Economics

This seminar-style class surveys a volume of literature that highlights the analytical tools economists use to analyze industrial organization (i.e., how firms and markets interact). Topics include competition and monopoly, market structure, mergers, game theory, development of theory, price discrimination, product differentiation, advertising, vertical integration and relationships, oligopoly behavior, antitrust, industrial organization, and regulation and deregulation. The course emphasizes how to write and present outlines of complex literature and how to write literature reviews at a high level. ASSESSMENT: attendance (10%), participation (5%) ,outlines and presentations (15%), term papers (70%).

This course teaches how to conduct econometric and data analysis using R studio. The primary goal is how to use econometric methods in research and data analysis based on questions and the available data while focusing on the following three points: how to conduct numerical experiments using a computer to examine the basic theory in econometrics. Examples: Law of large numbers, central limit theorem, bias with endogeneity; how to conduct empirical analysis based on the research question and dataset at hand; how to use various econometric methods. Examples: linear regression, instrumental variable methods, robust standard errors, panel data, discrete choice model, matching, and regression discontinuity design. Assessment: class participation, reports, presentations.

The main goal of this course is to provide a detailed understanding of impact evaluation methods, with a focus on randomized evaluations. Many of the topics covered, such as measuring outcomes and dealing with threats to the validity of an impact evaluation, are relevant for different impact evaluation methods. The main topics that are addressed include: when is a rigorous evaluation of social impact needed; the common pitfalls of evaluations and how does randomization helps; the key components of a good randomized evaluation design; how to determine the appropriate sample size, how to measure outcomes, and how to manage data; the main difficulties when dealing with practitioners; the main difficulties when analyzing the results; how to make results useful for policy makers. The course presents material through interactive lectures and case studies using examples from completed or ongoing impact evaluations in education/development economics.

This course discusses current topics in public finance and studies government intervention in the economy from a normative perspective. The course addresses the fundamental questions of public finance: when should the government intervene in the economy; how might the government intervene; what is the effect of those interventions on economic outcomes; why do governments choose to intervene in the way that they do; and what drives the design of social insurance schemes, the welfare state, and the tax system. The course discusses the need for and the limitations of the public sector, as well as how State intervention in the economy can be improved. This proves helpful in the analysis and forecast of policy decisions, by market analysts or by professionals working in government or international organizations. The first part of the course covers the main motivations for government intervention in the economy including equity and efficiency rationales; analyzing the different types of market failures, such as externalities and under provision of public goods; measuring the benefits and the costs of government interventions; optimal government level for intervention; why governments intervene in the way they do; and analyzing education, an impure type of public good that is provided by governments of all developed economies. The second part of the course examines the social insurance framework and focus on the main welfare state programs including pensions, healthcare, unemployment benefits, anti-poverty programs, and how governments raise the resources needed for intervention by analyzing taxation issues such as tax incidence, tax efficiency, and distortionary effects of taxation. The course recommends students have a good knowledge of basic microeconomic theory including utility maximization, marginal rate of substitution, elasticity, and mathematical derivatives as a prerequisite.

This course explores the theory of international finance and its real world applications. It examines the concepts necessary to develop and carry out strategies for the effective management of a firm, including knowledge of foreign exchange markets, international capital markets, and risk management. Topics include: market players; interest parity; currency derivatives; hedging strategies; long- and short-term financing; international trade finance.

This course introduces economic principles and concepts. The following topics are addressed in lectures and tutorials: supply and demand analysis, perfect competition, monopoly, oligopoly, game theory, agency theory, and elements of macroeconomics. A parallel skills training in academic writing is an integrated component of the course.

This course examines the behavior of firms and the market outcome through various scenarios. Industrial Organization (IO) is strongly related to business/management strategy as well as public policies. Although, an emphasis is placed on theoretical aspects of IO, the course introduces students to many real-world examples and empirical studies to demonstrate how the IO theories can be used. Text: INTRODUCTION TO INDUSTRIAL ORGANIZATION.