Economics, Advanced Course, 30 credits

Learning outcomes

Knowledge

On successful completion of the course, students are expected to

• understand the usefulness of economic theory when analysing economic issues
• understand the importance of having a scientific approach in empirical analyses
• have a broad knowledge in industrial organization and in-depth knowledge in the behaviour of markets under various degree of competition
• have broad knowledge how to interpret models of regression of various types
• understand central problems that may arise in empirical analyses (e.g endogeneity, selection, causality)
• have in-depth knowledge in a specific research area.

Competence and skills

After completing the course, students are expected to

• have the ability to independently formulate, analyse and discuss a relevant question from an economic theoretical perspective
• have the ability to collect and use data to conduct quantitative analyses within a given time span
• have the ability to produce academic documents and orally – with high standard - present and discuss their own work as well as the work of others.

Judgment and approach

After completing the course, students are expected to

• have the ability to assess the policy relevance of their own work and of previous economic studies
• understand the usefulness and the limitations in economic theory and methodology
• judge the credibility of various sources in research.

Content

Economics Research and Communication, 7,5 Credits

• Scientific approach and method
• Regression analysis with cross-sectional data
• Regression analysis with panel data
• Regression analysis with time series data

Industrial Organisation, 7,5 Credits

• The functioning and structure of markets
• Market behaviour under different information assumptions
• Business strategies and their effects on efficiency and welfare
• Regulation and competition policy

Bachelor Thesis, 15 Credits

• Formulate a well-defined question
• Link the question to established economic theory and review the state of the knowledge in the problem area
• Planning and writing an essay
• Actively participate in seminars

Examinations and grades

Economics Research and Communication

Economics Research and Communication, Computer Lab Sessions (Code: A001)
Grades used are Participated (DT).

Economics Research and Communication, Individual Task, 3.5 credits (Code: A004)
Grades used are Fail (U), Pass (G) or Pass with Distinction (VG).

Economics Research and Communication, Written Examination, 4 credits (Code: A005)
Grades used are Fail (U), Pass (G) or Pass with Distinction (VG).

Industrial Organisation

Industrial Organisation, Assignment, 5 credits (Code: B003)
Grades used are Fail (U), Pass (G) or Pass with Distinction (VG).

Industrial Organisation, Written Examination, 2.5 credits (Code: B004)
Grades used are Fail (U), Pass (G) or Pass with Distinction (VG).

Bachelor Thesis

Bachelor Thesis, 15 credits (Code: C001)
Grades used are Fail (U), Pass (G) or Pass with Distinction (VG).

According to the Higher Education Ordinance, Chapter 6, Section 18, a grade is to be awarded on the completion of a course, unless otherwise prescribed by the university. The university may determine which grading system is to be used. The grade must be determined by a teacher specifically nominated by the university (the examiner).

In accordance with university regulations on grading systems for first and second-cycle courses and study programmes (Vice-Chancellor’s decision ORU 2018/00929), one of the following grades is to be used: fail (U), pass (G) or pass with distinction (VG). For courses included in an international master’s programme (60 or 120 credits) or offered to the university’s incoming exchange students, the A to F grading scale is to be used. The vice-chancellor, or a person appointed by them, may decide on exceptions from this provision for a specific course, if there are special grounds for doing so.

The grades used on this course are Fail (U), Pass (G) or Pass with Distinction (VG).

Comments on grades

To obtain the grade Pass (G) it is required that the student is awarded the grade Pass in all the partial examinations within the course. To obtain the grade Pass with distinction (VG), the student is required to have been awarded the grade Pass with distinction in the course modules comprising at least a total of 22,5 credits, besides the aforementioned requirement of the grade Pass in all examinations.

Modes of assessment

Economics Research and Communication
Computer Lab Sessions (Code: A001)
Written Individual Task, 3.5 credits (Code: A004)
Written Examination, 4 credits (Code: A005)

Industrial Organisation
Written Assignment, 5 credits (Code: B003)
Written assignment with oral examination, as well as opposition to another written assignment.

Written Examination, 2.5 credits (Code: B004)

Bachelor Thesis
Bachelor Thesis, 15 credits (Code: C001)

For students with a documented disability, the university may approve applications for adapted or other modes of assessment.

For further information, see the university's local examination regulations.

Specific entry requirements

Economics, basic course, 30 credits and successful completion of 15 credits from Economics, intermediate course, 30 credits.
In addition, successful completion of 18 credits in statistics at basic level including 6 credits on the course Data Mining and Business Analytics, Basic Course, 15 credits
alternatively
Successful completion of 22 credits in statistics at basic level including Regression Analysis, basic course, 7.5 credits.

For further information, see the university's admission regulations.

Other provisions

Economics Research and Communication (module 1) is always given in English. Industrial organisation (module 2) is given in Swedish in the autumn term and English in the spring term. Bachelor's thesis (module 3) is always given in Swedish, but the thesis can be written in Swedish or English.

Students who have been admitted to and registered on a course have the right to receive tuition and/or supervision for the duration of the time period specified for the particular course to which they were accepted (see, the university's admission regulations (in Swedish)). After that, the right to receive tuition and/or supervision expires.

Reading list and other learning resources

Additions and Comments

The course will also cover a number of compulsory articles and written material. These are specified in the instructions for the course.

Economics Research and Communication, 7,5 Credits

Required Reading

Hansson, Sven Ove
The Art of Doing Science / Konsten att vara vetenskaplig
KTH, Stockholm, Compendium, about 100 pages

Wooldridge, Jeffrey M. (latest edition)
Introductory Econometrics: A Modern Approach
Cengage

Industrial Organisation, 7,5 Credits

Required Reading

Luis M B Cabral (Second Edition)
Introduction to Industrial Organization
MIT Press, ISBN: 9780262035941

Bachelor Thesis, 15 Credits

Required Reading

Literature that is related to the chosen topic and applied methods required to complete the essay