Two - Year Master Degree in Economics

This course introduces students to performing research in economics. Lectures require a high level of student participation. There are problem sets designed to give you practice with skills associated with writing a research proposal. This course strongly encourages critical thinking.

Knowledge and understanding: Students will learn how to organize, develop and express ideas. 

Applying knowledge and understanding: This class provides students with skills to carry out research and communicate it effectively. 

Making judgements: Students will consider how to effectively communicate and will be able to evaluate different ways of developing research.

Communication skills: This is one of the main objectives of this class. Students will develop their communication skills.   

Learning skills: Students will acquire new methodologies to study the economy.

Oggetto:

There are 24 hours of in‐class lectures. Students are strongly encouraged to attend classes. 

Students must hand in (between six and eight) problem sets. Problem sets are demanding, mandatory and an essential part of the course. All problem sets must be satisfactory for a student to pass this course. Students who hand in problem sets which are not satisfactory may get (at the discretion of the instructor) at most one extra chance to submit their work, in the week following the original due date.

1. Research in Economics. Topics and methods.
2. What is a good idea in Economics?
3. Selecting ideas. How to find a one-page idea.
4. Playing with data. How to explore ideas with real-world data.
5. Developing a research proposal.
   
   1. Why is the question important?
   2. How is it related to what we know?
   3. Which data (if necessary) can we use to answer it?
   4. What is the empirical strategy?
6. Detailed presentation of data and empirical strategy.
7. Preliminary results.
8. Final draft
9. Final presentation.