AØKK08419U Seminar: Empirical Research on the Covid-19 Economic Crisis

Volume 2021/2022
Education

MSc programme in Economics

The seminar is primarily for students at the MSc of Economics

Content

The economic disruptions caused by the covid-19 epidemic are unique in many ways, and of course we still lack the hindsight necessary to fully grasp them. However, as policy responses were needed immediately, there has been a huge effort to describe and analyze the economy in real time.

In this seminar, we will review the preliminary analyses of the economic consequences of the covid-19 epidemic on the labor market, on income and consumption, on inequality, etc. We will also discuss the preliminary evidence on the impact of the various economic policies that have been implemented to mitigate the adverse economic consequences, such as loan programs for firms, short-term contract schemes, unemployment insurance extensions, etc. We will discuss these in the context of Denmark, but also of other countries. The discussion will be both on the findings of these recent papers, and the methodology used.

Learning Outcome

After completing the seminar the student is expected to be able to fulfill the learning outcome specified in the Master curriculum .

With this seminar, the students should further develop the following knowledge, skills and competences:

Knowledge:

  • Knowledge of advanced statistical and econometric methods
  • Deep and comprehensive knowledge about how economic theory and methods can be applied to contemporary economic problems
  • Critical, flexible and independent reflection on advanced economic theory and methods.

 

Skills:

  • Independently be able to disseminate complex economic problems in writing and orally.
  • Be able to take a critical view of economic theory and method in order to compare possible solutions.
  • Communicate complex economic issues in a clear language.

 

Competences:

  • Independently be able to discuss and interpret the assumptions and limitations of economic models in relation to varying issues.
  • Independently be able to identify and acquire new research based knowledge on advanced economic theory and methods and master advanced economic theories and models.

Preliminary list of articles:

Asger Lau Andersen, Emil Toft Hansen, Adam Sheridan, Niels Johannesen (2021) Consumer Responses to the COVID-19 Crisis: Evidence from Bank Account Transaction Data, Working paper

Bennedsen, Morten, Birthe Larsen, Ian schmutte, and Daniela Scur, (2020). “preserving job matches during the COVID-19 pandemic: Firm-level evidence on the role of government aid” Covid Economics

 

Birinci S, Karahan F, Mercan Y, See K. (2021). Labor market policies during an epidemic. Journal of Public Economics

 

Chetty, R., Friedman, J.N., Hendren, N. and Stepner, M., (2020). How did covid-19 and stabilization policies affect spending and employment? a new real-time economic tracker based on private sector data." NBER Working Paper

 

Forsythe E, Kahn LB, Lange F, Wiczer D. (2020). Labor demand in the time of COVID-19: Evidence from vacancy postings and UI claims. Journal of Public Economics

 

Ganong P, Greig F, Liebeskind M, Sullivan D, and Vavra J (2021) Spending and Job Search Impacts of Expanded Unemployment Benefits: Evidence from Administrative Micro Data, Working paper.

 

Hanspal T, Weber A, Wohlfart A (2021) Exposure to the COVID-19 Stock Market Crash and its Effect on Household Expectations, Review of Economics and Statistics

Hensvik L, Le Barbanchon T, Rathelot R (2021), Job Search during the COVID-19 Crisis, Journal of Public Economics

Marinescu I, Skandalis D, and Zhao D (2021) The Impact of the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation on Job Search and Vacancy Creation, Working paper

BSc in Economics or similar
At the seminar the student is trained independently to
- 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.

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.

The aim of the presentations is, that you use the presentation as an opportunity to practice oral skills and to receive feedback at the paper. The presentations are not a part of the exam and will not be assessed.

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.
The teacher defines what materials may be used for the presentations.

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 seminar paper after the presentation has taken place.

Pandemic:
In case of a pandemic like Corona the teaching in this seminar may be changed to be taught either fully or partly online. For further information, see the course room on Absalon.
Schedule Fall 2021:

- Kick-off meeting:
Wednesday on September 8, 10.15-12.00,

- Extra meetings / introductory teaching / guidance:
Wednesday on September 15, 10.15-12.00,

- Deadline for submission of commitment paper / project description:
September 22

- Deadline for uploading a seminar assignment paper in Absalon:
October 26

- Presentations:
Exact dates in the time period 1 – 21 November will be agreed on at the Kick-off meeting.

- Exam date:
1 December at 10.00 (am) - latest uploading of Seminar paper to the Digital Exam portal for assessment.
  • Category
  • Hours
  • Project work
  • 186
  • Seminar
  • 20
  • Total
  • 206
Written
Oral
Individual
Continuous feedback during the course of the semester
Credit
7,5 ECTS
Type of assessment
Written examination
A seminar paper in English that meets the formal requirements for written papers stated in the curriculum and at KUNet for seminars.
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Exam registration requirements

Attendance in all  activities at the seminar as stated in the formal requrements in the Curriculum  and at the KUnet for Seminars (UK)  and  Seminars (DK)  is required to participate in the exam.

_____

Aid
All aids allowed

for the seminar paper.

The teacher defines the aids that must be used for the presentations.

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Marking scale
7-point grading scale
Censorship form
External censorship
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Exam period

Regular exam:

Spring 2021:
Deadline for submitting the final seminar paper: December 1, 2021 before 10 AM

Exam information:

The seminar paper must be uploaded to the Digital Exam. More information will be available from the middle of the semester.

 

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

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Re-exam

Reexam information:

The reexam is a written seminar paper as stated in the Curriculum.

Deadline and more information is available at Seminars(UK) and Seminars(DK).

More information about reexam etc is available at Master(UK)andMaster(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.