Final Oral Exam
Spring 2025
International Development
April 28, 2025
Questions
1. Discuss the multidimensional nature of development and evaluate how the
concept of "development as freedom" challenges traditional economic measures,
such as GDP per capita, as indicators of development.
2. Discuss the key theories explaining the variation in strong versus weak state
capacity across different historical and geographic contexts.
3. Compare state-led development policies in East Asia (Japan, South Korea,
Taiwan, Singapore) with those in Africa or Latin America. What key theories and
policy measures explain their successes and failures?
4. Does democracy lead to economic growth, or does economic growth foster
democracy? Why has economic growth resulted in democratization in some
countries but not others?
5. Discuss the pros and cons of democracy versus autocracy in economic
development.
6. What explains China's exceptional economic growth? Why has its growth slowed
in recent years? Discuss the main institutional and economic drivers behind
these trends.
7. Why has the World Bank been called an “Anti-Politics Machine”? How can foreign
aid be problematic? Under what conditions can foreign aid promote economic
growth?
8. What are the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank, and how
have their roles in international development evolved since their creation?
9. How is Emerging Donors' aid different from DAC funding? What is the
significance of these differences?
10. Briefly discuss the dependency theory's view of the role of multinational
corporations (MNCs) in maintaining underdevelopment in the periphery.
,Evaluation Criteria Breakdown:
(The oral exam accounts for 20% of the final grade.)
1. Engagement with Course materials (10%)
The breadth and depth of your engagement with the theories and empirical cases
covered in class, including material from the lectures (including guest lectures) and
student presentations on the readings.
2. Clarity and Logical Coherence (5%)
Your answers should be well-structured, with logically connected arguments. Avoid
disorganized or fragmented responses.
3. Your ability to critically evaluate a question from different perspectives. (5%)
Additional Notes:
1. On the examination day, we will randomly choose a question from the list of 10
options.
2. Be punctual for the time slot you selected. Late arrivals or no-shows will result in
a score of 0 for the oral exam. There will be no makeup exams except in
extraordinary circumstances (e.g., severe illness with an official doctor’s note).
3. You will have up to 5 minutes to answer the questions. We will remind you to
stop if you are over time.
4. You can’t bring any notes. Think of it as an interview.
5. If you have any clarification questions, please ask us.
Good luck to you all!
, Question 1: Discuss the multidimensional nature of development and evaluate how the
concept of "development as freedom" challenges traditional economic measures, such as
GDP per capita, as indicators of development.
Introduction: Development is often narrowly measured using economic indicators
like GDP per capita. However, this approach fails to capture the full picture of human
well-being. Amartya Sen’s concept of “development as freedom” redefines
development as a multidimensional process centered on human capabilities and the
removal of unfreedoms, such as poverty, oppression, and lack of education, that
constrain individuals’ choices and agency.
1. Traditional Economic Measures and Their Limitations: Traditionally,
development has been equated with economic growth, particularly through metrics
like GDP per capita. While GDP reflects national income and production, it overlooks
critical dimensions such as:
● Inequality in income distribution,
● Access to education and healthcare,
● Political freedoms and participation,
● Environmental sustainability and personal security.
As Sen and later Stevenson & Wolfers (2008) argue, rising GDP can correlate with life
satisfaction, but it does not guarantee it. For example, some high-income countries
still experience severe capability deprivation, particularly among marginalized groups.
2. Sen’s Capability Approach and the Role of Freedoms: Sen proposes a shift
from income-focused assessments to a capability-based evaluation. Development
should be understood as the expansion of real freedoms that allow people to lead the
kinds of lives they value.
He identifies five interrelated freedoms:
● Political freedoms (e.g., free speech, fair elections),
● Economic facilities (e.g., access to credit or employment),
● Social opportunities (e.g., education and health),
● Transparency guarantees (e.g., absence of corruption),
● Protective security (e.g., social safety nets).
These freedoms are both the means and the ends of development. For instance,
education (a social opportunity) enables political participation, and democratic rights
(political freedom) promote equitable economic reforms.
3. Challenging GDP with a Comprehensive View of Well-being: Sen critiques
GDP as a “culmination” outcome that reflects only final outputs (like income), not the
processes or freedoms involved. His approach instead favors “comprehensive”
outcomes, which consider how development is achieved through democratic
participation, equitable access to services, and human agency.
Spring 2025
International Development
April 28, 2025
Questions
1. Discuss the multidimensional nature of development and evaluate how the
concept of "development as freedom" challenges traditional economic measures,
such as GDP per capita, as indicators of development.
2. Discuss the key theories explaining the variation in strong versus weak state
capacity across different historical and geographic contexts.
3. Compare state-led development policies in East Asia (Japan, South Korea,
Taiwan, Singapore) with those in Africa or Latin America. What key theories and
policy measures explain their successes and failures?
4. Does democracy lead to economic growth, or does economic growth foster
democracy? Why has economic growth resulted in democratization in some
countries but not others?
5. Discuss the pros and cons of democracy versus autocracy in economic
development.
6. What explains China's exceptional economic growth? Why has its growth slowed
in recent years? Discuss the main institutional and economic drivers behind
these trends.
7. Why has the World Bank been called an “Anti-Politics Machine”? How can foreign
aid be problematic? Under what conditions can foreign aid promote economic
growth?
8. What are the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank, and how
have their roles in international development evolved since their creation?
9. How is Emerging Donors' aid different from DAC funding? What is the
significance of these differences?
10. Briefly discuss the dependency theory's view of the role of multinational
corporations (MNCs) in maintaining underdevelopment in the periphery.
,Evaluation Criteria Breakdown:
(The oral exam accounts for 20% of the final grade.)
1. Engagement with Course materials (10%)
The breadth and depth of your engagement with the theories and empirical cases
covered in class, including material from the lectures (including guest lectures) and
student presentations on the readings.
2. Clarity and Logical Coherence (5%)
Your answers should be well-structured, with logically connected arguments. Avoid
disorganized or fragmented responses.
3. Your ability to critically evaluate a question from different perspectives. (5%)
Additional Notes:
1. On the examination day, we will randomly choose a question from the list of 10
options.
2. Be punctual for the time slot you selected. Late arrivals or no-shows will result in
a score of 0 for the oral exam. There will be no makeup exams except in
extraordinary circumstances (e.g., severe illness with an official doctor’s note).
3. You will have up to 5 minutes to answer the questions. We will remind you to
stop if you are over time.
4. You can’t bring any notes. Think of it as an interview.
5. If you have any clarification questions, please ask us.
Good luck to you all!
, Question 1: Discuss the multidimensional nature of development and evaluate how the
concept of "development as freedom" challenges traditional economic measures, such as
GDP per capita, as indicators of development.
Introduction: Development is often narrowly measured using economic indicators
like GDP per capita. However, this approach fails to capture the full picture of human
well-being. Amartya Sen’s concept of “development as freedom” redefines
development as a multidimensional process centered on human capabilities and the
removal of unfreedoms, such as poverty, oppression, and lack of education, that
constrain individuals’ choices and agency.
1. Traditional Economic Measures and Their Limitations: Traditionally,
development has been equated with economic growth, particularly through metrics
like GDP per capita. While GDP reflects national income and production, it overlooks
critical dimensions such as:
● Inequality in income distribution,
● Access to education and healthcare,
● Political freedoms and participation,
● Environmental sustainability and personal security.
As Sen and later Stevenson & Wolfers (2008) argue, rising GDP can correlate with life
satisfaction, but it does not guarantee it. For example, some high-income countries
still experience severe capability deprivation, particularly among marginalized groups.
2. Sen’s Capability Approach and the Role of Freedoms: Sen proposes a shift
from income-focused assessments to a capability-based evaluation. Development
should be understood as the expansion of real freedoms that allow people to lead the
kinds of lives they value.
He identifies five interrelated freedoms:
● Political freedoms (e.g., free speech, fair elections),
● Economic facilities (e.g., access to credit or employment),
● Social opportunities (e.g., education and health),
● Transparency guarantees (e.g., absence of corruption),
● Protective security (e.g., social safety nets).
These freedoms are both the means and the ends of development. For instance,
education (a social opportunity) enables political participation, and democratic rights
(political freedom) promote equitable economic reforms.
3. Challenging GDP with a Comprehensive View of Well-being: Sen critiques
GDP as a “culmination” outcome that reflects only final outputs (like income), not the
processes or freedoms involved. His approach instead favors “comprehensive”
outcomes, which consider how development is achieved through democratic
participation, equitable access to services, and human agency.
