Economics of Africa Sub-Saharan Africa is home to some of the poorest and some of the fastest growing economies in the world. In this course, we will explore the opportunities for sustained, inclusive economic growth in sub-Saharan Africa, the challenges that must be overcome in realizing these opportunities, and the policy options for overcoming these challenges. Topics may include demography, institutions, infrastructure, agriculture, urbanization, climate change, health, natural resources, mobile technology, trade, and regional integration. Students will be exposed to relevant economic theory and recent empirical economic research on Africa.

International Economics International trade and financial flows are increasingly important in today’s interconnected world. In this advanced course we will use tools from introductory and intermediate courses to help us analyze the causes and consequences of these flows. We will investigate why countries trade, what they trade, who gains (or loses) from trade, and the motives and effects of trade policies. We will then consider the monetary side of the international economy, including the balance of payments, the determination of exchange rates, and financial crises. This course is not open to students who have taken ECON 0240 or IPEC 0240.

International Economics: Theory and Policy This course provides an overview of international trade and finance. We will use economic theory to help us understand how and why countries interact in the global economy and evaluate the effects of different trade, exchange rate, and macroeconomic policies. Topics covered will include the reasons for trade, the winners and losers from trade, trade policies, trade agreements, exchange rates, the balance of payments, causes of and solutions to financial crises, and the role of the WTO and IMF. IPEC 0240 does not count towards the ECON major or minor requirements. (ECON 0150 and ECON 0155)

Growth and its Limits What is economic growth? Is it limited in a world of finite resources? In this seminar we will explore these questions from a multidisciplinary perspective, drawing on readings from 18th century philosophers to 21st century research on climate change and artificial intelligence. Particular attention will be paid to the role of demography, agricultural productivity, and fossil fuels. We will develop simple mathematical models of growth and seek out relevant data to help inform our discussions and writing.

Obie Porteous

Reviews and ratings for Obie Porteous at Middlebury College.Obie Porteous teaches Economics of Africa, International Economics, Int'l Econ: Theory & Policy and more.  Explore top rated instructors and find the best for you.Is Obie Porteous good ? Find out on MiddCourses.

Prof. Porteous was a good teacher but his homework is so difficult to get a perfect score on. I always scored 0.25 or 0.5 points off of a perfect score which was really frustrating. His exams, are almost impossible, but he is very generous with the curve, although not very accommodating for legitimate reasons to miss the exam. Not a bad course overall though. 

Professor Porteous runs the course really well. Everything is laid out clearly, and the non-cumulative exams make the workload much more manageable. The material is definitely difficult, but the problem sets and office hours help a ton with actually learning the concepts. You can tell he’s very passionate about the subject, which makes the class more engaging. The exams are hard, but there’s a curve, so it balances out

The homework problem sets are graded pretty harshly but likely due to TA… the exams are not difficult if don’t skip lectures and attend some office hours or peer tutor sections. The professor is very helpful but you need to reach out. (For fall 25 but fall 25 reviews is not open yet)