Sustainable Development in Emerging Economies

This course is designed to: (i) identify and critique the various theories and approaches to national development adopted by governments and developing agencies since World War II when a wave of decolonization began, and (ii) Examine alternative approaches to national development rooted in the principle of sustainability. After years of experimenting with various theories and approaches to national development, evidence of success in developing /emerging economies is partial and spotty. Rapid economic growth and transformation in East Asia and elsewhere in the developing world have not been easily replicated in countries in other parts of Asia, Africa, Latin America and the developing regions. In some instances poverty has actually increased. Even in more successful emerging economies, economic growth has come at a cost, in terms of environmental degradation, elevated levels of carbon emission, pollution, growing inequalities in wealth and income, among others. In this course, students will examine factors that compel the need for an alternative development approach. Drawing from concepts and cases on sustainability, the course will also examine new assumptions and evidence on the earth¿s capacity to support economic growth under conditions such as climate change, resource depletion, demographic trends, and rapid technological changes. Topics to be addressed include a contrast in traditional growth models versus approaches in sustainability, economic and financial crises that limit development, the resource ¿curse¿ in selected countries, new technologies and their impact on sustainability, resource use patterns and best practices in sustainability. After years of experimenting with various theories and approaches to national development, evidence of success in developing /emerging economies is partial and spotty. Rapid economic growth and transformation in East Asia and elsewhere in the developing world have not been easily replicated in countries in other parts of Asia, Africa, Latin America and the developing regions. In some instances poverty has actually increased. Even in more successful emerging economies, economic growth has come at a cost, in terms of environmental degradation, elevated levels of carbon emission, pollution, growing inequalities in wealth and income, among others. In this course, students will examine factors that compel the need for an alternative development approach. Drawing from concepts and cases on sustainability, the course will also examine new assumptions and evidence on the earth¿s capacity to support economic growth under conditions such as climate change, resource depletion, demographic trends, and rapid technological changes. Topics to be addressed include a contrast in traditional growth models versus approaches in sustainability, economic and financial crises that limit development, the resource ¿curse¿ in selected countries, new technologies and their impact on sustainability, resource use patterns and best practices in sustainability.