AØKK08416U Seminar: Topics in Development Economics
The seminar allows students to obtain deeper knowledge and conduct an empirical investigation about a topic of their choice in the area of development economics. Possible topics include, but are not limited to:
- Poverty and inequality
- Agricultural production
- Entrepreneurship and firms in developing countries
- Technology adoption
- Education
- Health
- Global value chains
- Corporate social responsibility
- Access to finance
- Institutions and corruption
- Natural resources
- Migration
- Gender inequality
- Violence against women
- Public policies
- Conflict
Within the topic of their choice, students are expected to develop a specific research question, conduct an empirical analysis using suitable data, and discuss their findings in the context of existing literature. It is also possible to replicate in another context and to extend the empirical analysis of an existing published article.
Examples of datasets that can be used for the empirical analysis will be discussed during the introductory meeting.
In additional to the learning outcome specified in the Master curriculum, the student is after completing the seminar able to:
Knowledge:
- Account for the relevant literature within the chosen topic of the seminar paper
- Critically examine the empirical methods in the relevant literature and the seminar paper
Skills:
- Identify literature relevant for the chosen topic of the seminar paper
- Find and analyze the relevant data for the purpose of answering the chosen research question
- Present findings in written and oral form
- Evaluate and discuss the work of other students
Competences:
- Conduct an empirical analysis to answer a research question in the field of development economics
- Identify and critically analyze the key elements of scientific articles, including, but not limited to, the key research question, empirical strategy and contributions to the related literature
- Interpret and discuss limitations of the empirical analysis and data
Supplemented by an overall intended learning outcome outlined in the programme-specific curriculum
Some examples of literature:
Ashraf, Nava, Natalie Bau, Nathan Nunn, and Alessandra Voena. 2019. Bride Price and Female Education. Journal of Political Economy 128 (2): 591–641.
Atkin, David. 2016. The Caloric Costs of Culture: Evidence from Indian Migrants. American Economic Review 106 (4): 1144–81.
Bai, Jie, Seema Jayachandran, Edmund J. Malesky, and Benjamin A. Olken. 2019. Firm Growth and Corruption: Empirical Evidence from Vietnam. The Economic Journal 129 (618): 651–677.
Bandiera, Oriana, Robin Burgess, Narayan Das, Selim Gulesci, Imran Rasul, and Munshi Sulaiman. 2017. Labor Markets and Poverty in Village Economies. The Quarterly Journal of Economics 132 (2): 811–870.
Bellemare, Marc F., Johanna Fajardo-Gonzalez, and Seth R. Gitter. 2018. Foods and Fads: The Welfare Impacts of Rising Quinoa Prices in Peru. World Development 112 (December): 163–179.
Heath, Rachel, and A. Mushfiq Mobarak. 2015. Manufacturing Growth and the Lives of Bangladeshi Women. Journal of Development Economics 115 (July): 1–15.
Kabeer, Naila, and Hugh Waddington. 2015. Economic Impacts of Conditional Cash Transfer Programmes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Journal of Development Effectiveness 7 (3): 290–303.
La Ferrara, Eliana, Alberto Chong, and Suzanne Duryea. 2012. Soap Operas and Fertility: Evidence from Brazil. American Economic Journal: Applied Economics 4 (4): 1–31.
McCaig, Brian, and Nina Pavcnik. 2018. Export Markets and Labor Allocation in a Low-Income Country. American Economic Review 108 (7): 1899–1941.
Note: More specific papers will be suggested once the students have decided the topic of their seminar paper.
For the empirical analysis:
Cameron, A. Colin, and Pravin K. Trivedi. 2010. Microeconometrics Using Stata: Revised Edition. 2nd Edition. College Station, Tex: Stata Press.
Deaton, Angus S. 2019. The Analysis of Household Surveys: A Microeconometric Approach to Development Policy. Washington, DC: World Bank.
Wooldridge, Jeffrey M. 2010. Econometric Analysis of Cross Section and Panel Data. second edition. Cambridge, Mass: The MIT Press.
Students will also benefit from previous or concurrent participation in courses on Advanced Development Economics – Micro Aspects and Advanced Development Economics – Macro Aspects.
- identify and clarify a problem,
- seek and select relevant literatur,
- write a academic paper,
- present and discuss own paper with the other students at the seminar.
The aim of the presentations is, that the student uses the presentation as an opportunity to practice oral skills and to receive feedback. The presentations is not a part of the exam and will not be assessed.
Mandatory activities in the seminar:
- Kick-off meeting
- Finding literatur and defining the project
- Writing process of the seminar paper
- Presentation of own project and paper
- Giving constructive feedback to another student´s paper
- Actively participating in discussions at the presentations and other meetings.
There is no weekly teaching/lecturing and the student cannot expect guidance from the teacher. If the teacher gives a few introduction lectures or gives the opportunity for guidance, this as well as other expectations are clarified at the kickoff meeting.
Process:
It is strongly recommended that you think about and search for a topic before the semester begins, as there is only a few weeks from the kick-off meeting to the submission of the project description/ agreement paper.
The seminar project paper must be uploaded in Absalon before the presentations, as the opponents and the other seminar participants have to read and comment on the paper. It is important that you upload a paper that is so finalized as possible due to the fact that the value of feedback and comments at the presentation is strongly associated with the skill level of the seminar paper.
After the presentations, you can with a few corrections improve the seminar paper by including the feedback and comments emerged during the presentations. It is NOT intended that you rewrite or begin the writing of the full project AFTER the presentation has taken place.
Tuesday, 4 February 2025, 12:15-15:00
- Extra meetings / introductory teaching / guidance:
Individual advisory meetings upon request 12 February – 10 May 2025
- Deadline for submission of commitment paper / project description: No later than 1 March.
- Deadline for uploading a seminar assignment paper in Absalon: No later than one week before the presentations.
- Presentations: In the time period 14 – 16 May 2025
- Submission date: 1 June 2025 at 10.00 AM - latest uploading of Seminar paper to the Digital Exam portal for assessment.
All information regarding the seminar is communicated through Absalon including venue. It is very important that you by yourself log on to Absalon and read the information already when you are registered at the seminar.
- Category
- Hours
- Project work
- 186
- Seminar
- 20
- Total
- 206
Brief written feedback given on commitment papers by supervisor.
Peer written feedback given to early paper drafts half-way through the course.
Collective feedback is given as projects are being presented.
Each student receives oral feedback on the presentation from peers and supervisor.
The supervisor gives the students individual guidance during the seminar.
For enrolled students: More information about registration, schedule, rules etc. can be found at Master (UK) and Master (DK ).
More information about seminars is available at Seminars (UK) and Seminars (DK).
Read about the study programme and curricula at MSc in Economics
- Credit
- 7.5 ECTS
- Type of assessment
- Home assignment
- Type of assessment details
- Individual or in groups of up to 3.
A seminar paper of 15 standard pages for one person, 22.5 standard pages for 2 and 30 standard pages for 3 students.
See further exam information in the Masters Programme Curriculum. - Exam registration requirements
Attendance in all seminar activities as stated in the Master curriculum.
Reexam: Hand in and have approved a synopsis.
- Aid
- All aids allowed
Use of AI tools is permitted. You must explain how you have used the tools. When text is solely or mainly generated by an AI tool, the tool used must be quoted as a source.
- Marking scale
- 7-point grading scale
- Censorship form
- External censorship
__
- Exam period
Exam information:
The seminar paper must be uploaded in Digital Exam.
Common submission date for all seminars: June 1 at 10:00 for the spring semester.
For enrolled students more information about examination, rules, aids etc. is available at the intranet for Master (UK) and Master (DK ).
- Re-exam
Reexam information:
Individual seminar paper of 15 standard pages. See further exam information in the Masters Programme Curriculum.
Deadline and more information is available at MSc in Economics - KUnet
More information about reexam etc. is available at Master(UK) and Master(DK).
Criteria for exam assesment
Students are assessed on the extent to which they master the learning outcome for the seminar and can make use of the knowledge, skills and competencies listed in the learning outcomes in the Curriculum of the Master programme.
To receive the top grade, 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.
Course information
- Language
- English
- Course code
- AØKK08416U
- Credit
- 7.5 ECTS
- Level
- Full Degree Master
- Duration
- 1 semester
- Placement
- Spring
- Schedule
- and venue:
Go to "Remarks"
Exam and re-sits: Go to "Exam" - Course capacity
- Two classes of up to 20 students
Study board
- Department of Economics, Study Council
Contracting department
- Department of Economics
Contracting faculty
- Faculty of Social Sciences
Course Coordinators
- Neda Trifkovic (neda.trifkovic@econ.ku.dk)
Lecturers
Neda Trifkovic (neda.trifkovic@econ.ku.dk)