Economic Development MSc
The Economics Of Inequality And Deprivation ECON5030
- Academic Session: 2026-27
- School: Adam Smith Business School
- Credits: 20
- Level: Level 5 (SCQF level 11)
- Typically Offered: Semester 1
- Available to Visiting Students: No
- Collaborative Online International Learning: No
- Curriculum For Life: No
Short Description
This course analyses inequality and poverty from an economics perspective. A number of topics are discussed, including: the measurement of inequality and poverty using socio-economic data, the evolution of poverty and inequality over time, the causes and consequences of high economic inequality, policies for combating poverty.
Students are required to prepare in-class presentations based on book chapters and other readings to be defined in class.
Timetable
One two-hour meeting per week for 10 weeks.
Assessment
1. Written assignment, including essay; Group; 1500 words; 25%; ILOs 2-3.
2. Degree exam: in-person; Individual; 120 minutes; 75%; ILOs 1-3.
Main Assessment In: December
Are reassessment opportunities available for all summative assessments? No
It is the default expectation that all courses will offer opportunities for reassessment or deferred assessment. Where it is not possible to offer this in some assessment components, the grade achieved at the first attempt will be counted towards the final course grade, and any exceptions for this course are described below.
[No exceptions]
Course Aims
Inequality is a subject of great importance in today's policy debates on economic development. This course will provide students with up to date knowledge on the current debates about inequality.
The aims of this course are manifold:
1. To discuss the concept of inequality in economics and the different aspects in which it can manifest itself.
2. To study the different approaches to measuring inequality.
3. To discuss the diverse causes of inequality with particular attention to their empirical relevance.
4. To present some economic models linking inequality and economic growth, particularly through the channel of access to financial markets.
5. To analyse some consequences of the high degrees of inequality and deprivation in some parts of the world. We will study the occurrence of famines and the patterns of global migration.
6. To discuss the role of institutions in this context.
Intended Learning Outcomes of Course
By the end of this course students should be able to:
1. Demonstrate understanding of how inequality and poverty are measured in practice.
2. Summarise important debates and topics from the literature on inequality and poverty, differentiating key concepts from lesser ones.
3. Contrast and criticise different elements of the existing literature on inequality and poverty.