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SP30307: Global inequality: economic and political perspectives

[Page last updated: 04 August 2021]

Academic Year: 2021/2
Owning Department/School: Department of Social & Policy Sciences
Credits: 6 [equivalent to 12 CATS credits]
Notional Study Hours: 120
Level: Honours (FHEQ level 6)
Period:
Semester 1
Assessment Summary: ES 100%
Assessment Detail:
  • Essay 100% (ES 100%)
Supplementary Assessment:
Like-for-like reassessment (where allowed by programme regulations)
Requisites:
Aims: The aims of this unit are to provide students with an understanding of debates over the causes, dynamics, and consequences of inequality in developing countries from economic and political perspectives and to familiarise them with the methods used to measure and analyse inequality in the economic and political literature.

Learning Outcomes: By the end of the unit, students should:
* Have a critical understanding of the different ways in which inequality is understood in economic and political literature on developing countries, including different dimensions of inequality (inter-personal, regional, gender, ethnic);
* Have a critical understanding of different theories of the causes and dynamics of inequality over time;
* Have a critical awareness of the methods and data used to measure inequality and the strengths and limitations of different approaches; and,
* Have in-depth knowledge of the nature and impacts of inequality in a range of developing countries.

Skills: 1. Critical reading and analysis of measures of inequality as presented in academic and non-academic publications;
2. Enhanced critical appreciation of the measurement of social scientific concepts and its application;
3. Ability to evaluate evidence in an inter-disciplinary context;
4. Ability to draw on different disciplines to construct an academic argument;
5. Essay research, preparation, and writing skills.

Content: 1. What is inequality? Inequality of what; and, inequality between whom?
2. Measuring inequality: Data, techniques, and representation
3. Dimensions of inequality: Region, gender, and ethnicity
4. Why does inequality endure? Dynamics of inequality over time
5. Global inequality and the rise of the BRICS countries
6. Latin American experiences
7. Inequality in Sub-Saharan Africa
8. Addressing inequality: Affirmative action and other policy responses
9. The politics of inequality in development.

Programme availability:

SP30307 is Compulsory on the following programmes:

Department of Social & Policy Sciences
  • UHSP-AFB21 : BSc(Hons) International Development with Economics (Year 3)
  • UHSP-AKB21 : BSc(Hons) International Development with Economics with Year long work placement (Year 4)

SP30307 is Optional on the following programmes:

Department of Social & Policy Sciences
  • UHSP-AFB22 : BSc(Hons) Criminology (Year 3)
  • UHSP-AFB16 : BSc(Hons) Social Policy (Year 3)
  • UHSP-AKB16 : BSc(Hons) Social Policy with Year long work placement (Year 4)
  • UHSP-AFB05 : BSc(Hons) Social Sciences (Year 3)
  • UHSP-AKB05 : BSc(Hons) Social Sciences with Year long work placement (Year 4)
  • UHSP-AFB04 : BSc(Hons) Sociology (Year 3)
  • UHSP-AKB04 : BSc(Hons) Sociology with Year long work placement (Year 4)
  • UHSP-AFB10 : BSc(Hons) Sociology and Social Policy (Year 3)
  • UHSP-AKB10 : BSc(Hons) Sociology and Social Policy with Year long work placement (Year 4)

Notes:

  • This unit catalogue is applicable for the 2021/22 academic year only. Students continuing their studies into 2022/23 and beyond should not assume that this unit will be available in future years in the format displayed here for 2021/22.
  • Programmes and units are subject to change in accordance with normal University procedures.
  • Availability of units will be subject to constraints such as staff availability, minimum and maximum group sizes, and timetabling factors as well as a student's ability to meet any pre-requisite rules.
  • Find out more about these and other important University terms and conditions here.