ECM654: Applied Economics Project

Module code: ECM654

Module provider: Economics; School of Philosophy, Politics and Economics

Credits: 40

Level: Postgraduate Masters

When you'll be taught: Semester 2 / Summer

Module convenor: Dr Minyan Zhu, email: minyan.zhu@reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s):

Co-requisite module(s):

Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):

Module(s) excluded:

Placement information: NA

Academic year: 2024/5

Available to visiting students: No

Talis reading list: No

Last updated: 12 September 2024

Overview

Module aims and purpose

This module provides students the opportunity to produce a significant, in-depth applied analysis of a relevant topic in modern economics. Students will be required to demonstrate that they have mastered the various abilities needed to do original applied research and to communicate their ideas in a standard format required of the economics community.

The aim of this module is to provide students with the opportunity to apply the concepts and methods covered in the other master’s modules in a coherent and informative fashion as it relates to investigating an economic problem or evaluating an intervention to address an economic problem. Students must demonstrate the ability to clearly define a research issue, develop an appropriate research design, properly structure a coherent research proposal, provide thorough and succinct analysis of the relevant academic literature, use appropriate data, provide a systematic, objective and carefully structured analysis of the information collected, draw relevant conclusions from the analysis, relating these to the existing literature, and demonstrate originality in the application of knowledge.

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, it is expected that students will be able to:

1. Identify and motivate a research question(s);
2. Critically evaluate the relevant literature;
3. Apply relevant empirical frameworks for analysing their research question(s);
4. Motivate and apply appropriate research methods to address their chosen research question(s);
5. Analyse and synthesise their research findings.
6. Develop the following skills: time management and working independently; research skills; academic writing and referencing; presentation skills; working with statistical and econometric software.

Module content

Students will be required to, in consultation with their supervisor, produce an original applied project that conforms to current economic standards.

For the Applied Economics Project, the work must have an applied analysis focus. This could be using econometric methods, or other economic data analysis and appraisal tools introduced during the programme.

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

There will be a lecture in January to introduce the project and explain the aims and learning objectives.

Students will be offered a list of potential research topic areas attached to research-ready datasets that they can use, with a specific supervisor. The offered research-ready datasets and topics will closely relate to the recent or active research interests of the supervisors, as well as topics covered throughout the MSc Applied Economics programme.

Alternatively, students can choose a topic of their own and gather data themselves, under the guidance of a supervisor, with whom they can regularly discuss the project.

Under guidance of the supervisor, students will develop the research question, the empirical strategy and implement this, before writing up the methodology and results of the project in the style of an academic paper (e.g., with a brief literature review). Students will also formally submit a proposal at the end of the Spring term that summarises what they intend to do over the Summer, on which they will receive feedback.

Students will pick from the list of offered topics, datasets and supervisors in January, or they can submit a proposal for a different topic to the module convenor who will provide feedback and assign a supervisor if accepted.

Students will then be expected to consult with their project supervisors until the end of the Summer exam period, reading a significant amount of Literature (e.g., journal articles, using the library, online and other sources) and developing the research question and empirical analysis. Normally students would then be ready to begin their data analysis after the Summer exam period is finished, continuing to regularly consult with supervisors.

This module differs from the standard “Dissertation” in terms of the offer of direct provision of research-ready data and topic areas to students, with the guidance of a supervisor who is expert in that data and applied economics research.

Study hours

At least 2 hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person, with the remaining hours for scheduled and self-scheduled teaching and learning activities delivered either in person or online. You will receive further details about how these hours will be delivered before the start of the module.

Please note the independent study hours above are notional numbers of hours; each student will approach studying in different ways. We would advise you to reflect on your learning and the number of hours you are allocating to these tasks.

Semester 1 The hours in this column may include hours during the Christmas holiday period.

Semester 2 The hours in this column may include hours during the Easter holiday period.

Summer The hours in this column will take place during the summer holidays and may be at the start and/or end of the module.

Assessment

Requirements for a pass

Students need to achieve an overall module mark of 50% to pass this module.

Summative assessment

Penalties for late submission of summative assessment

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

Assessments with numerical marks

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of three working days;
• the mark awarded due to the imposition of the penalty shall not fall below the threshold pass mark, namely 40% in the case of modules at Levels 4-6 (i.e. undergraduate modules for Parts 1-3) and 50% in the case of Level 7 modules offered as part of an Integrated Masters or taught postgraduate degree programme;
• where the piece of work is awarded a mark below the threshold pass mark prior to any penalty being imposed, and is submitted up to three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline), no penalty shall be imposed;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

Assessments marked Pass/Fail

• where the piece of work is submitted within three working days of the deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): no penalty will be applied;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): a grade of Fail will be awarded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: /cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/qap/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf

You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Formative assessment

Formative assessment is any task or activity which creates feedback (or feedforward) for you about your learning, but which does not contribute towards your overall module mark.

Reassessment

Additional costs