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Economic and Development Problems in Africa 2013 Semester 1. Nicholas Spaull & Nico Katzke. A little bit about me… Nicholas Spaull I love to Travel Studied at UKZN / SUN / UCT Economics by profession (PhD...) Education by passion Office: Schumann 202 NicholasSpaull@gmail.com NicSpaull
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Economic and Development Problems in Africa 2013Semester 1 Nicholas Spaull & Nico Katzke
A little bit about me… • Nicholas Spaull • I love to Travel • Studiedat UKZN / SUN / UCT • Economicsby profession (PhD...) • Educationby passion • Office: Schumann 202 • NicholasSpaull@gmail.com • NicSpaull • nicspaull.com ______________________________ Second half of the course: (proper intro in week 8) nicokatzke@sun.ac.za
Admin Course information 3 American credits; 6 ECTS credits Venue: Wilcocks 3018 Friday 10:00 – 13:00 ___________________________ Evaluation • Policy brief • Group assignment • 2 x MCQ tests There will be no exam. **The above is subject to change
What we want to accomplish in this course The aim of this course is to get you to think critically about some of the major developmental issues facing Sub-Saharan Africa today. Some caveats: • This is not a typical course • Multiple lecturers (incl. guest lecturers) But… • It will be interesting! • You will learn how to think and you will learn about Africa (esp SA). • More specifically…
Lowest GDP per head ($, 2008) • Burundi 140 • Congo-Kinshasa 180 • Liberia 220 • Guinea-Bisau 270 • Malawi 290 • Somalia 300 • Zimbabwe310 • Ethiopia 320 • Eritrea 340 • Sierra Leone 350 Fastest growing cities (Total growth, 2010-15, %) • Yamoussoukro, Cote d’Ivoire 43.8 • Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso 38.5 • Lilongwe, Malawi 28.9 • Blantyre, Malawi 28.8 • Abuja, Nigeria 28.4 • Huambo, Angola 26.1 • Luanda, Angola 26.0
Why is Africa poor? Economic and Development Problems in Africa
Botswana case study Economic and Development Problems in Africa 13 Aug 2012
Economic and Development Problems in South Africa and AfricaUnderstanding Foreign Aid
Economic and Development Problems in South Africa and AfricaPoverty and Inequality in SA
Topics to be addressed • Session 8: • Development of financial markets in South Africa • Lecturer: NicoKatzke(Financial Economics lecturer, SU) • Session 9: • The role of Social Media in the development of the state and the economy, through the availability of information and ease of mass-communication • Lecturer: Dirk Bosman(Social media researcher at Kalahari.com)
Topics to be addressed • Session 10: • Impact of the European Debt crisis on Southern African economies • Lecturer: Prof. Rudolf Gous(Chief Economist at Rand Merchant Bank, Director at RMB Holdings) • Session11: • China’s role in the development of markets in Southern Africa • Lecturer: Dr DaoudaCisse (accomplished Research Fellow at the Centre for Chinese Studies-Stellenbosch University)
Topics to be addressed • Session 12: • Developing and managing the public sector in Southern Africa • Lecturer: Prof.EstianCalitz(Former Director-General of Finance to the South African Government) • Session 13: • Mining in South Africa: would the people benefit from a nationalized mining sector? • Lecturer: NicoKatzke (Financial Economics lecturer, SU)
Summary of topics discussed: • Development of financial sectors • Social media • China / Africa relations • Euro Debt crisis impact on Africa • Public economics (the state’s role in development) • Mining and the on-going Nationalization debate Although certain finance / public economics topics will be addressed in this section, you will in no way be disadvantaged if you do not possess a thorough background in these topics!
What do I expect from you?? • To think!!!! • To learn! More specifically… • Attendance! • One essay • One group assignment • {no exam} My marking philosophy… (9-10) inspired, (7-8) clever and interesting, (5-6) meets expectations, (3-4) below expectations, and (0-2) needs serious improvement.
Assessment Policy brief • Using pivot-tables to extract information from data • Presenting information in understandable way • Understand the policy process in Africa (and developing countries more generally) • 2 Tests • Group assignment • No exam
Instructional method? • Lectures • Readings • Podcasts (interviews and videos) • Case studies • Class discussion (!)
Questions to consider... • Course resources – DVD + website • Current affairs in SA – stay up to date by reading a local newspaper and watching the news • Academic writing – Referencing is compulsory. • Email addresses…