Credit: Anna Logue
Spring 2020
-
Economics
E801: Advanced Microeconomics II5 ECTSLecturer(s)
Course Type: core courseCourse Number: E801Credits: 5Prerequisites
E700, E701, E702, E703
Requirements for the assignment of ECTS-Credits and Grades
One final examination of 120 min. A prerequisite for the admission to the examination is the regular participation in class, submission of problem sets, good performance in exercise sessions.
Course Content
The course provides an advanced introduction to the theory of general equilibrium. This is a subject that is technically demanding and typically taught only superficially in more elementary classes. It builds in particular on the introductory microeconomics class E702, but also uses the mathematical tools provided in E700, and builds on themes developed in macroeconomics in E701. It is related to the advanced macroeconomics classes, but develops the conceptual sides of the equilibrium problem in more detail than those classes.
The course treats the following topics:
1. Aggregate Demand, 2. Production Theory, 3. Exchange Economies, 4. Production Economies, 5. Uncertainty and Arrow-Debreu Equilibrium, 6. Basic Asset Pricing.
The course teaches the fundamentals of economic equilibrium theory and thus lays the foundations for almost all aggregate theories in economics, such as macroeconomics, international trade, finance, environmental economics, etc. It is complemented by intensive problem-solving work by the students and exercise sessions.
Teaching Method: Lecture (4 SWS) + Exercise (2 SWS)
Competences acquired
After taking this class, students are supposed to know the core concepts of general economic equilibrium, such as the Law of Demand, contingent markets, Walrasian equilibrium, the core, arbitrage-free allocations, market incompleteness, etc.
They are able to analyze problems involving these concepts independently and apply them to issues arising in various fields of economics, such as international trade, macroeconomics, public finance, and others. Special emphasis is put on the technical competence in applying these concepts.
After taking this class, students should understand the role of the price mechanism in different economic contexts and analyze its functioning for the research questions they are studying. They can distinguish a competitive problem from a game-theoretic or decision-theoretic problem and use the corresponding formal and conceptual tools with confidence and competence.
They can assess the scope of equilibrium arguments and decide whether an equilibrium-theoretic approach to a certain research question is appropriate. They understand the common structure of economic equilibrium models and can use this knowledge to transfer insights from one subfield to another.
Professor: Ernst-Ludwig von Thadden, Phone: (0621) 181 – 1914; email: vthadden@uni-mannheim.de; Office: 3.19, VWL-Building; Office hours: upon appointment.
Teaching Assistant: Thi Anh Dam
Schedule
Lecture Lecture 10.02.20 – 16.03.20 Monday 10:15 – 11:45 L7, 3–5, P044 Lecture 12.02.20 – 18.03.20 Wednesday 08:30 – 10:00 L7, 3–5, P044 Written Exam 15.06.20 Monday 10:15 – 12:45 online Tutorial Tutorial 13.02.20 – 19.03.20 Thursday 10:15 – 11:45 B6, 30–32, 211 E802: Advanced Macroeconomics II5 ECTSLecturer(s)
Course Type: core courseCourse Number: E802Credits: 5Prerequisites
E700, E701, E702, E703
Competences acquired
Teaching Assistant: Mykola Ryzhenkov
Schedule
Lecture Lecture 12.02.20 – 18.03.20 Wednesday 10:15 – 11:45 L7, 3–5, P044 Lecture 12.02.20 – 18.03.20 Wednesday 13:45 – 15:15 L7, 3–5, P044 Lecture 14.02.20 Friday 12:00 – 15:15 B6, 30–32, 209 Tutorial Tutorial 10.02.20 – 16.03.20 Monday 12:00 – 13:30 B6, 30–32, 211 E803: Advanced Econometrics II5 ECTSLecturer(s)
Course Type: core courseCourse Number: E803Credits: 5Prerequisites
E700, E701, E702, E703
Course Content
The course provides an introduction to semi- and nonparametric estimation methods in microeconometrics, as well as to bootstrap theory and treatment effect evaluation.
Competences acquired
On successful completion of the module, students are expected to attain the following competences:
Attain advanced theoretical knowledge in econometrics in the specific topics the module covers at a high technical and mathematical level.
Be familiar with current theories and recent developments in the specific topics of focus for the module.
– Attain a higher/advanced level of analytical capability.
Be in a position to take on follow-up advanced theoretical and applied econometrics modules.
Attain the level of competence that permits independent undertakings in search of new knowledge in the specialist areas the module covers.
Attain the level of competence required to carry out (theoretical) research-oriented projects independently.
To be in a position to exchange information, ideas, and solutions with experts of the field on a scientific level as well as with laymen.
To be able to communicate and to work effectively and efficiently with people and in groups.
Graduates are able to communicate precisely in the English specialist language.
Prof. Yoshiyasu Rai, PhD, yraimail.uni-mannheim.deLiterature/
recommended textbooks
Bruce E. Hansen (2019), Econometrics, Manuscript, University of Wisconsin.
A. W. van der Vaart (1998), Asymptotic Statistics, Cambridge University PressSchedule
Lecture Lecture 11.02.20 – 17.03.20 Tuesday 10:15 – 13:30 L7, 3–5, P044 Tutorial 14.02.20 – 20.03.20 Friday 10:15 – 11:45 L7, 3–5, P044 Written Exam 22.06.20 Tuesday 10:15 – 12:15 online E804: Advanced Microeconomics III5 ECTSLecturer(s)
Course Type: core courseCourse Number: E804Credits: 5Prerequisites
E700, E701, E702, E703, E801, E802, E803
Requirements for the assignment of ECTS-Credits and Grades: Written Exam
Course Content
The goal is to provide an introduction to the role of private information and its strategic use in various environments including markets, contracts, negotiations, regulation, communication, political processes, and expert advice.
Summary of Contents:
I. Adverse Selection.
II. Signaling.
III. Screening.
IV. Moral Hazard.
V. Mechanism design.Competences acquired
Successful participants’ understanding of the role of private information in strategic environments is at the forefront of current research. They are ready to begin developing their own research questions in this field of study, can synthesize their knowledge with the study of economic problems in other fields, and are able to find solutions to practical problems concerning beneficial regulatory interventions in various contexts of market failure. Crucially, successful participants understand the fundamental tension between private information and achieving social goals. This understanding enlightens their judgment of conflict and cooperation in a wide range of social situations beyond the narrow context of economics.
Teaching Assistant: Daniil Larionov
Schedule
Lecture Lecture 30.03.20 – 25.05.20 Monday 10:15 – 11:45 L7, 3–5, P044 Lecture 31.03.20 – 26.05.20 Tuesday 15:30 – 17:00 L7, 3–5, P043 Written Exam 02.06.20 Tuesday 15:30 – 17:30 online Tutorial Tutorial 02.04.20 – 28.05.20 Thursday 13:45 – 15:15 B6, 30–32, 212 E805: Advanced Macroeconomics III5 ECTSLecturer(s)
Course Type: core courseCourse Number: E805Credits: 5Prerequisites
E700, E701, E702, E703, E801, E802, E803
Requirements for the Assignment of ECTS Credits and Grades
There will be problem sets and one final exam. The course grade is based on your performance in the problem sets (20%) and the final exam (80%).
Course Content
The focus of this course is on heterogeneity in macroeconomics. In doing so, this course introduces basic tools of modern macroeconomics and discusses various applications.
The topics of this course are:
Consumption/
savings: complete markets, incomplete markets, aggregate uncertainty
Investment: neoclassical theory, adjustment costs, financial frictions, misallocation
Labor markets: partial equilibrium search, general equilibrium search and matching with random and directed searchTeaching Method: Lecture (2 SWS) and Exercise (1 SWS)
Competences acquired
Students acquire a deeper understanding of the mathematical methods used in modern macroeconomics. In particular, they learn about the scope and limitation of each mathematical method. The discussion of various applications in class and during TA sessions prepares students for conducting independent research on their Ph.D. (or Master) thesis. Though this course is mainly about macroeconomics, students are also able to apply the mathematical techniques (i.e. dynamic programming) to problems in other fields of economics. The generality of the mathematical/
theoretical framework allows students to connect seemingly unrelated problems and issues. Students not only formulate and solve advanced scientific problems, but also learn how to communicate their results effectively. Teaching Assistant: Carl-Christian Groh
Schedule
Lecture Lecture 02.04.20 – 28.05.20 Thursday 08:30 – 10:00 L7, 3–5, S031 Lecture 02.04.20 – 28.05.20 Thursday 17:15 – 18:45 L9, 1–2, 009 Written Exam 04.06.20 Thursday 10:15 – 12:15 online Tutorial Tutorial 03.04.20 – 29.05.20 Friday 10:15 – 11:45 B6, 30–32, 211 E806: Advanced Econometrics III5 ECTSLecturer(s)
Course Type: core courseCourse Number: E806Credits: 5Prerequisites
E700, E701, E702, E703, E801, E802, E803
Requirements for the assignment of ECTS-Credits and Grades: Written exam and assignments
Course Content
In Part I we first reconsider extremum estimators, with a focus on M-estimation, then discuss the three main testing principles (LR, LM, WALD) and, finally, introduce the bootstrap in relation to testing. While Part II is devoted to basic analysis of panel data (models), Part III deals with time series analysis. The latter part is somewhat more detailed but still just focusses on stationary time series set-ups.
Competences acquired
Mathematical argumentation, Ability to read scientific texts
Literature:
- Cameron, A.C. and Trivedi, P.K. (2005), Microeconometrics: Methods and Applications, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
- Hamilton, J.D. (1994), Time Series Analysis, Princeton: Princeton University Press.
- Hayashi, F. (2000), Econometrics, Princeton: Princeton University Press.
- Horowitz, J. L. (2001), The Bootstrap, in J. J. Heckmann & E. bE. Leamer (eds), Handbook of Econometrics, Vol. 5, North-Holland, Amsterdam.
- Lütkepohl, H. and Krätzig, M. (2004), Applied Time Series Econometrics, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
- Wooldridge, J.M. (2010), Econometric Analysis of Cross Section and Panel Data, Cambridge: The MIT Press.
Schedule
Lecture Lecture 30.03.20 – 25.05.20 Monday 13:45 – 17:00 L7, 3–5, P043 Written Exam 08.06.20 Monday 13:45 – 15:45 online Tutorial Tutorial 02.04.20 – 28.05.20 Thursday 10:15 – 11:45 L7, 3–5, P043 English Academic Writing for Economics and Business3 ECTSLecturer(s)
Course Type: elective courseCredits: 3Course Content
It serves to furnish the student with the basics of
– developing scientific writing and written communication skills, in particular- developing a theoretical/
empirical/experimental research topic - writing it up in line with today’s mode of communicating scientific content
- selecting an appropriate journal
- reacting to referee reports
- writing a referee report
- developing presentation skills in necessary variation, in particular
- presenting a research topic in 30 seconds / 1 minute / 5 minutes
- presenting a paper in conference format (20 minutes)
- presenting a paper within a full seminar format
- o preparing a formal discussion
- reacting to a discussant’s comments
- chairing a discussion
- contributing to the discussion of somebody else’s paper
This is NOT a course in which English language skills are exercised ---although reference is given frequently to how to express matters in that language. Beyond this, it is geared to successfully develop and provide logically consistent scientific arguments in a way that attracts the relevant readership.
E800: CDSE Seminar12 ECTSLecturer(s)
Course Type: elective courseCourse Number: E800Credits: 12Prerequisites
2nd and higher year Ph.D. students from the Center for Doctoral Studies in Economics (CDSE)
2nd year students from the Master of Economic Research
Course Content
Method (hours per week): Colloquium (2 h)
Duration of the module: 4 semesters
ECTs awarded after each semester: 3 ECTs
Schedule
Seminar Seminar 11.02.20 – 26.05.20 Tuesday 15:30 – 17:00 L7, 3–5, S031 E8004: Reading Course in Environmental Economics (3rd & 4th year)2,5 ECTSLecturer(s)
Course Type: elective courseCourse Number: E8004Credits: 2,5Prerequisites
First-year sequence in the Economics PhD program.
Requirements for the assignment of ECTS-Credits and Grades: Presentations
Course Content
Students will read, present and discuss papers in environmental economics.
Competences acquired
- Presentation skills
- Participation in scientific discourse
- Absorption of recent research in environmental economics
- Acquisition of a reading routine
Schedule
Seminar Seminar 17.02.20 – 25.05.20 Monday (every two weeks) 13:45 – 15:15 L7, 3–5, 410 E8008: Doctoral Colloquium (3rd & 4th year)5 ECTSLecturer(s)
Course Type: elective courseCourse Number: E8008Credits: 5Schedule
Colloquium Colloquium 12.02.20 – 25.03.20 Wednesday 12:00 – 13:30 L7, 3–5, Room 2.47 Colloquium 02.04.20 – 28.05.20 Thursday 13:45 – 15:15 L7, 3–5, Room 2.47 E8010: Econometrics Research Seminar (3rd & 4th year)5 ECTSLecturer(s)
Course Type: elective courseCourse Number: E8010Credits: 5Course Content
This seminar provides a forum for internal and external speakers to discuss their recent research in econometrics. Students working on either econometrics or an empirical project with a substantive econometric component are welcome to present. Please contact the instructor to set up a date.
Schedule
Seminar Seminar 13.02.20 – 28.05.20 Thursday 15:30 – 17:00 L9, 1–2, 002 E8013: Search Theory and Labor Markets (2nd year)7,5 ECTSLecturer(s)
Course Type: elective courseCourse Number: E8013Credits: 7,5Prerequisites
Successful completion of the first year sequence.
Requirements for the assignment of ECTS Credits and Grades: Take home exam/
homeworks and student presentations Course Content
We will cover search theoretic models and their applications to labor markets. In addition to learning several generations of search models, we will also discuss related empirical labor market papers.
The class will consist of lectures where search theoretic models are presented and discussed. These will comprise amongst others:
- The McCall search model
- The Diamond-Mortensen-Pissarides model
- Random and directed search models
- Block-recursive equilibria
- Stock-Flow matching
- Search models with two sided heterogeneity with sorting.
In addition to providing the theoretical foundations, we will also study a number of applications of these models to mostly labor market questions. These include sources of wage inequality, earnings losses of displaced workers, minimum wage laws, optimal unemployment insurance amongst others.
Through student presentations, we will get to know recent published and working papers related to labor markets and search theory. The selection of the papers will be mostly related to labor markets, but can be tailored towards the interests of the students.
Competences acquired
Upon successful complete, students will be familiar with the cutting edge search models commonly used in a variety of economic fields ranging from labor economics, monetary econ, finance and family econ amongst many others. Students will be familiar with papers at the research frontier and potential avenues for future research
Literature/
recommended textbooks - Ljungqvist and Sargent. Recursive Macroeconomic Theory, third edition, 2012
- Christopher A Pissarides. Equilibrium unemployment theory. MIT press, 1990
Schedule
Seminar Seminar 13.02.20 Thursday 15:30 – 18:30 B6, 30–32, 309 Seminar 20.02.20 – 19.03.20 Thursday 15:30 – 18:30 L9, 1–2, 409 Seminar 26.03.20 Thursday 15:30 – 18:30 L7, 3–5, P044 Seminar 02.04.20 – 28.05.20 Thursday 15:30 – 18:30 L9, 1–2, 409 E8014: Quantitative Macroeconomics with Heterogeneous Households (2nd year)5 ECTSLecturer(s)
Course Type: elective courseCourse Number: E8014Credits: 5Prerequisites
E700, E701, E702, E703, E801, E802, E803, E805; some familiarity with a programming language of your choosing (e.g. Python, Fortran, Julia, C, MATLAB)
Grading and ECTS credits: problem sets and presentations
Course Content
This course will discuss how the household heterogeneity affects the economy and how the macroeconomic policy and existing market frictions underlie the level of inequality. To this end it will introduce the standard incomplete-markets model, an arguable workhorse of modern macroeconomics, in which households face uninsurable income risk and use risk-free assets to smooth the marginal utility of their consumption. This will be extended to: (1) models with overlapping generations and a life-cycle component and (2) two-asset models. Next, we will recast the standard framework in continuous time to achieve greater computational performance than traditional discrete-time methods.
Course roadmap:
1. Optimal stochastic growth model and income fluctuations problem.
2. Solving DP problems with exogenous and endogenous labor supply using value function iteration.
3. Root-finding procedures (covered only bisection but can cover Newton methods as well).
4. Policy function iteration.
5. (One-dimensional) approximation: (a) piecewise linear approximation; (b) Chebychev polynomials.
6.Different types of grids: (a) equispaced; (b) exponential grid; (c) power-space grid.
7. Endogenous gridpoints method (EGM) (Carroll, EL 2005).
8. Discretization of income process: (a) Tauchen (EL, 1986); (b) Rouwenhorst (Cooley, 1995); (c) Random walk in finite horizon.
9. Simulations: how to generate random numbers from an arbitrary distribution.
10. Standard incomplete markets model. Saving motives. Computing invariant distribution.
11. Lifecycle incomplete market economy with OLG structure. Different earnings dynamics: (a) Guerrieri-Lorenzoni (QJE, 2017); (b) Castañeda et al. (JPE, 2003).
12. Two-asset SIM model with discrete adjustment (Kaplan and Violante, Ecta 2014). EGM for the two-asset problem. Multidimensional piecewise linear approximation.
13. Heterogeneous Agent Economies in Continuous Time (Achdou et al., 2017).Competences acquired
The students gain knowledge and understanding how to use numerical methods to solve dynamic programing problems.
Contact Information: Krzysztof Pytka; email: pytka@uni-mannheim.de; phone: (0621) 181-181-7; Office: L7 3-5, room 2.09, Office hours: by appointment.
Schedule
Lecture 12.02.20 – 01.04.20 Wednesday 12:00 – 15:15 L7, 3–5, 410 E8022: Industrial Organization Empirics (2nd year)7 ECTSLecturer(s)
Course Type: elective courseCourse Number: E8022Credits: 7Prerequisites
Requirements for the assignment of ECTS-Credits and Grades
Assignments: 4 (75%)
Presentation (20%)
Class participation (5%)Course Content
The course examines the organization of firms, industries and markets. Industrial Organization studies the strategic interactions of firms in markets, and their implications for firms’ profits and consumer welfare. Market power and market structure are key concepts in IO. Market power (or monopoly power) is the ability of a firm, or group of firms, to gain extraordinary profits above those needed to remunerate the inputs. Market structure is a description of the number of firms in the market and of their respective market shares. The course has the goal to develop an active understanding of econometric analysis of market power and competition. Such goal is illustrated with applications to competition policy and competitive strategy. We will study empirically the determinants of firms’ and consumers’ behavior and market outcomes in the context of problems of price competition, investment, innovation, product design, mergers, or market entry-exit. Topics will cover: econometric issues and methods in the estimation of production functions, demand estimation, static models of Cournot and Bertrand competition, empirical models of entry and some general ideas of dynamic structural models.
Competences acquired
Upon completion of this course, students will be able to develop and actively understand econometric analysis of market power and competition. They will be able to combine data, economic models, and appropriate econometric techniques to answer empirical questions in Industrial Organization.
Schedule
Lecture Lecture 14.02.20 – 29.05.20 Friday (weekly) 13:45 – 15:15 L7, 3–5, P044 Lecture 02.03.20 Monday 17:15 – 18:45 L7, 3–5, P044 Tutorial Tutorial 10.02.20 – 24.02.20 Monday (every two weeks) 15:30 – 17:00 L7, 3–5, P044 Tutorial 09.03.20 – 18.05.20 Monday (every two weeks) 17:15 – 18:45 L7, 3–5, P044 E8027: Economics of Innovation (2nd year)5 ECTSLecturer(s)
Course Type: elective courseCourse Number: E8027Credits: 5Prerequisites
All first-year PhD courses
Requirements for the Assignment of ECTS Credits and Grades: Written exam (70 %); 2–3 short presentations (30%)
Course Content
This course covers topics on the economics of innovation for PhD students.
Topics include the following:
- Intellectual property: The institutions and the economics of different forms of intellectual property (patents, copyright, trade secrets), including questions of optimal design of intellectual property and firms’ optimal IP strategy.
- Incentives to invest: Models (and evidence) to understand how monetary and non-monetary incentives shape firms' and entrepreneurs' decisions to innovate and invest in R&D. Relationship between competition and investment/
innovation and the functioning of prizes, contests, and grants. - Licensing, joint ventures, and open innovation: Innovators' decisions to license their intellectual property to both competitors and non-competitors. Competitors' decisions to form a joint venture and collaboratively develop technologies while competing in the market place. Open innovation. Competition policy concerns about licensing and joint ventures.
- Network effects and technology standard development: Networks, network effects, and two models of standard development: (1) standard wars, and (2) collaborative standardization (a form of co-opetition).
Basic (and background) textbook is “Innovation and Incentives” by Suzanne Scotchmer (MIT Press 2004). In addition, handbook chapters and research articles are assigned to supplement the material in the textbook for a more thorough treatment of the topics or for topics not covered in the textbook.
The lecture focus on theoretical aspects of the economics of innovation. The empirical side of the course topics is covered by means of short student presentations. Each student is expected to present short summaries of two to three papers in class.Competences acquired
Acquisition of a thorough understanding of the key topics, seminal models, and frontiers of research in the economics of innovation; presentation skills.
Responsible teacher of the module: Dr. Bernhard Ganglmair, ganglmairuni-mannheim.de
Schedule
Lecture Lecture 12.02.20 – 27.05.20 Wednesday 10:15 – 11:45 L9, 1–2, 002 E8031: Research Seminar Topics in Market Design (3rd & 4th year)5 ECTSLecturer(s)
Course Type: elective courseCourse Number: E8031Credits: 5Prerequisites
A firm understanding of Game Theory (Advanced Microeconomics). Auction Theory or Market Design lecture is a plus but not a requirement.
Grading and assignment of ECTS credit: A written seminar paper on a topic of own choice and a presentation in class.
Course Content
- Procurement
– Spectrum auctions
– Auctions vs. Negotiations
– Matching Markets
Competences acquired
During the seminar students will explore the frontiers of research in market design. Completing the assignment will put the students into the position to develop innovative research ideas in the realm of market design.
Schedule
Seminar Block Seminar 21.02.20 Friday 12:00 – 13:30 L7, 3–5, P043 Block seminar 29.05.20 Friday 09:00 – 17:00 L7, 3–5, P043 E8032: Inequality and Economic Policy (2nd year +)5 ECTSLecturer(s)
Course Type: elective courseCourse Number: E8032Credits: 5Prerequisites
Formal: 2nd and higher year Ph.D. students from the Center for Doctoral Studies in Economics (CDSE).
2nd year students from the Master of Economic Research.Requirements for the assignment of ECTS Credits and Grades
• Presentation 80%
• Discussion 20%Course Content
The course will discuss current research that analyzes the effect of economic policy on growth and inequality using the tools of modern macroeconomics.
Competences acquired
Students will gain a deeper understanding of the effect of economic policy on growth and inequality.
!!! Course times for 2nd half of semester will be set in first week of semester. !!!
Schedule
Seminar 13.02.20 – 26.03.20 Thursday 13:45 – 15:15 L7,3–5, P043 Course times for 2nd half of semester will be set in first week of semester. 01.04.20 – 29.05.20 00:00 – 00:00 tba E8033: **CANCELLED** Pension Design and Annuity Market2,5 ECTSLecturer(s)
Course Type: elective courseCourse Number: E8033Credits: 2,5Course Content
Pension systems face changing demographic, economic and social circumstances. These changes entail significant risks. The aim of the mini-course is to examine how these risks should be shared, either in public Pension systems or in private annuity markets. Drawing on the theory of the second-best, we set out a three tier system, with special emphasis on the relatively new concept of notional defined contribution (NDC). We then survey the underlying theory of survival functions, Stochastic Dominance and competitive equilibrium, the theory of Annuities, effects of increased life expectancy an aggregate saving and the current focus on the increasing gap in life expectancy by income level and the consequent adverse selection effects.
The course will also touch on the following topics: the increasing gap in longevity by income groups and the erosion of progressivity; the new macroeconomic situation of low interest rates on pension risks; indexation of retirement benefits; theory of annuities under asymmetric information; and the NDC system (lessons from the Swedish and other systems)
Lecture notes will be distributed.
Lecture 1
Pension Design for Stability and Risk (with emphasis on Notional Defined contribution (NDC)
Lecture 2
Survival Functions, Stochastic Dominance and changes in Longevity, Longevity Gap by Income level
Lecture 3
Lifecycle Model, First Best and competitive Equilibrium
Lecture 4
Annuities, Longevity and Aggregate Saving
Lecture 5
Life insurance and differentiated Annuities
Lecture 6
Implications of Increasing Longevity Gap on Social Security and on the Annuity Market
Reading
Alonso-Oritz, J. (2014) Social Security and Retirement Across the OECD, Journal of Economic Dynamics and Control, 47, 300–316
Auerbach, A. R. Lee (2009|) “Notional Defined Contribution Pension Systems in a Stochastic Cantext: Design and Stability” in J. Brown, J. Liebman and D. Wise Social Security Policy in a changing Environment
Auerbach, A. et-al (2017), “How the Growing Gap in Life Expectancy May Affect Retierment Benefits and Reforms” N.B.E.R, WP 23329
Barr, N. and Diamond (2008) Reforming Pensions: Principles and Policy Choice (Oxford University Press)
Davidoff, T., J. Brown and P. Diamond (2005), “Annuities and Welfare”, American Economic Review, 95, 1573-90
Gollier, C. (2008), “Intergenerational Risk-Sharing and Risk Taking of a Pension Fund” Journal of Public Economics, 92, 1463-1495
Hosseini, R. (2015), “Adverse Section in the Annuity Market and the Role of Social Security”, Journal of Political Economy, 123, 941–984
Holzman, R. and E. Palmer (?) (2006), Pension Reform: Issues and Prospect for Notional Defined Contribution (NDC) Schemes” (World Bank)
Palmer, E. (2009), “NDC Pensions- Equilibrium Valuation and Resided Risk Sharing through NDC Bonds” (unpublished)
Sheshinski, E. (2008) The Economic Theory of Annities, (Princeton)
Sheshinski, E. and F. Caliendo (2018) “Social Security and the Increasing Longevity Gap” (unpublished)
Yaari, M. (1965) “Unccertain Liftime, Life Insurance and theTheory of the Consumer” Review of Economic Studies 32, 137–150E821: Topics in Empirical development economics (3rd and 4th year)5 ECTSLecturer(s)
Course Type: elective courseCourse Number: E821Credits: 5Prerequisites
Prerequisites
Successful completion of first two years of PhD programme
Requirements for the assignment of ECTS Credits and Grades
A written seminar paper on a topic of own choice and a presentation in class.Course Content
Research seminar where Ph.D. students, who have completed their course work, present their own research and receive feedback. (Topics in empirical development economics with microeconometric methods. Development economics can be subdivided into three branches: Macro, micro theory and empirical with micro data. We only cover the last area. Macro and micro theory have been the driving forces of development economics initially, but with the increasing availability of microdata for Africa, Asia and Latin America in the last two decades, the foundation of the J-PAL network and the Nobel Prize in 2019, empirical development economics has been gaining attention.)
Competences acquired
Doctoral Students will know how to
– identify a research question,
– put a research question into context of the relevant literature,
– present their current stage of research to their peers in a seminar environmentSchedule
Seminar Research seminar 14.02.20 – 29.05.20 Friday 12:00 – 13:30 L7, 3–5, P044 E839: Topics in Macroeconomics (3rd & 4th year)5 ECTSLecturer(s)
Course Type: elective courseCourse Number: E839Credits: 5Prerequisites
At least first and second year Ph.D. courses.
Requirements for the assignment: Presenting of Research Projects
Course Content
Research seminar where Ph.D. students, who have completed their course work, present their own research and receive feedback. Occasionally we will also have an outside speaker.
Schedule
Seminar Seminar 13.02.20 – 28.05.20 Thursday 12:00 – 13:30 L7, 3–5, P044 E846: Reading Course in Industrial Organization (3rd & 4th year)5 ECTSLecturer(s)
Course Type: elective courseCourse Number: E846Credits: 5Prerequisites
E700-E703, E801-E806
Requirements for the Assignment of ECTS Credits and Grades: Presentation (100%)
Course Content
This seminar is aimed at PhD students writing their dissertation in Industrial Organization. It is intended to guide students at all stages of dissertation research. The emphasis be on presentation and discussion of material by students.
Competences acquired
Doctoral Students will know how to
- identify a research question,
- put a research question into context of the relevant literature,
- present their current stage of research to their peers in a seminar environment.
Schedule
Seminar Seminar 10.02.20 – 25.05.20 Monday 12:00 – 13:30 L7, 3–5, P043 E866: Research Seminar in Economic Policy (3rd & 4th year)5 ECTSLecturer(s)
Course Type: elective courseCourse Number: E866Credits: 5Prerequisites
E700-E703, E801-E806
Grading: At least one presentation. Students who wish to obtain ECTS credits should sign up for the course, students who do not wish to obtain credits should not sign up for the course.
Course Content
Students present and discuss policy related economic research.
Competences acquired
Students learn to apply economic theory and quantitative methods to policy problems.
Further information: Students who would like to participate should contact Hans Grüner before the beginning of the semester
Contact Information: Prof. Dr. Grüner, Phone: (0621) 181-1886, email: gruener@uni-mannheim.de, Office: L7, 3–5, room 2–06
Schedule
Seminar Seminar 10.02.20 – 25.05.20 Monday 17:20 – 18:50 L7, 3–5, P043 E873: Research Seminar in Public Economics (3rd & 4th year)5 ECTSLecturer(s)
Course Type: elective courseCourse Number: E873Credits: 5Prerequisites
At least second year Ph.D. or Research Master
Requirements for the assignment of ECTS-Credits and Grades: Oral presentation of own reserach, contribution to discussion of other perticipants' reserach; only pass/
fail. Course Content
Presentation and discussion of current research in public economics (external and internal speakers)
Competences acquired
Improve presentations skills, obtain feedback to improve research paper.
Schedule
Seminar Seminar 11.02.20 – 26.05.20 Tuesday 12:00 – 13:30 L7, 3–5, P043 E889: Topics in International Taxation and Fiscal Competition (2nd year)5 ECTSLecturer(s)
Course Type: elective courseCourse Number: E889Credits: 5Prerequisites
E700-E703, E801-E806 or equivalent
Requirements for the assignment of ECTS-Credits and Grades: Presentation and referee reportCourse Content
The course is intended to provide insights into current research in the area of public economics, with a focus on environments where countries/
regions are linked by spillovers from tax/ fiscal policies. This includes the following topics: taxation of interregionally mobile production factors, international migration of high skilled labor, cross border shopping, the role of taxation for location decision of firms, tax and fiscal competition, profit shifting and policy coordination to prevent it . The course is split into two halves, roughly but not entirely along the lines of theory and empirics.
Competences acquired
Ability to understand current acacademic research at the frontier; critical evaluation of literature; first steps towards formulating own research questions; improvement of research writing and presentation skills.
Responsible professors of the module: Professor Eckhard Janeba, Professor Sebastian Siegloch
Schedule
Lecture Lecture 11.02.20 – 26.05.20 Tuesday 13:45 – 15:15 L9, 1–2, 002 RES: Interdisciplinary Work in the Economic and Social Sciences (Bridge Course)5 ECTSLecturer(s)
Course Type: elective courseCourse Number: RESCredits: 5Course Content
This course will introduce student to interdisciplinary research and aims at initiating projects of an interdisciplinary nature, thereby fostering the interdisciplinary spirit of the graduate students at the GESS.
The course consists of four core building blocks:
1. Kick-Off & Introductory Session: What is interdisciplinary research.
After a short introduction on the nature and success of interdisciplinary research as well as the structure of the course by me, each participant will shortly (max 10 min, 3 slides per person) present the core idea of an interdisciplinary paper that involves her field. Please browse the recent issues of the most important journals in your field to find such a paper. Note that interdisciplinarity can have various aspects in this context (e.g., methods developed for a specific purpose in one field being used in another context, using a theoretical framework from one area to better understand a research question in another, using data generated in another context for a research project, ...). Your presentation should make clear, what the interdisciplinary innovation of the paper is.
2. GESS Research Day
The GESS research day – kindly co-organized by your student representatives – consists of presentations by PhD students from all three centers and discussion panels with senior experts. Participation at the GESS Research Day is mandatory for all course participants. You will give presentation on a current working paper or research project of yours and you will discuss a paper/
presentation from one of your fellow students from another field (15–20 min presentation, 5 min discussion, 5 min Q&A). Additionally, you will participate in one discussion panel. The idea of the discussion panels is to bring together students from different centers to discuss core topics of societal relevance. Within these panels, the students should talk about how their own field might contribute to the discussion of a specific topic and ideally come up with some joint interdisciplinary research ideas. 3. Science Speed Dating
The science speed dating event – also organized by your student representatives – involves short bilateral talks between participants with the later possibility to match research interests. All course participants will participate in the speed dating event and are asked to develop at least one collaborative research proposal with a students from another field.
4. Project Presentations & Writeups
The proposals will be presented by groups of 2 (in exceptional cases 3) students in a final meeting about four weeks after the speed dating event. These teams will also prepare a write-up of their proposal (max. 5 pages, incl. References) explaining the intended contribution to the literature, the interdisciplinary aspects of the project and the proposed procedure how to implement the project to be handed in one week after the presentation.
Learning Outcomes: Upon successful completion of this course, students will
- have gotten in touch with a variety of disciplinary research methods and perspectives from different fields
- critically evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of these research methods
- identify and develop an interdisciplinary research proposal and communicate their ideas clearly in both, a presentation and in writing.
- have practiced to present their work to a critical, interdisciplinary audience and to discuss other students work in a format closely resembling that of most academic conferences.
Form of assessment:
This is a Pass/
Fail course. To successfully pass the course, each student has to: - Give a short paper presentation in the introductory session.
- Present, discuss, and participate in one discussion panel at the GESS Research Day. An extended abstract and the set of slides that will be used for the presentation or (preferably) a working paper draft needs to be provided by each presenting student to the assigned discussant two weeks before the research day.
- Participate at the science speed dating event.
- Present your interdisciplinary research proposal (group of two students) and subsequently hand in a the write-up
- Full and active participation in all four building blocks is necessary to pass the course.
- The best interdisciplinary proposal will win a price.
Please register by the registration deadline by sending title and abstract of the research project/
topic you would like to present during the GESS research day to registrationgess.uni-mannheim.de. Please indicate in your e-mail your fields of interest and mention up to three broad other fields (e.g. Marketing, Macroeconomics, Social Psychology) you would like to collaborate with. Please note that the course is limited to a maximum of 24 participants, and seats will be allocated on a first come first serve basis.
Course Dates:
March 11th, 2020, 10am-1pm, Kick-Off Meeting, Room 409 in L9, 1–2 (4. OG)
April 23th, 2020, Deadline to send paper to discussant (and in cc: to gess@uni-mannheim.de)
April 30th, 2020, Research Day (whole day symposium) – cancelled
May 4th, 2020, time TBA – Science Speed Dating Event
May 28th, 2020, Presentation of research proposal (half- to full day symposium)
Course Room: B6, 30–32, room 211
ZEW: Applied Theory for Empiricists (ZEW Summer Course)5 ECTSLecturer(s)
Course Type: elective courseCourse Number: ZEWCredits: 5Prerequisites
All first year CDSE or equivalent courses.
Course Content
This course will cover simple microeconomic models that can be used to derive testable predictions, motivate empirical specifications, and explain empirical findings. We will cover a number of recent papers in industrial organization and international trade that have relied on combining applied-theoretical modelling with reduced-form empirical evidence. A reading list will be communicated at a later stage.
Grading and assignment of ECTS-credits: Paper presentation (50%), referee report (50%)
Further information (literature and recommended textbooks): Literature will be announced prior to the course.
Competences acquired
Students are able to build simple micro models and use them as building blocks for empirical work.
SCHEDULE
Date of the Course: Lectures: July 14 – 17, 2020 Students’ presentations: First or second Friday of September 2020Course Registration Information
Please register via summercourseszew.de mentioning the course(s) you want to take by specifying for each course either A) course is taken for credit, i.e. with grading and assignment of ECTS credits, or B) course is taken for audit only, i.e. without grading and assignment of ECTS credits.
Final registration deadline is May 25, 2020.
Further Information: https://www.zew.de/WS940
ZEW: Causal Machine Learning (ZEW Summer Course)5 ECTSLecturer(s)
Course Type: elective courseCourse Number: ZEWCredits: 5Prerequisites
All first year CDSE or equivalent courses. Standard graduate econometrics.
Course Content
The course has three parts. In the first part, we discuss the use of machine and statistical learning methods for predicting outcomes. In the second part, we focus on the most popular causal research designs used in econometrics, like selection-on-observables, IV, regression-discontinuity and difference-in-difference. The third part concerns causal machine learning, i.e. how to combine the prediction methods of the machine learning literature with the causal research designs to obtain reliable causal inference in empirical studies.
Further information (literature and recommended textbooks): Literature will be announced prior to the course.
Grading and assignment of ECTS-credits:
Class participation (30%)
Group project presentations (via Skype, about 2 weeks after the course)Competences acquired
Students will obtain a basic knowledge of several popular machine/
statistical learning methods, of the most important research designs, and how to combine both to obtain reliable and robust causal inference. They will be able to use these methods to conduct own empirical studies with causal machine learning methods. SCHEDULE
Date of the Course: August 10 – 14, 2020Course Registration Information
Please register via summercourseszew.de mentioning the course(s) you want to take by specifying for each course either A) course is taken for credit, i.e. with grading and assignment of ECTS credits, or B) course is taken for audit only, i.e. without grading and assignment of ECTS credits.
Final registration deadline is May 25, 2020.
Further Information: https://www.zew.de/WS940
ZEW: Identification strategies (ZEW Summer Course)5 ECTSLecturer(s)
Course Type: elective courseCourse Number: ZEWCredits: 5Course Content
SCHEDULE
Date of the Course: August 17 – 20, 2020Course Registration Information
Please register via summercourseszew.de mentioning the course(s) you want to take by specifying for each course either A) course is taken for credit, i.e. with grading and assignment of ECTS credits, or B) course is taken for audit only, i.e. without grading and assignment of ECTS credits.
Final registration deadline is May 25, 2020.
Further Information:
ZEW: Revealed Preference (ZEW Summer Course)5 ECTSLecturer(s)
Course Type: elective courseCourse Number: ZEWCredits: 5Prerequisites
All first year CDSE or equivalent courses.
Course Content
Economic agents sort themselves across markets according to their heterogeneous preferences and constraints. This sorting process can reveal information about consumer preferences that can be used to evaluate past policies and design new ones. This course will illustrate how to use the properties of market equilibria, together with information on the observed characteristics and behavior of economic agents, to estimate parameters that characterize agents’ preferences and welfare. Topics will include hedonic price functions, discrete choice models of consumer decision making, and current best practices in econometric identification. Applications will include markets for housing, labor, and health care in which consumers reveal their preferences for private goods as well as for nonmarket features of environmental quality.
Further information (literature and recommended textbooks):
Recommended textbooks:- Manski. “Identification for Prediction and Decision”
- Train. “Discrete Choice Methods with Simulation”
- Angrist and Pischke. “Mostly Harmless Econometrics”
- Bockstael and McConnell. “Environmental and Resource Valuation with Revealed Preferences”
Literature: A detailed reading list will be announced prior to the course.
Grading and assignment of ECTS credits: Grades will be based on two activities.
- Students will present a working paper (which they may or may not have written) and explain its use of revealed preference analysis.
- Students will submit a written “referee report” summarizing strengths and limitations of a working paper that uses revealed preference analysis.
Competences acquired
Competences acquired: Students will learn how to combine theory and data to infer consumer preferences from observed behavior and then use this information to evaluate actual and counterfactual policies. Students will develop the skills needed to apply revealed preference methods in their own research in ways that incorporate best practices in econometric identification and economic interpretation.
SCHEDULE
Date of the Course: June 29 – July 7, 2020Course Registration Information
Please register via summercourseszew.de mentioning the course(s) you want to take by specifying for each course either A) course is taken for credit, i.e. with grading and assignment of ECTS credits, or B) course is taken for audit only, i.e. without grading and assignment of ECTS credits.
Final registration deadline is May 25, 2020.
Further Information: https://www.zew.de/WS940
ZEW: The Economics of Migration (ZEW Summer Course)5 ECTSLecturer(s)
Course Type: elective courseCourse Number: ZEWCredits: 5Course Content
SCHEDULE
Date of the Course: August 24 – 27, 2020Course Registration Information
Please register via summercourseszew.de mentioning the course(s) you want to take by specifying for each course either A) course is taken for credit, i.e. with grading and assignment of ECTS credits, or B) course is taken for audit only, i.e. without grading and assignment of ECTS credits.
Final registration deadline is May 25, 2020.
Further Information: https://www.zew.de/WS940