Write a 2500 (+/- 10%) word essay on one of the following topics. The word limit doesn’t include references and footnotes.

Write an essay on the role of migration on international development with special reference to economic migration, conflict and environment displacement.

or

Topic 2:

Discuss how intra-household bargaining power affects well-being outcomes for women and children.

Topic 1:

Dinkelman, Taryn and Martine Mariotti, “The long-run effects of labour migration on human capital formation in communities of origin,”American Economic Journal: Applied Economics, 8 (4), 2016, pp. 1-35.

Gröger, Andre, “Easy come, easy go? Economic shocks, labour migration and the family left behind,” Journal of International Economics, 128, 2021.

Mobarak,  Mushfiq,  Iffath  Sharif,  and  Maheshwor  Shrestha,  “Returns  to  International Migration: Evidence from a Bangladesh-Malaysia Visa Lottery,” IZA Discussion Paper 14232, March 2021.

World  Bank,  Moving  for  Prosperity:  Global  Migration  and  Labor  Markets.  World  Bank Publications, Washington, DC, 2018.

Yang, Dean, “International Migration, Remittances, and Household Investment: Evidence from Philippine Migrants’ Exchange Rate Shocks,” Economic Journal, Vol. 118, April 2008b, pp. 591-630.

Ibáñez, A.  M.,  &  Vélez,  C.  E.  (2008).  Civil  conflict  and  forced  migration:  The  micro determinants and welfare losses of displacement in Colombia. World Development, 36(4), 659- 676.

Topic 2:

Mabsout, R., & Van Staveren, I. (2010). Disentangling bargaining power from individual and household   level   to   institutions:   Evidence   on   women’s   position   in   Ethiopia.   World Development, 38(5), 783-796.

Doss, C. (2013). Intrahousehold bargaining and resource allocation in developing countries. The World Bank Research Observer, 28(1), 52-78.

Lépine, A., & Strobl, E. (2013). The effect of women’s bargaining power on child nutrition in rural Senegal. World Development, 45, 17-30.

Heath,  R.  (2014).  Women’s  access  to  labour  market  opportunities,  control  of household resources, and domestic violence: Evidence from Bangladesh. World Development, 57, 32-46.

Instructions

Your essay should be well structured (with an introduction, the main body and a conclusion). Make sure the work is well researched and not plagiarized. You are expected to conduct a thorough literature review as part of your assessment. The readings included above can be your starting points for your literature review, though you will be expected to go beyond these.

The following outline plan is suggested:

1 Introduction: Comment on the topic, the treatment proposed and the limits of the study.

Keep it concise and informative. You may explain the focus of your essay, define any key terms, etc. It is often useful to summarise briefly the overall theme or argument of the essay, listing the main points that you are going to make. Remember, this is the first thing that the  reader sees. You have to convince them that your essay is interesting enough for them to continue.

2 Body: A comprehensive and coherent treatment of the topic as stated in the introduction. This will develop the main points/arguments and provide supporting evidence, in a logical order. It contains a critical evaluation and discussion of the material.

3 Conclusion: This should briefly summarise the argument or theme and indicate the conclusions drawn from it. You may add any final comments where relevant, e.g. main lessons, deductions, consequences. Conclusions are short, unambiguous and convincing.

4 Tables/Figures: In addition to the written section, you may provide supplementary figures, tables, etc. All exhibits provided should be referenced in the text, explained and add to your discussion.

5 Bibliography/References: All sources (e.g. books, articles, Internet sites,…) which you have used in the preparation of an essay must accurately be listed in a bibliography at the end. It is  essential that references are given, indicated in the text by author's name and year of publication.  I have no preference on the citation system, as long as you are consistent.

Permissible use of AI

The University's AI policies can be found here:https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/artificial-intelligence. Please note that this is a “Category 2'' assessment where “Generative Artificial Intelligence Tools (GAIT) can be used to support student learning and development''. This means that students are allowed to use GAIT  “to support them in exploring initial ideas and concepts, determining a structure for a piece of work, supporting their use of appropriate language, or otherwise support them in developing their ideas.'' If you are using GAIT, you are required to cite the usage of GAIT. This will not be counted towards your word limit. You cannot however use GAIT to write the assignment in your behalf or conduct literature review for you. Cutting and pasting content generated by GAIT into assignment would be counted as plagiarism and will be dealt with in the context of academic integrity and misconduct. While  AI can be useful, it cannot be trusted to provide accurate, thoroughly researched, properly credited and thoughtful analysis. That is your job, and these assignments are designed for your academic skills development.