Essay Question:
Economic Institutions are the sole cause of economic growth in the long- run, discuss.
• The essay question must be discussed within the context of two or more developing countries.
• The three fundamental causes of growth must be discussed
1. Geography
2. Institution (Political + Economic) and
3. Culture.
You must talk about all three fundamental causes but do not completely omit one of the three.
• Must link the three fundamental causes (1. Geography 2. Institution (Political + Economic) and 3. Culture)
• Make sure facts are about the fundamental cause and not the proximal causes of growth
• Show earlier on that the question is about fundamental causes of growth
• You must forge an opinion and argue the case accordingly – supporting opinions with research papers
• Must discuss what’s been discussed in the lecture material (attached below) and research papers (listed below), as well as other papers (from your research)
• Word limit: 2500, without references
Research papers that must be included in the essay
• ‘The Macrogenoeconomics of Comparative Development’ (Ashraf and Galor)
https://pubs.aeaweb.org/doi/pdfplus/10.1257/jel.20161314
• ‘Institutions, Human Capital, and Development’ (Acemoglu et al)
https://www.annualreviews.org/doi/pdf/10.1146/annurev- economics-080213-041119
• ‘The Global Distribution of Economic Activity: Nature, History and the role of trade’ (Henderson et al)
https://academic.oup.com/qje/article/133/1/357/4110418?l ogin=true
