Each student will be required to write a paper – about 2500 words in length – in which they explore a key issue in the political economy of development. This could involve a conceptual debate – what is “development”?, what are the best strategies for development? was the “Washington Consensus” a failure?, etc., the development challenges of a particular country or region, or a thematic question – i.e. what role does the empowerment of women have in development? what is the best way to address the problem of the “bottom billion”?, etc. More guidelines will be provided early in the semester.