Reference no: EM133201646 , Length: Words Count:3000
Assignment:
Choose one of the following questions and answer in a maximum of 3000 words.
1. Examine the view that measurement of Gross Domestic Product is becoming less accurate. What are the implications of this argument on the conventional calculation of global income distribution?
2. Critically examine the ‘convergence' thesis regarding global income distribution.
3. Examine the contribution of the Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) to poverty reduction strategies. Illustrate your argument which reference to a country of your choice.
4. How can the concept of ‘polarisation' contribute to our understanding of the relationship between growth and equity?
5. How do you explain the rise and fall over time in support for Simon Kuznet's U-shaped hypothesis concerning the relationship between growth and equity? How useful is this hypothesis today?
6. Critically examine the argument that the International Monetary Fund does not allow borrowing countries to have sufficient ‘fiscal space'.
7. "A trade deficit is not a problem but a current account deficit is a problem" Do you agree with this statement?
8. How would you assess the "healthiness" of the balance of payments? Illustrate your answer by reference to a country of your choice.
9. How would you assess the "healthiness" of public finances? Illustrate your answer by reference to a country of your choice.
10. Critically examine the effectiveness of measures designed to make the budgetary process more transparent and accountable. Illustrate your answer by reference to a country of your choice.
11. Examine the operational differences between the New Development Bank (NDB) and Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) on the one hand, and the World Bank and regional development banks (African Development Bank, Interamerican Development Bank and Asian Development Bank) on the other hand. Which of these two sets of institutions makes a better contribution to the economic development of low-income countries?
12. Critically examine the relevance of the writings of Karl Marx to our understanding of global capitalism today?
13. How significant is the recent mea culpa of the International Monetary Fund with regard to its own "neo-liberal tendencies"? Illustrate your answer by reference to a country of your choice.
14. How effective and equitable would unitary taxation be as a mechanism for overcoming tax avoidance mechanisms such as ‘base erosion and profit shifting' (BEPS) utilized by multinational corporations? In your answer make reference to the particular problems of taxation of digital activities.