AØKA08089U Economic Growth (F)

Volume 2022/2023
Education

MSc programme in Economics – elective course
The course is part of the Financial line at the MSc programme in Economics,   symbolized by ‘F’.

 

The PhD Programme in Economics at the Department of Economics:

  • The course is an elective course with research module. In order to register for the research module and to be able to write the research assignment, the PhD students must contact the study administration AND the lecturer.
  • The course is a part of the admission requirements for the 5+3 PhD Programme. Please consult the 5+3 PhD admission requirements.
Content

The course introduces topics in the field of economic growth with particular relevance to the growth process in the industrialized part of the world. In particular, we study theories of economic growth where knowledge accumulation drives technological change, as determined by factor accumulation as well as through research and development. We also discuss the role played by technology transfer; the importance of misallocation in development as well as of economic geography. Measurement issues concerning economic growth will also be discussed. 

 

Empirical evidence will be discussed in an effort to gauge the practical importance of various theories. Moreover, we review current debates in the area of economic growth where we apply various frameworks that are introduced in the course. For example: is a growth slowdown on the horizon? What is the cause of the transatlantic productivity divergence? 

 

There will be an emphasis on formal models; understanding them, being able to evaluate them from both a theoretical and empirical perspective, and to use them to analyse specific questions.

Learning Outcome

After completing the course the student is expected to be able to:

 

Knowledge:

• Have a broad appreciation of important papers in the literature relevant to economic growth in industrialized economies.

• Apply his/her knowledge of econometrics to articles that conduct quantitative analysis with bearing on growth within and across industrialized economies.

 

Skills:

• Understand theoretical models and arguments in the area, as well as be able to provide intuition for central mechanisms and assess the model’s empirical predictions.

• Appreciate some of the key debates among economists and how they relate to contemporary policy issues

 

Competencies:

• Function as a trained economist working on the problems of less developed countries in an international organization, business environment, government or non-governmental organization.

The course uses selected chapters from Barro, R og X. Sala-i-Martin (2004). “Economic Growth” (2nd ed), MIT press as well as journal articles, handbook chapters etc.

Working knowledge of growth models at a level corresponding to Barro, R og X. Sala-i-Martin (2004). “Economic Growth” (2nd ed), MIT press, Ch. 1-3, which is covered in Macroeconomics II and Macroeconomics III at the study of Economics, University of Copenhagen.

Knowledge of basic econometrics such a cross-section and panel data analysis, which is covered in Econometrics I at the Bachelor study of Economics, University of Copenhagen.

Useful reading before the course is taken includes the mentioned book by Barro and Sala-i-Martin Ch. 1-3.
Lectures.

Changes to teaching methods due to a pandemic crisis:
The teaching in this course might be changed to either fully or partly online due to a pandemic crisis. If changes are implemented please read the study messages at KUnet or the announcements in the virtual course room on Absalon (for enrolled students).
Schedule:
3 hours lectures a week from week 6 to 20.

The overall schema for the Master can be seen at KUnet:
MSc in Economics => "courses and teaching" => "Planning and overview" => "Your timetable"
KA i Økonomi => "Kurser og undervisning" => "Planlægning og overblik" => "Dit skema"

Timetable and venue:
To see the time and location of lectures please press the link under "Timetable"/​"Se skema" at the right side of this page (F means Spring).

You can find the similar information in English at
https:/​/​skema.ku.dk/​ku2223/​uk/​module.htm
-Select Department: “2200-Økonomisk Institut” (and wait for respond)
-Select Module:: “2200-F23; [Name of course]”
-Select Report Type: “List – Weekdays”
-Select Period: “Forår/Spring”
Press: “ View Timetable”

Please be aware:
- The schedule of the lectures can change without the participants´ acceptance. If this occure, you can see the new schedule in your personal timetable at KUnet, in the app myUCPH and through the links in the right side of this course description and the link above.
- It is the students´s own responsibility continuously throughout the study to stay informed about their study, their teaching, their schedule, their exams etc. through the curriculum of the study programme, the study pages at KUnet, student messages, the course description, the Digital Exam portal, Absalon, the personal schema at KUnet and myUCPH app etc.
  • Category
  • Hours
  • Lectures
  • 42
  • Preparation
  • 161
  • Exam
  • 3
  • Total
  • 206
Oral
Collective
Credit
7,5 ECTS
Type of assessment
Written examination, 3 hours under invigilation
Type of assessment details
ITX-exam in the exam venues of the university.
The exam assignment is given in English and must be answered in English.

Changes to the exam due to a pandemic crisis:
In the event that restrictions from a pandemic crisis may affect the conduction of the ITX-exams, the written exam and the re-sit exam will change to a 3 hours written take-home exam. The changes will be announced in study messages at KUnet and in Digital Exam.

The take-home exam is an individual exam and it is not allowed to communicate with any one about the exam assignment nor the solution at all. It is also prohibited to distribute data and other information at all. If this or alike actions happens, it will be regarded as cheating and plagiarism.
Exam registration requirements

There are no requirements that the student has to fulfill during the course to be able to sit the exam.

Aid

No aids allowed at the written ITX-exam.

Information about allowed aids for the re-examination, please go to the section "Re-exam".

 

If the ITX-exam changes to a take-home exam due to a pandemic crisis, the written take-home exam is with all aids.

Marking scale
7-point grading scale
Censorship form
No external censorship
at the written exam.
The written ITX-exam may be chosen for external assessment by random sample.
An oral re-examination may be with external assessment.
Exam period

The regular exam takes place:

1 June 2023

 

Exam information:

The exact time and place will be available in Digital Exam from the middle of the semester. In special cases decided by the Department, the exam can change to another place, type, day and/or time than announced. 

More information about examination, rules, aids etc. at Master(UK) and Master(DK).

Re-exam

The written reexam takes place:

23 August 2023

 

By pandemic restrictions, the re-sit might change to a 20 minutes oral online exam with all aids, but without preparation time.

 

Reexam information:

Exact type, day, time and place is available in Digital Exam in August. In special cases decided by the Department, the re-sit can change to another place, type, day and/or time than announced.

More info: Master(UK) and Master(DK). 

Criteria for exam assesment

Students are assessed on the extent to which they master the learning outcome for the course.

 

In order to obtain the top grade “12”, the student must with no or only a few minor weaknesses be able to demonstrate an excellent performance displaying a high level of command of all aspects of the relevant material and can make use of the knowledge, skills and competencies listed in the learning outcomes.

 

In order to obtain the passing grade “02”, the student must in a satisfactory way be able to demonstrate a minimal acceptable level of  the knowledge, skills and competencies listed in the learning outcomes.