These two volumes of readings attempt to bring some degree of structure to a relatively diffuse field. Because of the sheer volume of high-quality work in development economics research, they are intended as a sampling of work at the frontier of the field, rather than as a comprehensive overview. Volume II: Empirical Microeconomics focuses on empirical work. Topics covered include the relationship between wages and health, the role of human capital and demographic change, the internal structure of households, information imperfections in factor markets, the permanent income hypothesis, the possibility of Pareto-efficient allocation of risk in villages, and the relationship between property rights and investment decisions.
