Development Economics MSc

Examples of types of policy issues addressed include:

• randomised controlled trials to evaluate policy interventions
• trade policy reform
• welfare impact of economic partnership agreements
• growth and innovation
• dealing with public debt

This module employs tools of microeconomic analysis to address topics central to development issues in low-income countries. One part concentrates on issues concerning household behaviour covering intrahousehold allocation, production, risk, migration and rural markets (especially credit), while the second part focuses on poverty and income distribution, covering measurement, income dynamics, and poverty reduction strategies.

This module covers:

• modern techniques of microeconomic theory
• foundations and applications of game theory
• information economics

This module will cover analytical and theoretical issues in macroeconomics including:

• modelling aggregate variables under adaptive and rational expectations
• modelling with imperfect competition
• constructing overlapping generations models
• price inertia

This module teaches the core techniques of econometric theory, including:

• detailed analysis of the multiple linear regression model
• large sample theory
• asymptotic testing procedures
• non-linear techniques
• mis-specification testing

This module provides you with 'hands on' training in the use, presentation and interpretation of economic data, including time series, cross-section and panel data. It comprises of:

• an introduction to basic principles of economic data analysis
• descriptive statistics
• hypothesis testing
• simple and multiple regression
• introduction to panel data
• introduction to dynamic modelling
• time series models

The module will include a series of practical classes using econometrics software packages.

This module covers the following:

• A review of perspectives on the principles and philosophical foundations of economic enquiry
• The construction and evaluation of theories and research programmes
• The role of models and concepts of rationality in economics
• Alternative empirical methods
• Professional practice

A period of research and study designed to allow you to demonstrate familiarity with a particular area of economic theory or policy, or of applied economics or econometrics, and the ability to apply a specific analytical and/or empirical technique.

This module examines central theoretical aspects from modern microeconomic theory, paying particular emphasis on game theory, imperfect competition and incomplete information.

The module will cover a selection of topics in applied behavioural economics where a substantial literature has already developed.

Possible areas include behavioural approaches to: labour economics, public economics, financial economics, development economics.

The module considers modern econometric techniques for modelling microeconomic data. It covers four broad econometric techniques:

• Robust standard errors and applications
• Discrete choices model
• Microeconometric policy evaluation methods for observational studies
• Instrumental variables and GMM estimation

This module covers the following:

• Foundation in the research method of modern laboratory experimentation
• Economics as an experimental subject
• Rationale for experiments, applications and practicalities, considered in the context of specific experiments and programmes of experiments

This module covers the following:

• International linkages in economics as a result of exchange rate movements, capital movements and spillovers
• Factors which determine the level of the exchange rate and trade effects
• International effects of monetary and fiscal policies

This module provides an overview of the theory of international trade, the theory of trade policy and each of their applications, utilising the techniques of general equilibrium theory and the theories of perfectly competitive and imperfectly competitive markets as appropriate. Recent developments in these areas will be emphasised.

This module covers empirical models of international trade and several topics in trade policy. It discusses firms’ decision to export; the evaluation of export promotion policies; the link between globalisation and labour markets; the gravity model of international trade; free trade agreements; multinational firms; the political economy of trade policy.