MS in International and Development Economics (IDEC)
The rapid pace of globalization has increased the demand for professionals with training in international economics and economic development. Our one-of-a-kind Master of Science in International and Development Economics (IDEC) provides students with the knowledge and skills to understand how market forces can be harnessed to empower developing countries to break from cycles of poverty.
The goal of the program is to help students understand how market forces can be harnessed to free the poor in developing countries from cycles of poverty. It also examines the importance of institutions that regulate market forces. Unlike larger institutions, USF combines an intimate classroom experience with personalized research direction from dedicated faculty committed to the success of each student.
Watch our Program video: Master of Science in International and Development Economics at USF – Economics that Make a Global Impact:
Topics of Study:
- Effects of globalization, international integration, and trade
- Macroeconomics of developing countries
- Econometrics of development project evaluation
- Agricultural economics and commodity markets
- Microfinance
- Causes of poverty and famine
- Evaluation of health and education programs
- Women and development
- International finance and currency stabilization
- International labor markets and migration
Career Paths:
- Professional work in international agencies, international businesses, and non-governmental organizations
- Professional work as development researchers, practitioners, and policymakers for issues facing developing countries
- Further study in international and development economics in a Ph.D. program
Learning Goals
- Understand the application of modern micro and macroeconomic theory to the key problems of economic development, trade and finance
- including the analysis of market failures, poverty traps, the structure of incentives, the use of game theory to model institutional behavior, and open economy models of trade, migration, foreign direct investment, financial markets, and exchange rate determination.
- Design and carry out a fieldwork-based research project
- including formation of an original research question, planning of an effective methodology, development of field protocols/survey instruments, and data collection in a developing or transition country.
- Conduct original quantitative empirical analysis of an international or development economics problem
- Specifically, students should be able to express an economic theory in terms of an observable model; determine the appropriate estimation method for the empirical model; utilize statistical software to conduct such estimation; and meaningfully interpret the results.
- Effectively communicate research finding both in writing and orally
- including compilation of a professional literature review, clear presentation of theoretical and empirical models, econometric analysis, and the relevance of the study's principal findings and implications for international and/or economic development theory and policy.
Academic Program Director:
Professor Alessandra Cassar