Two - Year Master Degree in Economics

TOPICS IN APPLIED ECONOMICS

TOPICS IN APPLIED ECONOMICS

Academic year 2019/2020

Sommario del corso

• Course objectives
• Results of learning outcomes
• Course delivery
• Learning assessment methods
• Support activities
• Program
• Suggested textbooks and readings
• Teaching tools

Course objectives

By taking this course, the students will improve the skills needed to perform an empirical study in the field of applied economics. The course will be based on readings related the research output of the instructor. It will cover topics in energy economics, industrial organization, public economics, macroeconomics, education economics, economic geography and labour economics. The data analyzed during the lectures will have cross sectional, time series as well as panel dimension. Examples of works using matched longitudinal data will also be presented. The methods discussed will include mean regression, quantile regression, instrumental variables, generalized method of moments, static and dynamic panel-data models, structural vector autoregressions and quasi-natural experiments. In terms of complexity, the models and the techniques presented during the lectures will range from intermediate to advanced.

Results of learning outcomes

As a result of the learning process, the students will be able to use empirical models of intermediate and advanced complexity to address research questions in applied economics. The students will also be able to develop a critical, comparative and quantitative analysis of current issues in applied economics, with special emphasis on policy-relevant issues.

Course delivery

The teaching methodology is mainly based on the oral and written transmission of knowledge from the instructor to the students during the contact hours and the class lectures.

Learning assessment methods

The assessment of the learning process in June 2020 is based on a verbal (spoken) exam via Webex (updated: 29 April 2020).

Support activities

Student-support activities are provided on Tuesday, starting from 5 p.m., in the office 5.23, at the 5th floor of the School of Management and Economics, in Corso Unione Sovietica n. 218bis, Turin.

Program

Introduction
- Empirical modelling and issues in applied economics
Energy economics
- Renewable sources, electricity production and fuel imports
Industrial organization
- Efficiency and market power in the mobile-voice industry
- Merger simulation in the mobile-voice industry
- Competitive behaviour in the mobile-voice industry
Public economics
- Unemployment and welfare assistance
Macroeconomics
- Unemployment and competitive disinflation
- Unemployment persistence
- Financial development and growth: part 1
- Financial development and growth: part 2
Education economics
- Schooling and wage inequality
- Return and risk in education
- Schooling and wage persistence: part 1
- Schooling and wage persistence: part 2
Economic geography
- Social capital and growth: part 1
- Social capital and growth: part 2
Labour economics
- Fixed exchange-rate policy and wages
- Trade liberalization and wages

The references are provided during the lectures.

• Teaching materials
• Exams and finals
• Go to Moodle
• Visit the forums