This year's IEDP will focus on Colombia, an emerging economy whose GDP is projected to grow by 2-5 percent over the next five years (IMF). Despite this progress, Colombia still struggles with serious social and political problems: people displaced by ongoing violent conflict, poverty and a thriving drug trade, to name a few.
Students will examine and analyze Colombian domestic and foreign policy through the lens of economic development. Issues to be addressed (chosen by the students in the class) will likely include some of the following: public sector reform, private industry development, drug control, labor rights, education, environmental protection and health. The class will be divided into teams, with each team studying and producing a comprehensive final report on one of the topics.
The IEDP trip to Colombia will take place between February 25 and March 4, 2012. During that week, students will meet with various stakeholders related to their topics and collect information to include in their reports. The trip's itinerary will be planned by the class, with teams taking on such responsibilities as: fundraising, arranging travel logistics and scheduling meetings.
