Objectives

The main aim of the course is to familiarize students with policy-relevant issues in economics and expose students to corresponding 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 half 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, 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 (30% of the final grade) and write a policy/research brief of maximal 3000 words on this topic (30% of the final grade). A list of potential topics will be provided at the beginning of the course.

(2) to take a mid-term exam in class on the topics covered by the seminar speakers (30% of the final grade).

(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:

Written 2h hours

Documentation:

Not allowed

Calculator:

Not allowed

Evaluation:

In case of a final grade below 4, the student will be allowed to retake some or all of the evaluation components (other than course participation) where he/she obtained a grade below 4 (mid-term, presentation and/or policy/research brief). The course participation grade will not count in the retake evaluation. The retake exam will contain topics evaluated in the mid-term exam as well as questions related to the students' presentations. Documentation will not be allowed during exams (both mid-term and retake).