51³ÉÈËÁÔÆæ

Course Description

Summary

A disaster is considered 'an occurrence that causes great harm,' but how is this 'harm' distributed among people? This research seminar explores this question by studying how the effects of disasters are unequally distributed within a population based on conditions of poverty and inequality, and how disasters, in turn, exacerbate these disparities. This seminar focuses on instructing students in designing and executing their own research projects in economics and political economy using data. The specific focus of our study will be hydrometeorological disaster occurrences that are related to climatological changes– droughts and floods. This advanced-level research seminar is tailored for third and fourth-year college students, but second year students can also take this course if they fulfill the prerequisites. The course will involve a close analysis of spatial datasets, requiring prior knowledge of data analysis and familiarity with spreadsheet analysis. Some understanding of statistical theory/applications is also beneficial. The course entails two requirements: [a] Active class participation, grounded in thorough engagement with assigned materials, and [b] a research project with related homework assignments. Attendance is mandatory, and students are expected to carefully prepare by engaging with assigned readings and actively participating in class discussions. Additionally, students will conduct empirically-grounded research on a specific issue related to disasters, poverty, and inequality. All datasets will be provided to the students; however, it's important to note that the instructor has the permit and privilege to oversee the datasets. Any use, citation, or distribution of the datasets without prior written approval from the instructor and/or without their knowledge would constitute a breach of trust and violate the terms of use.