Inspired by the famous Sid Meier "Civilization" and "Alpha Centauri" world building games.
Here.
This paper explains how to use a game built using an excel spreadsheet that plays out key structural changes studied in development economics. The game is inspired by Sid Meier’s simulators, namely Civilisation and Alpha Centauri. It provides a fun way to introduce students to the central themes of a development economics course including industrialisation, demographic transition, sources of growth, trade, institutions, diminishing returns when land is a fixed factor, the resource curse, and the importance of productivity. The foundation of the game is a production function, with the class allocating labour and capital to different industries each turn in order to grow their economy. More advanced concepts like trade and institutions are introduced each turn in the form of exogenous shocks.
From:
Mark Fabian
Here.
This paper explains how to use a game built using an excel spreadsheet that plays out key structural changes studied in development economics. The game is inspired by Sid Meier’s simulators, namely Civilisation and Alpha Centauri. It provides a fun way to introduce students to the central themes of a development economics course including industrialisation, demographic transition, sources of growth, trade, institutions, diminishing returns when land is a fixed factor, the resource curse, and the importance of productivity. The foundation of the game is a production function, with the class allocating labour and capital to different industries each turn in order to grow their economy. More advanced concepts like trade and institutions are introduced each turn in the form of exogenous shocks.
From:
Mark Fabian