EC995-8-AU-CO:
Topics in Applied Economics
2024/25
Economics
Colchester Campus
Autumn
Postgraduate: Level 8
Current
Thursday 03 October 2024
Friday 13 December 2024
20
21 February 2024
Requisites for this module
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)
This module covers the basics for doing sound empirical work at the post-graduate level, including Labour and Public Economics, Development and Experiments, Industrial Organization and Trade.
The identification issue of causal relationship when analyzing experimental and non-experimental data represents the unifying topic of the course. Much in the spirit of "Correlation is not equal to causation!"
This module is particularly aimed at students who plan on doing applied work for their thesis.
By the end of this module, students will be expected to be able to:
- Have a clear understanding of how to do empirical work in applied micro econometrics.
Students will learn how current empirical microeconomic work addresses issues of causality. Emphasis is on the formulation and estimation of a wide range of models and techniques, from randomized control trials to reduced-form techniques, and covering a broad set of design based identification tools, including difference-in-difference models, instrumental variables regressions, regression discontinuity design, synthetic control methods, and panel data econometrics.
Applications of these techniques cover several fields of interest, including labour market effects of education and migration, income inequality, sorting, wage differentials, health, development, and behavioural economics. Throughout the module, attention will be paid to link the analysis to current debates in the public policy context.
This module will be delivered via:
- One 4-hour lecture per week.
The final mark will be the average of the mark in the first part of the course and the mark in the second part of the course. The mark for the first part of the course will be based on an empirical problem set involving coding and data analysis related to material in the course. The mark in the second part of the course will be based on a referee report, a research project and a presentation of a paper related to the material covered in class.
This module does not appear to have a published bibliography for this year.
Assessment items, weightings and deadlines
| Coursework / exam |
Description |
Deadline |
Coursework weighting |
| Coursework |
Presentation slides |
|
50% |
| Coursework |
Problem Set |
|
50% |
Exam format definitions
- Remote, open book: Your exam will take place remotely via an online learning platform. You may refer to any physical or electronic materials during the exam.
- In-person, open book: Your exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer to any physical materials such as paper study notes or a textbook during the exam. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
- In-person, open book (restricted): The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer only to specific physical materials such as a named textbook during the exam. Permitted materials will be specified by your department. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
- In-person, closed book: The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may not refer to any physical materials or electronic devices during the exam. There may be times when a paper dictionary,
for example, may be permitted in an otherwise closed book exam. Any exceptions will be specified by your department.
Your department will provide further guidance before your exams.
Overall assessment
Reassessment
Module supervisor and teaching staff
Yes
No
Yes
Miss Maria Kyriacou
Available via Moodle
Of 499 hours, 38 (7.6%) hours available to students:
461 hours not recorded due to service coverage or fault;
0 hours not recorded due to opt-out by lecturer(s).
Economics
* Please note: due to differing publication schedules, items marked with an asterisk (*) base their information upon the previous academic year.
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