| Unit name | MRes Topics in Applied Microeconomics |
|---|---|
| Unit code | ECONM0022 |
| Credit points | 20 |
| Level of study | M/7 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 1 (weeks 1 - 12) |
| Unit director | Professor. Valente |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Units you must take before you take this one (pre-requisite units) |
MRes Macroeconomics, MRes Microeconomics, MRes Econometrics, MRes Mathematical and Research Methods |
| Units you must take alongside this one (co-requisite units) |
None |
| Units you may not take alongside this one |
None |
| School/department | School of Economics |
| Faculty | Faculty of Social Sciences and Law |
Why is this unit important?
During the first year of the MRes, students learn all the core elements of economics. Many research-active economists do not, however, contribute to pushing the frontier in these core elements of the discipline. Instead, they apply these core principles to specific questions to obtain empirically sound evidence. To do so skilfully and be able to peer-review this applied research requires specific training and hands-on practice. And to inspire students to pursue research in these subjects requires them to engage with research in these applied fields. These are the two main reasons why this unit is important.
How does this unit fit into your programme of study?
It builds on the theory, metrics, and research methods learnt in year 1 and teaches the students how these core skills can be leveraged to produce high-quality empirical research.
An overview of content
The exact topics covered in this unit will vary from year to year to reflect the research frontier and the teaching capacity of the relevant staff. Each year, it is expected that 3 applied micro fields will be covered among those which do not have a dedicated unit in Year 2 (e.g., education, health, development economics), and that between 3 and 4 weeks will be dedicated to each field. It is envisaged that each week will cover a different key article in the topic, which will give an overview of topic-relevant theory and empirics.
How will students, personally, be different as a result of the unit
Students will be exposed to cutting-edge applied research, know what constitutes good, applied research, know the criteria used in the profession to assess quality, which will shape how they think of potential research questions and research designs and help them carry out quality applied research themselves.
Learning Outcomes
At the end of the unit a successful student will be able to:
It is envisaged that several key articles will be covered in the topic and, for each article, there will be:
All three activities will contribute to achieving:
ILO 1: learning about cutting-edge research in applied micro
ILO 2: understanding what constitutes strengths and weaknesses of applied micro studies
ILO 4: the ability to form robust research designs that stand the test of scrutiny by peer researchers
In addition, (ii) will contribute to achieving ILO 3: To practice replicating existing studies.
(1) and (3) will provide direct practice towards the coursework, while (2) will indirectly contribute to the summative coursework by giving students a deeper understanding of how to test the reliability of existing research and of their own work.
Tasks which help you learn and prepare you for summative tasks (formative):
Every week, students will practice reading and commenting on an article in the style of a referee report. This will directly prepare them for the summative coursework. Feedback will be obtained through participation in the discussion (orally and/or through “wikis”) as well as, for one or two short papers submitted around the third and sixth weeks of teaching, based on written feedback.
Tasks which count towards your unit mark (summative):
Coursework (3,500-words maximum) (100%). Students will choose an applied economics working paper available in a leading working paper series, but which has not yet been peer-reviewed and replicate its main results, provide a discussion of the main appeals of the paper, its main flaws or limitations and how it could be improved. This assessment will take place near the end of the unit after ample formative assessment practice and feedback. ILOs 1-4.
When assessment does not go to plan
When a student fails the unit and is eligible to resubmit, failed components will be reassessed on a like-for-like basis.
If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.
If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. ECONM0022).
How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours
of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks,
independent learning and assessment activity.
See the University Workload statement relating to this unit for more information.
Assessment
The assessment methods listed in this unit specification are designed to enable students to demonstrate the named learning outcomes (LOs). Where a disability prevents a student from undertaking a specific method of assessment, schools will make reasonable adjustments to support a student to demonstrate the LO by an alternative method or with additional resources.
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit.
The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. For appropriate assessments, if you have self-certificated your absence, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (for assessments at the end of TB1 and TB2 this is usually in the next re-assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any exceptional circumstances and operates
within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.
