MSFS-517 Policies for Poverty Reduction

Faculty:

Desai, Raj

How do governments, donors, and international organizations make decisions about development policies? Why does "slippage" often occur during implementation? How are policy reform initiatives introduced, expanded, and sustained ("scaled up")? This course analyzes major policy and programmatic efforts that have been used reduce poverty in developing and transitional countries, including transfers, credit and land-based programs, and market development. It emphasizes ways that institutional and political analysis can improve policy analysis, particularly regarding decision making, implementation, and the management of reformist initiatives. It assesses how historical conditions, state capacity, stakeholder relationships, and bureaucratic influences shape policy decision making and the allocation of public resources. Assignments focus on the analysis of reforms as well as antipoverty programs selected by students and the strategic management of political conflicts related to policy change.

Credits: 3

Prerequisites: None

Other academic years
There is information about this course number in other academic years:

• 2008-2009 Fall and Spring
• 2010-2011 Fall and Spring
• 2013-2014 Fall and Spring

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