Economics 300
Spring 2005 |
Introduction to Economic Analysis |
Bradley Hansen |
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Office: |
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Phone: 654-1484 |
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Office Hours: |
MWF 11-12, M 2-3 and W 9-10 |
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I can also be reached by email addressed to: bhansen@umw.edu .
Course Objectives:
The objective of this course is to provide you with an opportunity to develop the skills necessary to conduct original research in economics.
Text: Steve Greenlaw Doing Economics
Specifically, you will learn:
- How to develop a workable research question
- How to do a literature search in economics
- How to analyze a problem using economic theory
- How to find and collect economic data
- How to use statistical analysis to test economic hypotheses
- How to write a paper in economics and how to present the paper orally.
These elements will be linked together through the preparation of a semester long economic research project.
Course Requirements:
Your final grade will be based on your performance in the following three areas:
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Class Participation |
10% |
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Research Assignments |
60% |
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Research Paper and Presentation |
30% |
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Students who have less than a C- in the course at the midterm will receive a U on their midterm progress report. You must complete all assignments to pass the course. |
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The course is Writing Intensive. As such you may want to use the resources of the Writing Center. In addition you may wish to consult the Speaking Center.
Course Outline:
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Monday |
Wednesday |
Friday |
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1. |
Introduction: discussion of Research Topics |
Overview of Economic Research Read Introduction to McCloskey on Victorian Failure and
Introduction to Solow on Growth
Theory. |
Moving from a Topic to a problem to a Research
Question. Read first section of Fogel’s paper. First Assignment Due: Preliminary Bibliography |
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2. |
Reading Research Papers in Economics: Identifying
the key elements of a good paper. Taking notes. |
Introduction to empirical analysis. The role of models in economics. Introduction
to reading quantitative analysis. Read Alston. |
From Problems to questions. |
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3. |
From Problems to questions. Discussion of literature review. |
Discussion of research questions. |
Further study of quantitative analysis. Second assignment due: Literature Review |
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4. |
Discussion of research questions. |
The role of models in empirical economic analysis. |
Discussion of models. |
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5. |
Further discussion of models. |
Further discussion of models. Third Assignment due: Statement of your research
question. |
Discussion of Evidence and |
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6. |
Nuts and Bolts of Quantitative Analysis |
Nuts and Bolts of Quantitative Analysis Writing your paper. |
Where to find it. Fourth Assignment: Your model. |
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7. |
Nuts and Bolts of Quantitative Analysis. |
Writing Your Paper |
Writing your paper. Fifth Assignment: Your ideal data set. Presenting your research |
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8. |
Spring Break |
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9. March 7-11 |
Writing Your Paper |
Methodology McCloskey |
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10. March 14-18 |
Short presentations and discussion. |
Short presentations and discussion. |
Short presentations and discussion. |
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11. March 21-22 |
Making and using powerpoint presentations. |
Rough drafts due. |
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12. March 28-April 1 |
Peer reviews of rough drafts |
Peer reviews of rough drafts |
Peer reviews of rough drafts |
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13. April 4-8 |
In class work week |
In class work week |
In class work week |
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14. April 11-15 |
Presentations |
Presentations |
Presentations |
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15. April 18-22 |
Presentations |
Presentations |
Presentations |
Assignments
All
assignments are to be turned in at the beginning of class the day they are due.
All due dates are absolute. If
you do not turn in the assignment when it is due you will receive zero credit for that assignment, including the final
paper. In short, turn in whatever you have.
1. Preliminary
Bibliography: Search EconLit, Simpson Library Catalog and working papers at www.ssrn.com (Social Science Research Network)
Use Chicago/Turabian
Style or for Chicago
style internet citation.
2. Literature
Review. Your literature review needs to tell the story of the conversation that
has taken place so far.
3. Statement of
your research question.
The following
assignment is from Booth, Colomb and Williams page 44.
I am studying
________ , (your topic) because I want to find out ___________ (our
question) so that I will be able to understand ___________. (the motivation for
your research)
4. Your model.
Present a graphic version of your model and a written explanation of the model.
5. Your ideal data
set. Because you have been very good Santa Claus is going to bring you exactly
the evidence you want. What will he bring you and why?
6. Short
presentation.
7. Rough Draft
8. Final
Presentation.
The Research Paper
Final paper is due during the final exam period.
Style Sheet for
Final Paper
General Points about research:
Research is a form
of conversation. Always keep in mind your goal is to persuade others. You are trying
to contribute in an interesting way to a conversation. What has been said
already? What is missing from the conversation, or what does not make sense to
you? What do you want to say? Who are you talking to? (audience) How do you
want them to see you? (voice or persona) How can you persuade them that you are
right?
Pick a question
that interests you. If you are not interested why on earth would anyone else
be? “ Questions are crucial, because the starting point of all good research is
what you do not know or understand but feel that you must.” (Booth,
Colomb and Williams)
Write throughout
the process. Do not wait until the end to start writing.
Research is a
social activity. No good piece of research is the result of an individual
setting alone in an ivory tower. People who do research are always talking to
other people about their research, presenting it at conferences and asking
their friends to read what they have written. Pick up a copy of the American
Economic Review and examine the acknowledgements for any article.
Kenneth Boulding
once said “Its better to get it written than to get it right.” This does not
mean that you should sloppy, but there comes a point when you have to stop
looking for one more piece of evidence.
Be
brave.
Useful References
Barzun, J. and H.
Graff The Modern Researcher (
Becker, H. Writing
For Social Scientists (University of Chicago Press, 1986).
Booth, W.; G.
Colomb and J. Williams. The Craft of Research (University of Chicago
Press, 1995).
Booth, W. and M.
Gregory The Harper and Row Rhetoric: Writing As Thinking/ Thinking As
Writing (Harper & Row, 1987).
Horner, W.; S. Webb
and R. Miller.
Mc Closkey, D. Economical
Writing (Waveland Press, 1999).
The Rhetoric of Economics (University of Wisconsin Press, 1985).
Pindyck, R. and D.
Rubinfeld. Econometric Models and Economic Forecasts 4th Edition
(Irwin, McGraw Hill, 1998).
Strunk, W. and E.
B. White. Elements of Style 3rd Edition (Macmillan, 1979).
Thomson, W. A Guide
For the Young Economist: Writing and Speaking Effectively about Economics (MIT
Press, 2001).
Williams, J. Style:
Ten Lessons in Clarity and Grace 2nd Edition (Scott, Foresman,
1985).
Wyrick, T. The
Economist’s Handbook: A Guide To Research and Writing (West Publishing,
1994).
Order of
presentations:
Adams, Lonnie B.
Airhart, Alex V.
Barnes, John K.
Beaulieu, Ryan N.
Cerankowski, Cheryl A.
Cullen, Elizabeth A.
Daniels, Shani N.
Durham, Andrew C.
Fenichel, Ethan D.
Flynn, Andrew J.
Gay, Gina M.
Golden, Jeffrey M.
Herring, Eric S.
Holt, Jeffrey M.
Kemper, Susan C.
Lilley, Amber M.
Marchica, Meghan L.
Okin,
Roche, Cathleen Louise
Sienkowski, Michael O.
Trudell, Eric A.
Vigliotti, Laura M.
White, Elizabeth A.
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Topic |
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Model |
Evidence |
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Bradley Hansen |
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