This is Robert's teaching page. It should contain course
descriptions for all lecture courses, some links to older
material, and announcements that serve as a means of communicating
short-run changes to course participants.
[Latest update 9/6/2021]
[Continuously under construction]
Courses in the
summer semester 2021
General comment: Planning ahead for the
summer semester is again difficult because of the continuing uncertainties
concerning the reaction of the university and of other institutions to the
issue of a virus disease. I am trying to update this page according to the
currently most probable situation.
040057
UK Macroeconometrics (MA)
ECTS: 8, SWS: 4
Time and place:
The course focuses on econometric methods that are used in
applications to aggregate macroeconomic data. The course consists of the
following main building blocks:
1. Univariate Time
Series (ARMA processes, stationarity and unit roots, testing for
unit roots, estimation of ARMA, model selection, prediction,
autoregressive conditional heteroskedasticity, nonlinear univariate models)
2. Multivariate Time
Series (Dynamic models with stationary variables, models with integrated
variables, spurious regression, cointegration, vector autoregressions, impulse response, vector
error-correction models)
3. Macroeconomic
Panel Data (dynamic linear panels, panel time
series)
Literature: Verbeek: A Guide to Modern Econometrics (Wiley, 4th
edition), Chapters 8-9, 10.1-10.6.
With time constraints, the third item (dynamic panels) may be shortened or skipped.
The evaluation is based on three components: midterm test (30%),
final test (30%), and an empirical project (40%). The empirical project
consists of writing a short paper, presenting own results and discussing the
results of fellow students. Some additional (bonus) points are assigned to
participants who present their empirical project in class. Dropping the course
without a grade is possible on request (please contact me) before the midterm.
Passing the course requires both at least 50% of the maximum achievable points
and attendance at the midterm test.
Dates
for all tests are convened in class.
040256-1
UK Panel Data Econometrics (MA)
ECTS: 8, SWS: 4
Time and place: Tuesday, 3:00pm-4:30pm, on-line
Thursday, 4:45pm-6:15am, on-line
[starts March 2]
The course introduces participants into the econometric methods
that are currently used in analyzing panel data. It has the following main
building blocks:
1. Models for panel
data (fixed and random effects, one-way and two-way, estimation)
2. Tests (poolability, Hausman
test, autocorrelation, heteroskedasticity)
3. Dynamic panels
(Nickell bias, instrumental variable estimation, generalized method of moments)
4. Panel tests for
unit root
Literature:
Hsiao, C.: Analysis of Panel Data
Dates for all tests are convened in class.
Still active
courses from the winter semester 2020
VO (2 hours per week, 4 ECTS)
Language of instruction: English
Time and location:
Because of the current regulations, this course is done virtually (here,
they call this “digitally”). During October, the was taught asynchronously. An
asynchronous course consists of teaching material (videos and other files) that
is made accessible to participants via Moodle, as the course progresses. From
November, the course has been taught via synchronous teaching.
Starts: October 5, 2020
Course description: The course covers topics in the
realm of macroeconomics that will help students understand and analyze the
macroeconomic performance of countries both in the long run and at
business-cycle frequencies.
This lecture course reviews
material on macroeconomics that participants know from their bachelor studies
and aims at deepening this knowledge. The textbook "Macroeconomics:
Institutions, Instability, and the Financial System" (Wendy Carlin &
David Soskice; Oxford University Press) serves as the main literature for this
course. Topics to be covered are:
1. The demand side of the economy
Course descriptions
for past semesters can be accessed by links beneath this line:
Summer semester
2020 Winter semester
2019
Summer semester
2019 Winter semester
2018
Summer semester
2018 Winter semester
2017
Summer semester
2017 Winter semester
2016
Summer semester
2016 Winter semester
2015
Summer semester
2015 Winter semester
2014
Summer semester 2013 Winter semester 2012
Summer semester 2012 Winter semester
2011
Summer semester 2011 Winter semester 2010
Summer semester 2010 Winter semester 2009
Summer semester 2008 Winter semester 2007
Summer semester 2007 Winter semester 2006
Summer semester 2006 Winter semester 2005
Summer semester 2004 Winter semester 2003
Summer semester 2003 Winter semester 2002
Since 2012, course grades do not appear on these
pages, for reasons of data protection. Participants are always informed via
e-mail.
Grades from the era
before 2012 can be accessed here.
Regarding the continuing
coronavirus problem, of course I have to follow the rules and instructions that
are being announced for the whole university. There are no regular office hours
for the time being, physical meetings with students are discouraged, I suggest
using skype. Whereas distance teaching can be an interesting challenge,
distance examinations by construction do not really satisfy. I hope that tests
and exams at the university location will be feasible again soon, but the
outlook remains bleak even for the upcoming semester.
General
information for all courses
If you have any paper material for me (such as
homework assignments or forms), please leave it with our administration. Never
leave any material with other faculty.
In case you cannot attend a test (not an exam; there are special regulations for no-show at exams) for important reasons or you are unable to be present at any other dated event within a course, please give me notice via e-mail immediately. I expect such notifications to arrive within three days after the event that you missed.
Course information for 040057 UK Macroeconometrics
·
Because of a
clash of commitments, there will be no regular course unit on March 15. If I
feel this is needed, I will provide some asynchronous instruction (recorded
video) instead.
·
Thank you for
your participation in our little survey for the date of the midterm test. The
run was close, but a slim majority has favored April 12, the Monday after the Easter break. A role-model tests from a past
comparable course has been uploaded on the Moodle surface, but please note that
the course material may have changed over the years, and the same holds for the
emphasis on specific topics.
·
38 participants
have written the midterm test on April 12, all have been informed on their
performance in the meantime.
·
The final test
for this course was on May 26, a Wednesday. This date is the result of a survey
among participants. Thank you for voting.
·
36 participants
have taken part in the final test. On May 31, there was a unit in which the
correct answers for the test were discussed. Participants have been informed on
their marks.
·
The June units
are only kept on explicit request, for example for consultation concerning the
empirical projects or for project presentations. Reservation of virtual slots has
already started.
·
Please inform me
whether you want to present your project work and also about your preferred
time slot. June 21, June 28, June 30 have already been selected by
participants. Please also inform me on the structure (members) of your project
group, which facilitates organizing the remainder of the course.
Course information for 040256 UK Panel data econometrics
·
Thank you for
your participation in our little survey for the date of the midterm test. A
strong majority has favored April 15, a Thursday. Role-model tests from past
years have been uploaded on the Moodle surface, but please note that the course
material may have changed over the years, and the same holds for the emphasis
on specific topics.
·
17 participants
have written the midterm test, all have been informed
on their performance in the meantime. If the 5 remaining and still registered
participants would like to obtain a positive grade on this course, they are
invited to contact me as soon as possible.
·
The final test
for this course was on June 1. This date is the result of a survey among
participants. Thank you for voting.
·
17 participants
have taken part in the final test. Participants have been informed on their
marks.
·
A review session
has taken place on June 8. Otherwise, the June units are only kept on explicit
request, i.e. for consulting or for presentations. See next bullet.
·
Please inform me
whether you want to present your project work and also about your preferred
time slot. Currently, June 10 and June 29 have already been named by
participants. Please also inform me on the structure (members) of your project
group, which facilitates organizing the remainder of the course.
[Information below this line may
be still relevant, as examination is ongoing. For other old courses, see
separate files.]
Course information for 040216 Macroeconomics
(MA)
·
Since November 9,
teaching has been switched from asynchronous (voice-over) to synchronous via
Blackboard Collaborate. Sessions are also recorded, so they can be watched
later. All material is accessible to participants via the Moodle surface.
·
The first exam
date was on January 27. On advice from the study advisor, it has now been
decided that this exam is online
only. Note that this is an exam, and you must register for the exam, the
registration for the course does not suffice.
·
The second exam
date was on March 5.
·
The third exam
date was on May 4. Remarks for the previous dates again apply.
·
Another exam date
is provided on June 22. This will be the last of its kind.
Link to course material for WS 2020, for reference
Link to course material for SS 2020, for reference
Link to course material for WS 2019, for reference
Link to course material from SS 2019, for reference
Link to course material from WS 2018, for reference
Link to course material from SS 2018, for reference
Link to course material from WS 2017, for reference
Link to course material from SS 2017, for reference
Link to course material from WS 2016, for reference
Link to
course material from SS 2016, for reference
Link to course
material from WS 2015, for reference
Link
to course material from SS 2015, for reference
Link to
course material from WS 2014, for reference
Link to
course material from SS 2013, for reference
Link to course material from WS 2012, for reference
Link to
course material from SS 2012, for reference
Link to
course material from WS 2011, for reference