Master of Science in International and Development Economics
Start main Content
A banner image of website

Programme Structure*



Applicable for students admitted from AY2022-23 onwards

Each student should complete 30 credits (This means ten 3-credit courses must be completed) before graduation, including 6 core courses and 4 elective courses.


Core courses (6 core courses, 18 units in total):


*Elective courses (4 elective courses, 12 units in total)


*Remarks:
  • *The courses of IDE508, IDE509, IDE514, IDE516 and IDE517 will NOT be offered in AY2022-23.
  • These are the courses that have been offered. New courses would be added in the future.

    • Applicable for students admitted in AY2021-22 or before

    Each student should complete 30 credits (This means ten 3-credit courses must be completed) before graduation, including 5 required courses and 5 elective courses in 3 categories.


    Required (5 required courses, each course consists of 3 credits and 15 credits in total):


    Electives (A student must choose 5 courses from 3 categories of courses. Each course consists of 3 credits. Therefore, a total of 15 credits must be completed.):


    International Cluster (at least one course)


    Development and Related Cluster (at least one course)


    Methodology Cluster (one courses)

    This programme mainly uses Chinese as a medium for teaching and assessment, supplemented with English. Students can also opt to submit their reports or answers to exam questions in Chinese. Some courses may be provided in Chinese or English depending on the student’s demand.

    *Change in MIDE Programme Curricula starting from AY2022-23 is pending to senate's approval.



    Course Descriptions

    IDE501 Microeconomics for Development (3 credits)

    This course introduces to the students the microeconomics for development. It also attempts to show what major development challenges people in developing countries are facing and what policies can help address with these challenges.

    IDE502 Macroeconomics for Development (3 credits)

    This course introduces to the students the macroeconomics for development. It also attempts to show what major development challenges people in developing countries are facing and what policies can help address with these challenges.

    IDE503 Development Economics (3 credits)

    This course focuses on the empirical analysis in development economics, particularly at the micro-level. After acquiring basic research and empirical methods commonly used among economists in the field of development, students will then study the cause of poverty and the path to development at individual, household and local levels. This course examines a number of rigorous empirical studies to answer two sets of questions: 1) what are the institutional, behavioral and information gaps to economic development; and 2) what policy measures can effectively improve the livelihood of the poor.

    IDE504 International Trade (3 credits)

    This course provides a foundation in international trade, theory and policy. The course will aim to explain patterns of world production and trade and ask if international trade is beneficial. This will be done with the help of models from international trade theory that are important components of the toolkit of contemporary trade economists. The course will also explore the phenomena of outsourcing and international mobility of labor (immigration) and capital (Foreign Direct Investment (FDI)). The course will analyse and compare instruments of trade policy and evaluate their impact on domestic and international economies. Finally, this course will study the world trading system, including the World Trade Organisation (WTO), international trade agreements and the Belt and Road Initiative.

    IDE505 Current Issues in International and Development Economics (3 credits)

    This course will invite a number of guest speakers to deliver a wide variety of current issues ranging from regional to international interactions with other regions in the Belt and Road Initiative. The course will examine a selected set of contemporary development issues and challenges in depth. Proposed topics include urbanisation and the rising numbers of urban vulnerable; the persistence of chronic, rural and urban poverty, including issues of exclusion linked to ethnicity and gender; primary measures to improve skills and health outcomes; government failure, linked to corruption and elite capture; and energy subsidies and pricing policies etc.

    IDE506 International Money and Finance (3 credits)

    Today’s financial markets are truly global in nature. No student of economics or finance can fully understand current developments without some background in international finance. This course attempts to cover the practical issues of international finance and summarises the current literature with only elementary math as a prerequisite. The practical questions include, but not limit to, where to borrow and invest internationally, what different types of international bonds and stocks can be used to raise capital, how exchange rates affect cash flow, what can be done to avoid foreign exchange exposure and risk, and the general financial management problems of doing business in the global environment.

    IDE507 Globalisation and Economic Development (3 credits)

    The course enables students to understand and critically analyse the essential aspects of the current phase of globalisation both in its real and monetary aspects. In this context, the course focuses on the emergence and the role of international institutions in the regulation of economic relationships between countries. The second part of the course analyses the effects of globalisation on economic development, with particular reference to institutional dynamics and distributive conflicts.

    IDE508 The World Economy (3 credits)

    This course explores the major forces and processes that have determined the world economy and its current opportunities and challenges. It begins with an overview of the development of the world economy and its current conditions, treating the world economy as an integrated unit. The course then discusses the performance and experience of major economies or groups of economies, including the US, Europe, newly industrialized economies in East and Southeast Asia, India, the Middle East, Latin America, and Africa. Relevant factors that are important for economic successes and failures in individual economies are investigated, including geography, technology, demography, trade and foreign investment, industrial policies, and macroeconomic policies. Based on these understanding, the course ends with an analysis of the future prospects of the world economy.

    IDE509 International Political Economy (3 credits)

    The International Political Economy (IPE) offers a multidisciplinary approach to the study of modern society. International Political Economy encourages the integrated analysis of economic problems and issues, using tools and methods of economics, political science, and sociology as informed by an understanding of history and tempered by appreciation of the differences in economic and political systems in the world. This course introduces three standard perspectives in International Political Economy and thus offers a broad and critical vision to look at the world and understand current issues.

    IDE510 The Belt and Road Initiative: History, Politics, Economy and Society (3 credits)

    This course offers an introduction to the Silk Road as a driving force in history through its role as a facilitator of cross-cultural, social and political contacts. It first discusses the large number of different stakeholders interested in the historical Silk Road. The second part of this course focuses on the up-to-date issues and current developments related to the Belt and Road Initiative and its impact on different countries. For example, the implications and opportunities for the Belt and Road Initiative in ASEAN, Central Asia, Europe and other regions. An additional operative lens with particular relevance to the rapid growth of management practices in regional and global economic integration. In the end the course discusses some possibilities and challenges in the investment of the Belt and Road Initiative and students are required to work as a team to take the project from the first idea to its possible execution.

    IDE511 Chinese Economic Development (3 credits)

    This course aims to help students analyze and understand the transition and development of the Chinese economy since 1979. Specific topics include but are not limited to the economic reform, open-door policy, regional development, economic growth, financial market, innovation, international trade, foreign direct investment, exchange rate, and other contemporary economic issues. The course will discuss both the achievements of the economy and the current problems and challenges it faces. We will introduce some basic knowledge of microeconomics macroeconomics, international economics, and statistics as the basis for systematic analysis of Chinese economic development in the past, present and future.

    IDE512 Political Economy of Economic Development (3 credits)

    This course provides an introduction to contemporary research on the political economy of development. The major questions to be addressed by the course are: How central is politics to economic development? How do political institutions determine policy choices? How do economic structures in turn impact politics? Why do governments employ policies that hinder development?

    IDE513 Environmental Issues and Sustainable Development (3 credits)

    The course applies economic analysis to environmental issues and sustainable development. The market-oriented approach to environmental policy making will be evaluated with the regulation-planning approach. Approaches to green economic growth will also be examined. This course requires a basic knowledge of microeconomics.

    IDE514 Globalisation and Economic Integration (3 credits)

    This course aims to familiarise students with the cause, pattern, and nature of the globalisation of production of goods and services, which are taking the form of greater division of labor, increasing specialisation, greater trade and capital flows, and keener international competition. Against this trend, however, is the emergence of trade blocs and regional economic entities. This course will look at the interaction between these two trends. Students will also have the chance to examine the roles of World Trade Organisation (WTO), the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund (IMF), and the impact of globalisation on financial stability through the study of the East Asian Financial Crisis and the recent Financial Tsunami.

    IDE515 Research Methods (3 credits)

    The course is designed to lay the foundations for research in economics or for work as a professional economist. The course covers different aspects of the research toolbox of modern economists. The course will provide an overview of the important concepts of research design, data collection, statistical and interpretative analysis, and final report presentation. Through attending seminars, reading the literature and writing assignments, students will gain exposure to different research methodologies used in economics. Students will learn how to synthesise and critique research on a particular topic by reading academic papers and/or research reports from government and nongovernmental agencies. Last, students will develop their academic skills and empirical econometric skills towards independent economic research, and improve their writing skills in presenting research to a wide variety of audiences.

    IDE516 Financial Econometrics I (3 credits)

    This course provides students with an introduction to the principles of econometric analysis. The course equips students with appropriate econometrics techniques and software skills for doing empirical research in economics and finance. The emphasis of this course will be on developing and applying regression techniques in cross-sectional contexts.

    IDE517 Financial Econometrics II (3 credits)

    This course mainly covers time series modeling, panel data analysis and limited dependent variable models. The course focuses on theoretical underpinnings of relevant estimation and inferences. It also includes a hands-on component where students will apply various techniques discussed in class to financial time series and panel data.

    IDE518 Industrial Economics and Policy (3 credits)

    This course provides an introduction to current theory in Industrial economics. It starts by examining the internal structure of firms. It then moves on to the analysis of various aspects of strategic interaction between firms and the determinants of industrial structure. Finally, it discusses the role of policy in the context of competition and industrial policies and regulation. The emphasis will be throughout on understanding how the theoretical tools can be used to analyse real world issues.