Why are some countries rich and others poor? How does globalization affect sustainability? What is the relationship between international trade and economic development?
The Economic Development and Globalization profile in Groningen is one of the few economic programmes in the Netherlands that offers a comprehensive and global perspective on current economic trends. When you choose this profile in your second year, you will study the impact of economic development and globalization on firms and individuals, and the governments’ role in that process.
With the increasing integration of the world economy through international trade and capital flows, it is important and highly relevant to consider contemporary economic issues. You will have the opportunity to take courses into various economic topics and subjects such as sustainability, technological change, innovation, and business ethics. You will learn about strategies that governments can pursue to ensure economic growth. Moreover, development economics will give you insight into the theories, policies and patterns that help analyze why some regions of the world have managed to develop successfully, while other regions are struggling.
You will have access to opportunities to develop practical skills and gain exposure to real-world economic challenges. Continuing with the MSc in Economic Development and Globalization will ensure that you are well-prepared for a range of career opportunities in various fields, both nationally and internationally.
Do you want to learn more about the other two profiles in Economics or Business Economics ?
I wanted to study economics because this field is more and more important nowadays and I was interested particularly in the policies that are being considered to prevent and handle the financial crisis. Out of all the study programmes I looked at, the one in Groningen seemed to have the most holistic approach to economics, with not just the core macroeconomics and microeconomics subjects but also a heavy emphasis on developmental economics.
In my second year, I chose to follow the Economic Development and Globalization (ED&G) profile. One of my primary interests was researching uplifting marginalized communities as a driver in reaching a sustainable economy. One of the best things about choosing ED&G is the discussions that you have in classes regarding topics of development. Also, I think courses like Technology and Innovation enhanced my understanding of the global economy and the role technology plays in it. I enjoyed the research-based projects that taught me how to conduct research and prepared me for my thesis. In the future, I would like to do research on global sustainability and equity.
All in all, it is a challenging and very interesting programme and there is a lot to gain from it. Especially when you read financial and economic news and get to see some of the theories come to life.
