This class draws on current research to explore contemporary development debates. The course is structured around two inter-related questions: How do political institutions determine economic policy choices? And how do economic structures in turn affect political processes? The course bridges theory and practice to investigate micro- and macro-level political and economic processes shaping the prospects for development. Drawing on literature from many fields from behavioral economics to anthropology, the course uses case studies to illustrate how markets function, why seemingly inefficient institutions survive, and why governments sometimes adopt policies detrimental to development. Topics to be covered include: the political economy of corruption, the role of foreign aid, the efficacy of so-called governance reforms, and the relationship between democracy and development. This course is open to non-Law students.