Overview
- ECTS: 6 ECTS
- Language: English
- Necessary previous knowledge: No formal requirements. Usefull: EWF
- Recommended semester: 4. Semester
- Classification: ECON2
- Areas of interest: Empirical Microeconomics and Policy Analysis (politics)
- Effort per ECTS (appropriate, much, too much): Requires much effort, if you are intrinsically motivated it feels very much adequate
Abstract
This course is a perfect introduction into empirical microeconomics and development economics. Prof. Dina Pomeranz seamlessly combines an introduction into a broad array of topics in development economics with econometric methodology.
If you are interested in understanding global poverty and inequality, health and the evaluation of public policies you will find a comprehensive overview in this course.
The problem sets focus more on empirical methods and their application in STATA (or R). While they require a constant effort throughout the semester they help with understanding the core concepts of these methods and reduce the workload during the exam preparation. The professor is extremely passionate and engaging.
I can recommend this class to everyone who is interested in global affairs or empirical research, additionally it proved very helpful when taking Entermediate Econometrics the following semester.
Good to know
It may be tedious to do the problem sets and learn STATA on the go. However, these applications are solely to help you understand the concepts and are not part of the exam. (If you cannot afford the STATA license please contact the lecturer – they will provide you with a license). Because this course covers a broad collection of topics you will not go into great detail in either of them. This allows on the one hand for a great point of entry for anyone interested in development economics but may deter others who want to dive deep into a given area of research.
Pro / Contra
Vorlesung (Inhalt, Aufbau, Lernmaterialien)
Pro
- Very interesting, broad range of topics
- The Professor conveys her love for the subject very well and motivates the students to participate.
- It will help you understand some of the great challenges of our time and is the best starting point for empirical microeconomics.
Contra
- Doing all the readings and problem sets requires quite some time and dedication
(it is worthwhile in my opinion)
Übung (Relevanz, Bezug zur Vorlesung)
The tutoring builds thematically on the lecture and focuses on the methodological aspects. Depending on the TA the quality varies quite a bit, though it is overall worth your time. The tutoring classes may not be fully necessary for a pass, however if you aim for a good grade I recommend visiting them.
Effort for the exam / tips
Weighting of the exercises: Some of the problem sets are graded and make up 25% if the final grade. The problem sets help you in understanding the empirical methods.
Materials: The syllabus and mandatory reading list is constantly updated and very close to the cutting edge of research in each of the fields covered.
Learning strategy: If you put in the time during the semester you will not have to study much for the final exam. While the applications in STATA are not relevant to the exam, the interpretation of STATA outputs and empirical methods certainly are. If you do the mandatory readings and the problem sets you are perfectly prepared for the exam.
Placement in studies
What subjects build on it: This course is helpful for intermediate econometrics and development economics.
Similar subjects: Development Economics, Intermediate Econometrics, Gender Economics.