Development Studies - Definition

Development Studies is the academic discipline which addresses issues of concern to developing nations.

The emergence of Development Studies as an academic discipline in the second half of the twentieth century is in large part due to increasing concern about economic prospects for the third world after decolonisation. While it originally emerged as a branch of economics, development economics, it has become an increasingly inter- and multi-disciplinary subject, encompassing politics, sociology, geography and international relations.

Development Studies is offered as a specialised Master's degree in a number of universities, and, less commonly, as an undergraduate degree.

Students of Development Studies often choose careers in international organisations such as United Nations, non-governmental organisations, the World Bank, and research centres.

Famous development academics

Amartya Sen

Joseph Stiglitz

Hans Singer

External Links

• United Nations Research Institute for Social Development (http://www.unrisd.org/)

• Institute for Development Studies (http://www.ids.ac.uk/ids/)

• Overseas Development Institute (http://www.odi.org.uk/)

• Development Studies Association (http://www.devstud.org.uk/)

• The World Bank (http://www.worldbank.org/)

Example Usage of Development