MAEC

MASTER OF ARTS
(ECONOMICS)

ASSIGNMENTS 2024
Second Semester Courses
January 2024 Session
(For the students who have taken admission first time in July
2023)

SCHOOL OF SOCIAL SCIENCES

INDIRA GANDHI NATIONAL OPEN UNIVERSITY
MAIDAN GARHI-110068
 Master of Arts (Economics)

(TMA)

(January 2024)

Dear Student,

As explained in the programme guide for MAEC, assignments carry 30 per cent weightage in a
course and it is mandatory that you must secure at least 40 per cent marks in assignments to complete
a course successfully. Note that you must submit the assignments before appearing in Term End
Examination of a course.

Before attempting the assignments, please read the instructions provided in the programme guide
sent to you separately. In this booklet, we have included the assignments for all the courses
pertaining to the Second semester. In each course there is a Tutor Marked Assignment (TMA).
You must do the assignment for those courses for which you have registered. Do remember that
you must prepare and submit the assignments separately for each course. Make sure that you
submit the assignments well in time for those courses in which you plan to appear in the Term
End Examination.

It is important that you write the answers to all the TMA questions in your own words. Your
answers should be within the approximate range of the word-limit set for a particular section.

As mentioned in the Programme Guide, you need to submit all the assignments within the
stipulated time for being eligible to appear in the term-end examination to the coordinator of your
study centre. This assignment is valid for January 2024 (For the students who have taken
admission first time in July 2023)

The assignments should be submitted to the Coordinator of your Study Centre by 30th April 2024.

You must obtain a receipt from the Study Centre for the assignments submitted and retain it. If
possible, keep a xerox copy of the assignments with you.

The Study Centre will have to return the assignments to you after they are evaluated. Please insist
on this. The Study Centre has to send the marks to the Student Evaluation Division at IGNOU,
New Delhi.
We expect you to answer each question as per guidelines for each category as mentioned in the
assignment. You will find it useful to keep the following points in mind:

1) Planning: Read the assignments carefully, go through the Units on which they are based.
Make some points regarding each question and then rearrange them in a logical order.

2) Organisation: Be a little selective and analytic before drawing up a rough outline of your
answer. Give adequate attention to your introduction and conclusion.

Make sure that your answer:

a) is logical and coherent;
b) has clear connections between sentences and paragraphs, and
c) is written correctly giving adequate consideration to your expression, style and
presentation.

3) Presentation: Once you are satisfied with your answer, you can write down the final
version for submission, writing each answer neatly and underlining the points you wish to
emphasize. Make sure that the answer is within the stipulated word limit.
 MEC-104: ECONOMICS OF GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT
Tutor Marked Assignment (TMA)

Course Code: MEC-104

Asst. Code: MEC-104 / AST/2024
Total Marks: 100

Note: Answer all the questions.

SECTION A

Answer the following questions in about 700 words each. Each question carries 20
marks.

1) Examine the effect of population growth in the Solow model of economic growth. Discuss how the
Solow model could be used to explain poverty traps in developing nations.

2) Explain why diminishing returns to capital do not take place in the AK model. Discuss the Lucas
model of endogenous growth, bringing out the role of human capital

SECTION B

Answer the following questions in about 400 words each. Each question carries 12
marks.

3) Distinguish between economic growth and development. Briefly mention the main benefits that
economic growth confers upon society.

4) Describe Pasinetti's theory of economic growth and distribution.

5) Describe the various approaches to the measurement of total factor productivity.

6) Discuss the impact of income inequality on economic growth

7) Discuss how geographical factors impact economic development.

 MEC-109: RESEARCH METHODS IN ECONOMICS
Tutor Marked Assignment (TMA)

Course Code: MEC-109

Assignment Code: MEC-109/AST/2024
Maximum Marks: 100

Note: Answer all the questions.

SECTION-A
Answer the following questions in about 700 words each. Each question carries 20
marks.

1. ‘The inductive strategy begins with the collection of data from which generalization is made’-
In the light of this statement formulate a research proposal indicating the various steps
involved in research process.
2. Distinguish between Cluster sampling and Multi-stage sampling. In order to find out the
incidence of Malnutrition among rural households in a given distinct, how would you collect
the data by multi-stage sampling? Illustrate.

SECTION B
Answer the following questions in about 400 words each. The word limits do not apply in
case ofnumerical questions. Each question carries 12 marks.

3. Suppose you want to study the behavior of sales of automobiles over a number of years and
someone suggests you to try the following models:
yt= B0 + B1 t
yt= à0 + à1 t + à2 t2
Where yt = sales at time t and t = time. The first model postulates that sales is a linear
function of time, whereas the second model states that it is a quadratic function of time.
(a) Discuss the properties of these two models.
(b) How would you decide which model is appropriate between these two models?
(c) In what situation the Quadric Model will be useful.

4. Try to obtain data on automobile sales from any company in India over the past 20 years and
examine which of the two models (Linear and Quadric) fits the data better?
5. What is Canonical Correlation Analysis? State the similarity and difference between multiple
regression and canonical correlation.

6. What is action research? What are the advantages of strategy of action research over
conventional research? Illustrate.

7. Write a short note on the following:

i. Traditional Method and Structural Equation Modeling.
ii. Input-output table
iii. Data generation
iv. Paradigm
 MEC-205: INDIAN ECONOMIC POLICY
Assignment (TMA)

Course Code: MEC-205

Assignment Code: MEC-205/AST/2024
Maximum Marks: 100

Note: Answer all the questions.

Section-A
Answer the following questions in about 700 words each. Each question carries 20
marks.

1. “The question of Centre-State relations has become the focal point of discussion for a
number of reasons”- Comment on this statement and point out the reasons for conflict
between Centre and State.

2. “The pattern of structural change in the Indian economy has deviated from the
development pattern of Western and South Asian economies.” Examine this statement.

Section B

Answer the following questions in about 400 words each. Each question carries 12
marks.

3. What are the objectives of Monetary policy? Which instruments are used by the RBI to
attain these objectives? How far the monetary policy has been effective to control the
inflation?

4. Till 17th Contrary India was the largest GDP contributor worldwide. Give an account of
reasons for disruption of the traditional Indian economy during British period.

5. Discuss the contribution being made by MSME sector to the Indian economy. Give an
account of the policy measures initiated by the Central Government to meet the
challenges being encountered by MSME sector.

6. State the features of changing nature of world trade? How far the ‘Make in India’ and
‘Digital India’ programmes are in tune with changing nature of world trade?

7. State the various dimensions of deterioration in the quality of employment in India. Also
examine the policy implications of slowdown in women’s workforce participation rate.