Moodle

In this seminar, we learn how to apply statistical methods for causal inference in economics. In terms of methods, we will learn about experiments, natural experiments, difference-in-difference designs, regression discontinuity designs, and instrumental variables. In terms of research topics, we will study political economy, international migration, and attitudes towards globalization. The seminar is structured such that for each method that we cover there is one session dedicated to learning the method itself and another session dedicated to a recent research paper that applies this method.

Topics:

- Experiments and Survey Experiments

 - Fixed Effects and Control Variables

- Directed Acyclic Graphs (DAGs)

- Difference in Differences (DID) and Event Studies

- Regression Discontinuity (RD) Designs and Spatial RD

- Instrumental Variables (IV) and Shift-Share IV

- Synthetic Control Methods

This lecture offers an introduction to current research topics in the field of International Political Economy (IPE) and Geoeconomics. After introducing what it means to study IPE in the age of globalization, the course addresses four major themes of current IPE research.

 1) In the first part on international trade, we will learn about the opportunities and challenges that come with the intensifying exchange of goods across the globe.

 2) In the second part on international finance, we will focus on how global financial flows interact with political and economic stability, instability, and crises.

 3) In the third part on international development, we will learn about global economic inequality and understand its links to development cooperation and migration.

 4) In the fourth part on international institutions, we will focus on the role that international institutions and organizations play in the globalized economy.

 Topics:

- Globalization and Trade

- Foreign Direct Investment

- The Balance of Payments and Exchange Rates

- Sovereign Debt and Financial Crises

- Global Inequality

- Development Cooperation

- Migration

- International Financial Institutions