Development economics

Table of Contents

1. Topic pack - Development economics - introduction
2. 4.1 Economic development (notes)
3. 4.1 Economic development (questions)
4. 4.2 Measuring Economic Development (notes)
5. 4.2 Measuring development (questions)
6. 4.3 The role of domestic factors in economic development (notes)
7. 4.3 The role of domestic factors in economic development (questions)
8. 4.4 The role of international trade (notes)
9. 4.4 The role of international trade (questions)
10. 4.5 The role of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) (notes)
11. 4.5 The role of foreign direct investment (questions)
12. 4.6 The role of foreign aid and multilaterial development assistance (notes)
    1. Role of aid and MDA - introduction
    2. Foreign aid
    3. Aid - looking at the data
    4. Overseas development assistance
    5. Arguments for aid
    6. Arguments against aid
    7. Where do you stand on aid?
    8. Official development assistance - case studies
    9. Non-governmental organizations
    10. Multilateral development assistance
    11. International Monetary Fund (IMF)
    12. The World Bank
    13. A mighty wind of change (video)
    14. Structural Adjustment Programmes
    15. Non-convertible currencies versus convertible currencies
    16. Problems of SAPs (video)
13. 4.6 The role of foreign aid and multilateral development assistance (questions)
14. 4.7 The role of international debt (notes)
15. 4.7 The role of international debt (questions)
16. 4.8 The balance between markets and intervention (notes)
17. 4.8 The balance between markets and intervention (questions)
18. Print View

Structural Adjustment Programmes

One major area of contention with the two main 'economic' agencies mentioned above (IMF and World Bank) is their application of Structural Adjustment Programmes. These are part of any 'rescue package' a developing country may ask for. Normally, they require the receiver to accept that:

• They cut, or even drop all subsidies and price controls, even on basic foodstuffs
• They cut public expenditure
• They reduce the quantity of money in circulation
• They reduce those employed in the public sector
• They quickly reduce domestic inflation
• They open up home markets
• They privatise essential utilities such as gas, water and electricity, as well as other industries
• The move from a fixed to a floating exchange rate regime thus making the domestic currency convertible