Distinguished Visiting Professor Paul Collier is seeking to explain economic inequality between states in a fascinating course that he is teaching at SPP this term, “Sustaining Growth in Developing Countries.” “This course is a blend of politics, sociology, and economics,” Collier said. “A rare combination to answer the same question: why are some countries poorer than others?”
Collier teaches his multidisciplinary course in three segments. In the first part of the course, Collier draws on political theory to explain how political authority emerges. In the second part, he touches on the role of social norms and culture in organizations and economies. He concludes the course with a segment on the economics of development, building on ideas from the previous two segments. With these three dimensions in mind, students analyze why countries that appear similar diverge economically.
“This course has made me think about a basic issue – inequality between countries – in a new light,” commented William Mangimela (MPA ’15). “Collier’s way of merging disciplines gives a fuller picture of why economic development between nations diverges by understanding what goes on behind the scene in an economy.”
Collier is Professor of Economics and Director of the Centre for the Study of African Economies at Oxford University.