Development Economics

1. Check out the recent news story on the BBC: “India and US reach WTO breakthrough over
food” (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-30033130) on 13
th
November 2014. What is the
policy that US wanted India to abandon? Why did the US want India to abandon it? Why was
India reluctant to abandon it? What do you think will be the likely consequences of this deal,
both for India and for the rest of the world?
Hints for answer:
1. Historical context of the policy.
2. Objectives of the policy over time – political, social and economic.
3. The economic arguments for and against such a policy.
4. Performance record and impact thus far.
5. The US case – what, why, how, etc.
6. The Indian case – what, why, how, etc.
7. How and why did the two sides come to an agreement?
8. Prognosis – your predictions (with reasoned arguments – political, social and economic)

2. Check out the Oxfam report: “Why we need a global Arms Trade Treaty”
(http://www.oxfam.org/en/campaigns/why-we-need-global-arms-trade-treaty). Write a report
which evaluates their claim linking the arms trade and poverty:
“The poorly regulated arms trade impedes socio-economic development. It is estimated
that armed violence costs Africa $18 billion per year. This is approximately equivalent
to the annual sums of development aid to the entire continent. Armed conflict shrinks
an African nation’s economy by 15 per cent.”
Hints for answer:
1. Use your introduction to justify the structure adopted, given it would not be possible to refer
to every aspect of how conflict and ‘peace economics’ is applied to development. There is not
a single way of answering this question and students are encouraged to focus on the elements
that they perceive are more important.
2. Summary of the Arms Trade Treaty and its possible impact.
3. Assessment of the trends in military expenditure and/or arms production in the developing
world (Use SIPRI data to ensure international comparability).
4. Reference to opposing political economic schools of thought on the impact of militarism.
5. Critical comparison of the economic consequences of the military sector on development.
6. Case study examples of the nature of conflict and its links with external organisations.
7. Use empirical evidence in journals such as Defence & Peace Economics.
8. Prognosis – your prediction with regards whether the treaty will have any impact on
development issues.

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