the page count. Please cite all your sources, with an accepted citational standard of your choice. For sources, you may only use readings assigned in class.
In our examination of Global Economies and State Policy, we have looked at many debates and questions, including:
Should states be involved in shaping economic development, or should the free market (with minimal state involvement) guide development? If states are involved, how should they be involved?
Is free trade between countries a beneficial arrangement for everyone?
How does aid from rich countries to poor countries affect various parties?
How do technology, agrarian relations, and land distribution affect the lives and livelihoods of rural people?
Should the state ever get involved in attempting to control prices?
What is the informal sector, and how can policy affect the lives and livelihoods of those involved in the informal sector?
In many of these debates, claims of mainstream economics are challenged by heterodox approaches. Pick out 2-3 of these debates, articulate different theories pertinent to the debates, and then reflect on what available empirical evidence tells us about these debates.
