Seminar: Economic Growth

Course content

This seminar covers the same ground as the course of the same name, i.e., theories of economic growth in developed countries. Students will have to define their own research projects. A successful seminar paper either 1) extends an existing theoretical model of economic such that it is able to replicate a stylized fact that it could not explain previously, 2) empirically tests an existing theory of economic growth using new data or new methodologies, or 3) uses one or more models of economic growth to shed light on an ongoing policy debate.

 

Examples of topics for seminar papers include:

  • Should we invest more in research and development?
  • Will robots take our jobs?
  • Is GDP a good proxy for welfare?
  • Wage inequality and skill-biased technical change
  • Why are some countries better at adopting new technology?
  • Will economic growth slow down in the future?
  • Does international trade increase economic growth?
  • Does inequality reduce economic growth?
  • Does economic growth reduce inequality?
  • How should we measure GDP in the digital age?
     

… and much else

Education

MSc programme in Economics

The seminar is primarily for students at the MSc of Economics.

Learning outcome

After completing the seminar the student is expected to be able to fulfill the learning outcome specified in the Master curriculum and to:

  • be able to learn to define their own research question
  • figure out how to approach it with the right tools (e.g., economic models and econometric methods)
  • carry out an in-depth analysis, and disseminate their results in a clear and concise way, both verbally and in written form
  • In the process, students should gain knowledge of frontier research on their chosen topic.

At the seminar the student is trained independently to
- identify and clarify a problem,
- seek and select relevant literatur,
- write a academic paper,
- present and discuss own paper with the other students at the seminar.

The aim of the presentations is, that the student uses the presentation as an opportunity to practice oral skills and to receive feedback. The presentations is not a part of the exam and will not be assessed.

Mandatory activities in the seminar:
- Kick-off meeting
- Finding literatur and defining the project
- Writing process of the seminar paper
- Presentation of own project and paper
- Giving constructive feedback to another student´s paper
- Actively participating in discussions at the presentations and other meetings.

There is no weekly teaching/lecturing and the student cannot expect guidance from the teacher. If the teacher gives a few introduction lectures or gives the opportunity for guidance, this as well as other expectations are clarified at the kickoff meeting.

Process:
It is strongly recommended that you think about and search for a topic before the semester begins, as there is only a few weeks from the kick-off meeting to the submission of the project description/ agreement paper.

The seminar project paper must be uploaded in Absalon before the presentations, as the opponents and the other seminar participants have to read and comment on the paper. It is important that you upload a paper that is so finalized as possible due to the fact that the value of feedback and comments at the presentation is strongly associated with the skill level of the seminar paper.

After the presentations, you can with a few corrections improve the seminar paper by including the feedback and comments emerged during the presentations. It is NOT intended that you rewrite or begin the writing of the full project AFTER the presentation has taken place.

There is no pre-defined syllabus, and the set of papers each student will read for this seminar depends on what he or she chooses to write about. Students are required to search the literature themselves (with assistance from the teacher).

It is recommended to have participated in the course Economic Growth before attending this seminar.

BSc in Economics or similar

Schedule of the seminar 2021:

- Kick-off meeting:
September 7, 10.15-12.00.

- Extra meetings / introductory teaching / guidance:
October 26, 10.15-12.00.

- Deadline for submission of commitment paper / project description:
No later than 1 October. Exact date will be agreed at the kick-off meeting.

- Deadline for uploading a seminar assignment paper:
No later than one week before the presentations. Exact date will be agreed at the kick-off meeting

- Presentations:
In the time period 1 – 21 November. Exact dates will be agreed at the kick-off meeting.

- Exam date: 1 December at 10.00 (am) - latest uploading of Seminar paper to the Digital Exam portal for assessment.


All information regarding the seminar is communicated through Absalon including venue. So it is very important that you by yourself logon to Absalon and read the information already when you are registered at the seminar.

Written
Oral
Individual
Continuous feedback during the course of the semester
Peer feedback (Students give each other feedback)
ECTS
7,5 ECTS
Type of assessment
Written examination
A seminar paper in English that meets the formal requirements for written papers stated in the curriculum of the Master programme and at KUNet for seminars.
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Aid
All aids allowed

for the seminar paper.

The teacher defines the aids that must be used for the presentations.

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Marking scale
7-point grading scale
Censorship form
External censorship
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Criteria for exam assessment

Students are assessed on the extent to which they master the learning outcome for the seminar and can make use of the knowledge, skills and competencies listed in the learning outcomes in the Curriculum of the Master programme.

 

To receive the top grade, the student must with no or only a few minor weaknesses be able to demonstrate an excellent performance displaying a high level of command of all aspects of the relevant material.

  • Category
  • Hours
  • Project work
  • 186
  • Seminar
  • 20
  • English
  • 206