The curriculum in Development Economics is designed for students interested in understanding the economies of developing countries, exploring why some countries manage to grow and reduce poverty while others do not, and identifying the drivers of successful economic development and the causes of stagnation. Furthermore, students learn to design and evaluate policies that promote sustainable and inclusive growth, education, global health, and food security, as well as policies aimed at reducing income inequality, gender inequality, and conflict.

Structure: The first year offers a strong foundation in both macroeconomic and microeconomic development theory, as well as international cooperation. This allows students to understand the main economic models and key indicators from which effective development policies are derived. In addition, students are exposed to essential quantitative tools and interdisciplinary courses in business and finance for development.

During the second year, students can tailor their path to their specific career aspirations by choosing from a wide range of elective courses. Besides mandatory courses in International Trade and Law, depending on their interests, students can select courses about 

• Agriculture and Environment: Agriculture Development and Poverty, Agri-food Economics, Environment and Development.
• Global Rights and Social Dynamics: Economic History of Globalization, Labour Economics and Gender, International Conflict Transformation, Politics of Globalisation and Human Rights.
• Empirical Methods and Local Development: Applied Microeconometrics, Economics of Innovation, Elements of Policy Evaluation Methods, Local and Industrial Development.

In addition to coursework, students have the opportunity to include a professional internship in their study plan (as an elective course) to gain practical, hands-on experience before graduation.

Alternatively, in February of their first year students can apply to enter the double degree program offered jointly with the MSc in Development Economics of the University of Goettingen (Germany), which offers a greater variety of second-year courses, including for instance Field Research in Development Economics, Gender and Development, China's Economic and Political Development, and Economics, Politics and African Societies.

Courses for the curriculum Development Economics in a.y. 2026-27.

This curriculum provides an ideal background for pursuing a PhD program in Development Economics (and related topics) at leading universities around the world or for work as a professional development economist in national and international agencies, civil service appointments, Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and private sector companies with interests in developing countries.