AØKK08335U Seminar: Empirical Economic Growth

Volume 2015/2016
Education

M.Sc. of Economics
The seminar is primarily for students at the MSc of Economics

Content

The purpose of the seminar is to use empirical methods to test theories of economic growth. For the seminar paper, students are asked to replicate an existing study, and to discuss its robustness to various extensions (e.g., larger samples, alternative data sources, adding control variables, changing assumptions about functional forms etc.). Topics for seminar papers include, but are not limited to: Does international trade cause growth? What about finance? And how important is education? Are rent-seeking and corruption keeping poor countries poor? Should we be worried that increasing inequality will reduce growth?

Learning Outcome

Students should learn to identify the key testable prediction(s) in a theory of economic growth, and to test these predictions by appropriate empirical methods and data. Students should be particularly aware of problems of identification and measurement. Students should be able to summarize the academic literature about of their research topic, and to identify where their own papers contribute the existing knowledge.

Students are asked to pick a paper to discuss and replicate and discuss in their own paper. Depending on the chosen paper, useful background readings include:

  • Acemoglu, D. (2008). Introduction to modern economic growth. Princeton University Press.

  • Jones, C. I. (2015). The Facts of Economic Growth (No. w21142). National Bureau of Economic Research.

  • Caselli, F. (2005). Accounting for cross-country income differences. Handbook of economic growth, 1, 679-741.

  • Durlauf, S. N., Johnson, P. A., & Temple, J. R. (2005). Growth econometrics. Handbook of economic growth, 1, 555-677.

  • Barro, R. (2015). Convergence and modernization. The Economic Journal.

  • Barro, R. J. (1999). Notes on growth accounting. Journal of Economic Growth, 4(2), 119-137.

A BA in economics is required. Useful master’s level courses include: Macro III, Economic Growth, Advanced Macroeconomics, Advanced Development Economics: Macro Aspects, Advanced Microeconometrics.
Introductory lectures, supervision and peer feedback, oral presentation and class discussion.

3-4 weekly lectures Wednesday 10-12 in February, the first will be 10th of February, and one to two days of presentations in May, where the dates will be made in agreement with the students.
  • Category
  • Hours
  • Project work
  • 186
  • Seminar
  • 20
  • Total
  • 206
Credit
7,5 ECTS
Type of assessment
Written assignment
A written seminar paper. Individually, or groups of two.

Included in the seminar is an oral presentation for the others participans at the seminar, with 35 minutes of oral presentation including discussion..
Exam registration requirements

Attendance on the seminar. The mandatory commitment paper and seminar paper have been handed in at deadline.

Aid
All aids allowed

Al aids for the written seminarpaper.

 

Marking scale
7-point grading scale
Censorship form
External censorship
up to 20 % censorship at the seminarpaper
Exam period

Deadline for commitment paper: March 1st.

Student presentations:Exact dates will be made in agreement with the students at the first meeting

Deadline for handing in term paper: May 24 2016 at midnight

For enrolled students more information about examination, exam/re-sit, rules etc. is available at the student intranet for Examination (English) and student intranet for Examination (KA-Danish).

Re-exam

Submission of a written assignmetn and an oral exam in which you may be examined in the presentations of the other students participating in the seminar during the enrolment period in question.

Criteria for exam assesment

The student must in a satisfactory way demonstrate that he/she has mastered the learning outcome of the course.