Master

The lecture covers the principles of modern development economics and, using various examples from the current literature, highlights the core topics, the methodological challenges, and the key findings derived in this sub-discipline of economics. The lecture covers decisions of individuals and households and thus has a clear microeconomic focus. A core topic of the lecture is why poor individuals and households are often struggling to leave poverty and to advance to more adequate living conditions, and which policies can help to overcome poverty traps. In the exercise course, the focus is on advanced empirical methods and their application to problems of development. Students work with data sets and replicate core findings from the literature.

Students are made familiar with the fundamental concepts of microeconomics on an advanced level, including advanced formal mathematical methods. The lecture covers topics in the theory of the consumer, the theory of the firm, partial equilibrium, general equilibrium, and anomalies in behavior in relation to the standard model. In the Exercises course, students learn how to apply these concepts to selected economic problems in various settings. The module is of fundamental importance for Master students who want to advance to studying applied problems in all field of applied micro, including labor economics, public economics, and industrial organization.

During the seminar, participants discuss current topics in the economics of human capital. The seminar is offered jointly with Prof. Markus Nagler.

During the seminar, participants discuss topics in experimental economics. Special attention is paid to methodological issues.