Syllabus

This course module discusses several of the most practically relevant econometric and statistical methods for empirical research and data analytics (e.g. in economics and social sciences) along with their underlying assumptions and properties. It also presents applications of these methods in real-world data using the statistical software “R (studio)”. The course module consists of a lecture and 4 PC lab sessions (quizzes). This course consists of asynchronous independent study periods, 5 online meetings, and 4 PC labs and quizzes. The topics covered in the lecture include:

1. The difference between causation (e.g. education has a causal effect on wage) and correlation (subjects with higher education have higher wages, but this may be driven by other factors than education as for instance ability); the intuition of experiments for assessing causation.

2. Linear regression (OLS - ordinary least squares) to assess the association of one or several variables (e.g. education, age,...) with an outcome of interest (e.g. wage).

3. Quantile regression to conduct empirical analyses at particular outcome ranks (e.g. for the median earner in the wage distribution).

4. Nonlinear regression (probit regression for binary outcomes like working vs. not working, tobit regression for censored outcomes).

5. Flexible methods for causal analysis (such as for evaluating the effect of training on earnings): matching, inverse probability weighting, doubly robust estimation.

6. Instrumental variable regression to assess the effect of endogenous variables (that are not random).

7. Regression discontinuity designs to assess the effect of a variable (e.g. health treatment) which is assigned based on a running variable (e.g. health index).

8. Panel data regression and “Differences-in-Differences” estimation when subjects are observed at several points in time.

9. Synthetic control methods for evaluating the effect of an intervention (e.g. of a health policy) on a single unit (e.g. a single region introducing the health policy).

10. Bootstrapping (resampling from the original data, e.g. for variance estimation).

11. Time series regression, e.g. for modeling stock prices or GDP growth over time.

This course provides an exploration of key issues and concepts in machine learning, with an emphasis on practical applications in business and management. Students will understand the difference between predicting outcomes and identifying cause-and-effect relationships, study regularised regression techniques such as Lasso and Elastic Net, explore tree-based methods such as Random Forest, and learn about resampling methods such as bagging and cross-validation. The course also covers deep learning and unsupervised machine learning techniques. In addition, students will be introduced to some advanced topics such as causal machine learning and LLMs. Using a hands-on approach and the industry-standard software R, the course facilitates the practical application of theoretical concepts and ensures that students gain practical skills in implementing machine learning models.

Agenda:

• Block 1: Introduction

• Block 2: Regularised Regresssion

• Block 3: Trees and Deep Learning

• Block 4: Unsupervised ML

• Block 5: Advanced ML Topics

This seminar module provides an opportunity to apply theoretical knowledge from econometrics to real-world data. It focuses on the application of statistical methods such as regression analysis, causal inference, and machine learning techniques. Participants will work on group projects to gain experience in data analysis, interpreting results, using econometric software, and engaging with academic literature and writing. Participants present their project findings and actively contribute to discussions of peer projects.

(Spring Semester 2025)

A major part of economic activity takes place within or between organisations. In particular, many complex transac-tions can only be carried out with the involvement of organisations. It is thus crucial for economists and managers to understand the economic purpose of organisations, how organisations function, and how they should be de-signed.

The module consists of two parts. The first sheds light on the fundamental questions of why firms exist and what their boundaries should be. We cover classic and more recent theories of the firm to understand firm scope and to analyse decisions of vertical integration and outsourcing. The second part investigates the internal organisation of firms and how they should be designed to reach their goals. We rely on theories from economics, management, and related fields to analyse how explicit and implicit incentives affect performance and how organisations can design their incentive systems to motivate employees. Across all topics, we rely on empirical evidence in the form of field data, experiments, and case studies to critically evaluate and, if possible, further develop the theories.

Key themes and concepts:

Part I – Foundations and Boundaries of Organisations:

• Incomplete contracts

• Relationship-specific investments and hold-up

• Transaction Cost Economics

• Property Rights Approach

• Contracts as Reference Points

Part II – Motivation Problem and the Internal Organisation of Firms:

• Principal-Agent model

• Performance pay

• Multi-tasking

• Ratchet effect

• Tournament theory

• Intrinsic motivation and social motivators

(Autumn Semester 2024)

This module introduces students to economic approaches for understanding, analysing, and evaluating human decision making. Session I starts a selected collection of common bias and heuristics that are often observed in human decision making. Session II introduces the economic foundations of decision making such as basic concepts of preference, axioms, states, acts, and outcomes. We will use decision tree to describe simple decisions under uncertainty, and discuss several systematic, empirical deviations from the expected utility theory (EUT). Session III deals with decision making for future selves. Session IV investigates decision making with strategic interactions. We will introduce game theory and a variety of typical strategic constellations as well as several useful solution concepts.

Finally, Session V presents organisational decision making and a touch of policy implications from natural experiments.

This comprehensive module is designed to equip aspiring entrepreneurs and innovators with the essential knowledge and skills needed to transform ideas into successful ventures. It combines academic discussion with hands on experience. Throughout this course, you will explore key concepts such as identifying business opportunities, developing compelling value propositions, creating effective business models, and defining a funding strategy to scale your startup. By the end of the module, you will have a solid foundation in innovation and entrepreneurship, ready to turn your visionary ideas into reality.

The module covers five main themes:

1. Introduction to Innovation and Entrepreneurship

o Key Terminology: Understanding essential terms such as startup, business model, innovation, and market analysis.

o Importance of Innovation: Exploring how innovation drives business success and competitive advantage in various industries.

o Entrepreneurial Process: Overview of the basic steps involved in launching a startup, including idea generation, market research, business model development, securing funding, and scaling.

2. Identifying Opportunities

o Methods for Identification: Analytical methods like market research, SWOT analysis, and trend analysis to identify potential business opportunities. Creativity methods like Scamper.

o Types of Opportunities: Differentiating between market-driven, technology-driven, and problemsolving opportunities.

o Viability Analysis: Conducting analyses on case studies to evaluate the feasibility of different business ideas.

3. Developing a Value Proposition

o Value Proposition Concept: Understanding what a value proposition is and its critical role in business strategy.

o Components of a Value Proposition: Identifying key elements such as customer segments, customer jobs, pains, gains, products & services, pain relievers, and gain creators.

o Creating a Value Proposition: Using the Value Proposition Canvas to develop a clear and compelling value proposition for a business idea.

4. Creating a Business Model

o Business Model Components: Learning about the nine components of the Business Model Canvas: Customer Segments, Value Propositions, Channels, Customer Relationships, Revenue Streams, Key Resources, Key Activities, Key Partnerships, and Cost Structure.

o Building a Business Model: Constructing a comprehensive business model using the Business Model Canvas.

o Evaluating Business Models: Critiquing and providing feedback on business models to improve their effectiveness and feasibility.

5. Funding and Scaling Up

o Sources of Funding: Exploring different funding options available to entrepreneurs, including venture capital, angel investors, crowdfunding, and bootstrapping.

o Developing a Funding Strategy: Creating a funding strategy that outlines potential investors, funding stages, and capital needs.

o Pitch Deck Creation: Designing a professional pitch deck to present a business idea to potential investors, including key elements such as problem statement, solution, market opportunity, business model, traction, financial projections, and funding request

This module provides master students with a comprehensive introduction to marketing and consumer behavior. The conceptual foundations of marketing and consumer behavior form the core of the course. The course is structured around four different perspectives on marketing.

• Theoretical perspective

• Information-related perspective

• Strategic perspective

• Instrumental perspective (marketing mix)

Within this structure, current developments in marketing and consumer behavior are discussed (e.g., AI in marketing, current research findings), and different tools to measure and analyze consumer behavior are introduced in R exercises. It is demonstrated how you can draw sound conclusions from such analyses and translate these conclusions into a coherent marketing strategy.

This class will be building on major leadership and business ethics theories with the aim to offer concrete recom-mendations for individuals who want to become more leader-like, effective, and ethical in a formal leadership role. This module is made of two different parts, which are inherently linked with one another.

The first part will investigate leadership theories. It will focus on the mindful engagement model as a systematic model to approach one’s development as a leader, review the large literature on personality traits to better under-stand the origin of one’s own behaviours, and discuss the full range model of leadership with its four styles: Trans-actional, Instrumental, Transformational, and Charismatic. We will also discuss how the effectiveness of leadership styles depends on the specific context.

In the second part, we will start by discussing the relevance of business ethics for today’s managers. We will start by reviewing the major philosophical approaches that inform morality and underpin major ethical decisions. We will then apply these principles to different examples, helping students distinguish among the different morality ap-proaches. Finally, we will discuss contemporary cases and important ethical questions for managers.

Key concepts seen in this class include (among others):

Part 1:

• Leadership styles and behaviors

• Traits

• Charismatic leadership

• Contextual leadership

• Situational awareness

Part 2:

• Ethics

• Morality

• Utilitarianism

• Deontology

• Value-based leadership

This course offers a comprehensive framework for understanding how firms achieve and sustain competitive advantage. It focuses on two key themes:

1. Corporate Strategy – exploring the question of which industries a firm should compete in.

2. Competitive Strategy – examining how a firm can effectively compete within its chosen industries.

To address these critical questions, the course covers a range of interconnected topics, including:

• The horizontal and vertical boundaries of a firm

• The resource-based view of competitive advantage

• Value creation and value capture

• Imitation barriers and sustaining advantage

• Agency theory and its implications

Additionally, the course explores emerging developments, with a special focus on how artificial intelligence is reshaping strategy and competitive dynamics.

The course employs a blended learning approach, combining pre-recorded and live lectures, online quizzes, handson experiments, and in-depth case study analyses. This interactive format ensures students not only grasp theoretical concepts but also develop practical skills for real-world strategic decision-making. By the end of the course, students will be equipped to critically analyze strategic challenges, formulate effective strategies, and navigate the complexities of competitive and corporate environments.

We live in an increasingly digital world and economy. Information technologies have already transformed the way business is done and will continue to do so. This course covers basic theory in digital economics, for instance, network effects, value creation models, digital business models and market modelling.

This course provides an in-depth exploration of the interplay between economic development, sustainability, and growth. Through theoretical and applied frameworks, students will engage with historical and contemporary challenges, considering how innovation, institutions, geography, and inequality shape sustainable pathways. Interactive discussions, case studies, and empirical evidence will enhance understanding.

Session 1: A Brief History of World Economic Development

Objective: Establish a foundational understanding of growth and sustainability.

Topics:

• Measuring economic performance: material vs. multi-faceted well-being (e.g., HDI, happiness).

• Historical trends in economic development and pollution/emissions.

• Malthusian trap

• Stylized facts of growth: global inequalities, convergence/divergence, carbon leakage, and decoupling.

Session 2: Proximate Drivers of Growth (Physical and Human Capital, Technology)

Objective: Understand the role of human capital and innovation in sustainable growth.

Topics:

• Human capital as a driver of productivity and innovation.

• Education's dual role: fostering innovation and addressing environmental challenges.

• The link between innovation and sustainable technologies.

Session 3: Institutions and Culture in Sustainable Growth

Objective: Explore how institutions and culture shape sustainable growth.

Topics:

• Governance: property rights, anti-corruption, and stability.

• Cultural attitudes: trust, cooperation, and environmental behavior

Session 4: Geography, Natural Resources, and Trade

Objective: Analyze the role of geography and trade in shaping sustainable development.

Topics:

• Geographic determinants: climate and resource sustainability.

• Resource management and the risk of resource curse.

• Environmental impacts of global trade and production chains.

Session 5: Inequality, Conflict, Planet Boundaries, and Future Pathways

Objective: Examine challenges to sustainable growth and propose forward-looking solutions.

Topics:

• Balancing inclusiveness and efficiency in growth.

• Economic and environmental drivers of conflict and migration.

• Decoupling growth from environmental degradation through technology, policy, and lifestyle shifts.

• Geoeconomic fragmentation of global trade.

This course focuses on the role of government policy in a market economy and on the challenges that arise in the context of the regulation of externalities and generating government revenue. It covers the theoretical and empirical evaluation of public policy as applied to a diverse set of important economic problems such as, for instance, firm concentration and market power, climate change and scarcity of natural resources, or inequality and redistribution.