This course is a first introduction to critical analysis and reflection on new, cutting-edge economics research that analyses real-world challenges such as climate change, gender inequality, migration and refugees, and crime and conflict. It will also provide you with a first opportunity to practice formulating and presenting an academically motivated opinion. Our meetings will apply what you have learned about economics to real world problems that you have a personal interest in.

Subscription for the course: send an e-mail to Student Information Desk Economics.


Academic skills
This course focuses on the following academic skills:

• Analytical Skills
  • Being able to identify, interpret and critically evaluate the main line of reasoning, for more complex problemssolve problems for more complex problems.
  • Being able to evaluate evidence in text and presentations for more complex problems
• Communication Skills
  • Being able to present the content of an article.
  • Being able to provide useful and correct feedback on a presentation.
• Academic Reasoning
  • Thinking conceptually, thinking in terms of theory
  • Asking critical questions, having a curiosity-driven and critical attitude
  • Analyzing questions from different perspectives
  • Identifying links between problems

Format
From a pre-selected set of high-quality working papers that are not yet published in peer-reviewed journals you will select a few papers that you will analyse and discuss, jointly with a small group of your peers. With your group you will then present this paper and facilitate a classroom discussion about a specific academic or policy question related to the paper. As the working papers are on-going work, there is ample room for students to suggest improvements to the papers.


Assessment method

• Active participation (100% of the final grade)

The grade you receive for this course is a binary pass or non-pass.
 

Effort requirements
To pass you should attend at least 80% of our meetings.
 

Course materials
Prior to the start of the course the lecturer will select a set of high-quality working papers that are current and publicly available.
 

Language of instruction
English
 

Place of the course within the curriculum
Honours Programme, second or third year in Bachelor

In case online access is required for this course and you are not in the position to buy the access code, you are advised to contact the course coordinator for an alternative solution. Please note that access codes are not re-usable meaning that codes from second hand books do not work, as well as access codes from books with a different ISBN. Separate or spare codes are usually not available.