AØKK08072U Seminar: Development Economics and Microeconometrics
The seminar is primarily for students at the MSc of Economics
The seminar will focus on the scope and difficulties of doing applied work with microdata from a developing country. It will give the participants hands-on experience with household panel data from Tanzania. Within the limitations of the data, the student will be free to choose a research question. This could both be survey-related such as the construction of poverty measures or the role of measurement error, or it could be related to the content exploring agricultural choices, household composition, etc. with special attention to the challenges related to establishing causal effects.
After completing the course, the student should be able to:
Knowledge
The challenges of working with survey data from a developing country
The structure of common household questionnaires and data files
Relevant econometrics methods
Specific knowledge within the topic chosen
Skills:
Navigating between questionnaires and the corresponding data files
Merging multiple data files
Setting up a panel data set at the relevant level of observation
Formulating a research question that can be answered given the constraints of the data
Motivating the research question based on existing literature within the topic chosen
Choosing the relevant econometric method to address the research question with the given data
Performing an econometric analysis on survey data
Structuring a coherent paper
Presenting the research question, methods, and results in a clear manner, both written and orally
Competences:
Carefully interpreting results from an econometric analysis using household data from a developing country with special attention to the establishment of causal effects
Assessing the extent to which the research question could be answered with the given data
Assessing the adequacy of the chosen econometric method, discussing potential drawbacks of the method and relating the chosen method to other econometric methods
Discussing how the results relate to the existing literature
providing constructive feedback on other students’ seminar papers
- receiving feedback on own paper, considering how concerns can be addressed and adjust accordingly
Background literature for the econometric analysis:
Angrist and Pischke (2009) Mostly Harmless Econometrics
Deaton (1997) The analysis of household surveys: A
microeconometrics approach to development policy
Wooldridge (2002) Econometric analysis of cross section and panel
data
Suggested readings for inspiration:
Special issue in Food Policy 2017: “ Agriculture in Africa – Telling Myths from Facts”, Luc Christiaensen (editor), Food Policy, vol 67, pp: 1-192 (February 2017)
It is furthermore an advantage to follow or have taken: Advanced Development Economics - Micro Aspects, Econometrics II, and Advanced Microeconometrics
Before the session a "so-finalized-as-possible"-draft of the paper must be uploaded in Absalon. After the presentations, the student submit an edited version of the paper in the Digital Exam portal as the final exam paper. The aim is that students use the presentation sessions as an opportunity to receive and use the constructive feedback to improve the paper.
• Kick-off meeting: OBS: changed from the 5th to the 12th: Monday, February 12th , 2018, 10:00-12:00
• Introducing teaching: Mondays, February 12th, 10.00-12.00 (Subject to change if it coincides with a course that many participating students follow)
• Deadline of commitment paper: not later than March 1 at 10 AM
• Deadline of pre-paper upload in Absalon: A week before the presentations
• Presentations/Workshops: May 8th,9th and 10th depending on number of participants
- Category
- Hours
- Project work
- 186
- Seminar
- 20
- Total
- 206
for enrolled students. More information about registration, schedule, rules, curricula etc. can be found at the intranet for Master students (UK) and Master students (DK).
More information about seminars is available at the intranet for Seminars (UK) and Seminars (DK).
Read about the study programme and curricula at MSc in Economics
- 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.
_____ - 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 Kunet for seminars (DK) is required to participate in the exam.
_____
- Aid
- All aids allowed
- Marking scale
- 7-point grading scale
- Censorship form
- External censorship
_____
- Exam period
Deadline for uploading the final seminar exam paper to DE: 1st of June 2018 before 10:00 AM
Exam information:
For enrolled students more information about examination, rules, exam schedule etc. is available at the intranet for master students (UK) and master students (DK)
_____
- Re-exam
The reexam is a written paper as stated in the Master curriculum and at the KUnet for seminars for master students (UK) and master students (DK).
Exam information:
For enrolled students more information about re-examination, rules, re-exam schedule etc. is available at the intranet for master students (UK) and master students (DK)
Criteria for exam assesment
Students are assessed on the extent to which they master the learning outcome for the seminar and the objectives stated in the Curriculum.
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 and can make use of the knowledge, skills and competencies listed in the learning outcomes.
Course information
- Language
- English
- Course code
- AØKK08072U
- 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" - Study board
- Department of Economics, Study Council
Contracting department
- Department of Economics
Course Coordinators
- Anna Folke Larsen (3-696e74486d6b777636737d366c73)