Economics for challenging times

Summary

This course analyzes socio-economic issues related to poverty, inequalities, climate change, globalization, migration, AI, etc. We teach students how to analyze data using quantitative methods in economics and develop solutions compatible with the functioning of market economies.

Content

Assessment methods

Active participation in class (20% of the final grade): Active participation will be graded according to the EPFL participation grid. Class attendance is mandatory and will be checked with attendance sheet at each class (each unexcused absence will decrease the participation grade).

Oral presentations (30% of the final grade): On Moodle, you will find a question for oral presentations for each class (various format) based on readings. You will have to select 1 of these oral presentations during the term.

Final Exam (50% of the grade): Presentation of a term paper. You will have to present one extension of a research paper (from a reading list that we will circulate in week 4). This work is made in a team of 3-4 students, composed at the beginning of the year. By week 6, you should have chosen a paper to replicate and extend. Replication means that you re-produce the main tables of results. Extension means you add to the paper in some way for example by combining the original data with new data, exploiting variation within the existing data that were not utilized, adding robustness checks or constructing new hypothesis tests. If the code is available for the empirical papers, your mark will be heavily weighted towards the extension. You will be required to present your paper and its extension in an oral defense with your team during the exam session in January. Presentations should last at most 30 minutes followed with a 15mn Q&As.

Resources

Moodle Link

• https://go.epfl.ch/MGT-494