Required Questions:
1- Consider the development of a country over time. How might this development be framed within a standard neoclassic paradigm? What parameters of success are used to gauge "success" with regard to development for this country? How do arguments of institutions, geography, and culture fit into this argument? What factors of consideration exist outside of the neoclassic framework? Compare and contrast the various measures incorporating both "development" and "growth" into your argument.
2- Consider the formal institutional spectrums of both political systems and economic systems. Identify the polarized extremes of each spectrum. What features distinguish these systems from one another? Which economic and political system is most conducive to economic development and growth? Justify your response with historic evidence.
Optional Questions: Select two questions to answer
3- Explain the mechanisms by which Engerman and Sokoloff (2002) connect initial conditions of inequality to growth and development. Why might the relationship between these two factors be critical to examine for society? How does this line of thinking compare to and/or contrast with arguments made by Acemoglu, Robinson and Johnson? In what ways are factors of geography and culture relevant arguments of growth and development according to each line of thinking? Where do you stand on the topic? Discuss.
4- Consider the country of Cambodia in conjunction with the most recent figures for the Index of Economic Freedom. How does this country compare to others that are ranked? Which components of the freedom measure does Cambodia perform best and worst on? Which factors have improved the most over time? Supposing you owned and operated a U.S.-based business, would you be interested in expanding your business to include the country of Cambodia in any way? Justify your response. Briefly explain the analytic process by which you made your decision. Indicate which components of the Index of Economic Freedom influenced your thinking.
5- How does Jared Diamond connect issues of inequality to modern day"development"in his "Guns, Germs, and Steel" work? What initial question by Yali's greatly influenced Dr. Diamond's approach to answering questions pertaining to development? Consider arguments relating to the Fertile Crescent and the domestication of both animals and crops in your argument. What ultimate conclusions are reached by Diamond? What relevance do these findings have in improving our capacities to influence the development and growth of countries that are vastly underdeveloped? Discuss.
6- Consider the article by Henretta. According to this argument, do we find that we had an economy embedded in social relations, or social relations embedded in an economy - prior to industrialization? Additionally, consider whether or not the settlers of the U.S. North were rational utility maximizers bent on material pursuit? What significance do these questions (and their respective answers) have? Justify your response.