2008/09 Undergraduate Module Catalogue

LUBS3340 Economics of Famines

20 creditsClass Size: 73

Module manager: Dr Quentin Outram
Email: qo@lubs.leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) View Timetable

Year running 2008/09

Pre-requisites

LUBS2140

Intermediate Microeconomics

This module is not approved as an Elective

Objectives

At the end of this module students will be able to demonstrate the following:

- knowledge of: the main theories and perspectives on the causes of famine;
- the relevant medical facts about under-nutrition and 'famine diseases';
- quantitative techniques for the measurement of population nutritional status;
- relevant features of markets for food and other commodities in the South;
- the range of famine prevention and relief policies;
- evidence of having read an appropriate range of the relevant literature;
- an ability to evaluate alternative theoretical perspectives;
- to apply theoretical perspectives on famine causation to case studies;
- to search for and find relevant literature and data;
- to evaluate and interpret empirical evidence;
- to apply economic principles to the analysis of famine relief and prevention policies;

and an improvement in the following transferable skills: critical reading and analysis, researching using libraries and electronic sources, data handling, team working, time management and project planning, oral and written communication.

Syllabus

Theories of and perspectives on famine and their application to particular cases; relevant features of under-nutrition and 'famine diseases'; market behaviour during famines; and policies for famine prevention and relief.

Teaching methods

Delivery type	Number	Length hours	Student hours
Workshop	8	1.50	12.00
Lecture	10	1.00	10.00
Private study hours			178.00
Total Contact hours			22.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)			200.00

Private study

For each 20 credits of study taken, the expectation is that the normal study time (including attendance at lectures and tutorials, self-study and revision) is 200 hours.

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

Oral group feedback will be offered at the end of each workshop and individual oral feedback on draft assessed coursework will also be offered.

Methods of assessment

Coursework

Assessment type	Notes	% of formal assessment
Essay	3,000 words. Resit is by 2 hour written paper	50.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)		50.00

Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated

Exams

Exam type	Exam duration	% of formal assessment
Standard exam (closed essays, MCQs etc)	2 hr 00 mins	50.00
Total percentage (Assessment Exams)		50.00

Resit by 2 hour written paper

Reading list

The reading list is available from the Library website

Last updated: 20/03/2009

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