Description
Curriculum
Instructor
Course Overview
| Item | Description |
|---|---|
| Course Title | From Poverty to Prosperity: Understanding Economic Development |
| Institution | University of Oxford (Blavatnik School of Government) |
| Platform | edX |
| Instructor | Sir Paul Collier (Professor of Economics and Public Policy) |
| Level | Intermediate / All Levels (no formal prerequisites) |
| Delivery Type | Self-paced, Fully Online |
| Certificate | Verified Certificate available |
| Certificate Fee | Paid (Verified Track ~$169 USD) / Free Audit (no certificate) FindCourses |
| Access to Content | Free to audit (no instructor interaction) / Paid for certificate FindCourses |
| Duration | ~6 weeks (2–3 hours per week) FindCourses |
| Effort Required | ~12–18 hours total University of Oxford |
| Prerequisites | None (general interest in economics/development) Blavatnik School of Government |
| Language | English (subtitles may vary by region) Get Your Education |
2. Learning Outcomes
| No. | Learning Outcome |
|---|---|
| 1 | Understand how political, social, and economic processes shape development. Blavatnik School of Government |
| 2 | Identify internal factors influencing a country’s development path. CourseGraph |
| 3 | Understand how external influences (trade, migration, governance) impact development. Blavatnik School of Government |
| 4 | Analyse differing development trajectories across countries. CourseGraph |
| 5 | Apply development concepts through a final assignment comparing country cases. FindCourses |
3. Course Modules (Weekly / Section Breakdown)
| Module # | Module Title | Topics Covered | Main Activities |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | From Anarchy to a Centralised State | How central political structures emerge and impact development. Blavatnik School of Government | Video lectures, readings, quiz |
| 2 | From Centralised to Inclusive States | Transition to inclusive policies and institutions. Blavatnik School of Government | Lecture, case discussion |
| 3 | Power, Identities & Narratives | Role of social identities and narratives in economic outcomes. Blavatnik School of Government | Readings, reflection activity |
| 4 | Growth through Urbanisation & Industrialisation | Economics of growth, scale, and industrialisation. Findcourses | Videos, applied task |
| 5 | Natural Resources and Aid | Resource endowments, aid effectiveness, resource policy. Blavatnik School of Government | Lesson + assignment |
| 6 | External Influences | Trade, migration, capital flows, international governance rules. Findcourses | Discussion + final assignment |
4. Course Materials
| Material Type | Description |
|---|---|
| Video Lectures | Pre-recorded lectures by Sir Paul Collier. Blavatnik School of Government |
| Readings | Supplemental course readings. Blavatnik School of Government |
| Quizzes | Quick checks on concepts (module-based). Blavatnik School of Government |
| Assignments | Practical exercises and case comparisons. FindCourses |
| Discussion Boards | Peer discussions (optional). Blavatnik School of Government |
| Final Assignment | Compare development paths of two countries. FindCourses |
5. Skills Gained
| Category | Skills |
|---|---|
| Development Economics | Understanding political/economic drivers of growth. Blavatnik School of Government |
| Policy Analysis | Assess policy impacts on economic development. CourseGraph |
| Comparative Case Study | Application of theory to real countries. FindCourses |
| Global Systems | Trade, migration, governance influence on economies. Findcourses |
| Critical Thinking | Analyze development challenges. Blavatnik School of Government |
6. Assessment Structure
| Component | Weight / Importance |
|---|---|
| Quizzes | Helps reinforce key concepts across modules. Blavatnik School of Government |
| Module Assignments | Moderate – practical application. FindCourses |
| Final Assignment | High – integrated analysis using course concepts. FindCourses |
| Discussion Participation | Optional (peer learning). Blavatnik School of Government |
7. Certificate Information
| Item | Description |
|---|---|
| Issuer | edX & University of Oxford (Blavatnik School of Government). Blavatnik School of Government |
| Verification | Digital Verified Certificate available with purchase. FindCourses |
| Format | Digital certificate (downloadable). FindCourses |
| Add to LinkedIn | Yes (verified certificate). FindCourses |
| Credential Type | Verified Certificate. FindCourses |
8. Who This Course Is For
| Category | Description |
|---|---|
| Students | Economics, politics, public policy learners. Blavatnik School of Government |
| Development Practitioners | People working on economic/development projects. Blavatnik School of Government |
| Government & NGOs | Policy-makers and development actors. Blavatnik School of Government |
| Business Strategists | Professionals seeking context on global development. Blavatnik School of Government |
| Anyone Curious | Individuals interested in how economies grow. Blavatnik School of Government |
9. Tools & Technologies Used
| Category | Tools / Topics |
|---|---|
| Economic Theory | Development models & frameworks. Blavatnik School of Government |
| Political Economy | Governance and institutional analysis. Blavatnik School of Government |
| Case Analysis | Country comparisons. FindCourses |
| Data Interpretation | Qualitative and theoretical insights. Blavatnik School of Government |
10. Summary
From Poverty to Prosperity: Understanding Economic Development is a self-paced online course from University of Oxford’s Blavatnik School of Government delivered on edX. Led by Sir Paul Collier, it explores political, social, and economic drivers of national development and uses case studies to demonstrate how different societies transition from poverty to prosperity. The course runs ~6 weeks at 2–3 hours per week and offers a verified certificate option.
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