Objectives

The main aim of the course is to familiarize students with policy-relevant issues in economics and expose students to speakers from major national and international organizations involved in economic policy. Students will also gain experience in how to conduct and communicate economic policy analyses.

Contents

The first part of the course consists of presentations on policy-relevant topics by speakers from major public policy institutions in Switzerland and abroad as well as academics working in the area of economic policy. In the second part of the course, students will give a presentation and write a short policy/research brief on a policy-relevant topic of their choice among a list of topics provided by the course organizers or on a topic agreed on by the student with the course organizers.

The list of topics covered in the seminar may include, but need not be restricted to the financial crisis, the euro crisis, monetary policy, public finance, environmental economics, market design, international trade, development, migration, unemployment insurance, competition policy, etc.

The moodle website of the course will show a detailed schedule of the presentations.

References

Main reference materials are the presentation slides and related materials given in class.

Evaluation

First attempt

Exam:

Without exam (cf. terms)  

Evaluation:

The participants of the course are required:

(1) to give a presentation on a policy-relevant topic in class (45% of the final grade)

(2) to write a policy/research brief of maximal 3000 words on this topic (45% of the final grade). A list of potential topics will be provided at the beginning of the course.

(3) to attend all lectures and presentations, by speakers and by fellow students, and to actively participate in class (10% of the final grade). Note that unexcused absence during 2 or more class sessions may result in a malus for the final grade.

Retake

Exam:

Without exam (cf. terms)  

Evaluation:

In case of a total grade below 4 in the first evaluation, students will have to redo their presentation (45% of the grade) and hand-in a revised version of their policy brief (55% of the grade).