MSc Economics “What about the Dissertation?” Department of Economics Mathematics and Statistics Birkbeck University o

1. MSc Economics “What about the Dissertation?” Department of Economics Mathematics and Statistics Birkbeck University of London Luca Andriani PhD Candidate Economics

2. Key Information: Deadlines • Proposal deadline 3rd May 2011 • After proposal Point of Contact (P.O.I) • Proposal can be modified only in exceptional cases (lack of data, new data set or very innovative approach to the topic) • Submission deadline 30th September 2011

3. Key Information: P.O.C and not only • Communication better before the end of June • (July and August?) • The student can ask material and suggestions to the P.O.C (papers, useful links, data?) • The student can ask material and suggestions to other members of the department including PhD students (papers, useful links, data?)

4. From the Handbook • The dissertation is an INDEPENDENT work • Set a question about a specific topic (Interesting question: new way or/and new data) • Good knowledge of the relevant literature • Good understanding and application of techniques (only critical survey is not enough!)

5. From the Handbook • Good presentation of the work • problems with the written English • no page numbers • abstract missing • the discussion is not focussed: a paragraph is often followed by another that contradicts it

6. From the Handbook • Good presentation of the work • spends too long on unit root testing (7 pages) • Repeat the same exercise three times and reports them separately. These should have been aggregated into one section • Not enough literature review to be a good dissertation

7. From the Handbook • Data and analysis replication • examiners have to be able to replicate the exercises developed in the dissertation • entire data set required • confidentiality issue

8. Choosing a Topic • Your interests • Employers’ interests • P.O.C interests • Data and research material

9. Your Interests • What did capture more your interests during the master course? • What are you planning to learn? • Methodology • Software

10. Employers’ Interests • Dissertation on your CV • Interesting title • Skills and abilities acquired during the dissertation (confidence in applying some econometric technique, ability in data manipulation etc…) • Interesting topic to discuss during an interview

11. P.O.C Interests • Read the staff web page • Your topic might match the interests of one or more members of the Department • Talk to several members of the Department (It is not rude!) • PhD students might help as well (suggestions, hints etc…) • Dissertation is a good route into a PhD…

12. Data and Research Material • Birkbeck e-Library • JSTOR • ScienceDirect • Google Scholar • DO NOT OVER-READ!!!!!

13. General Structure of Dissertation • Abstract • Introduction • Literature review • Data summary and description • Methodology and econometric technique • Results of analysis • Conclusions

14. Abstract • Very difficult!!! In 100-200 words you have to explain: • the importance of the question of the dissertation • the methodology and the data you have used • the results of the analysis

15. Abstract: “Social Norms and Community Enforcement” Kandori 1991 (Game Theory)

16. Abstract: “Credit Cycles” Kiyotaki and Moore 1997 (Credit Market Imperfections)

17. Introduction • IT IS NOT A LITERATURE REVIEW!!!! • Show that the paper is related to something interesting • Ex 1. Y matters: when Y rises or falls people are hurt or helped • Ex 2. Y is controversial: some argue one thing while other say another • Question: tell the reader what the paper actually does • Compare this paper with prior works and explain the differences

18. Introduction • List two or three potential contributions of your work • Road map of your work: explain the structure of your paper • Section 2 introduces the formal model of public game • Section 3 shows regression results on the relationship between corruption and decentralisation using country level data • Section 4… • Section 5 concludes the paper

19. Literature Review • No chronological way!!!! • Less than 50% of your entire paper • Less than 50% of your efforts (try not to focus most of your work on reading papers and summarise them) • Classical papers are very welcome but do not forget most recent papers as well!!

20. Data • Good and accurate descriptive analysis • Descriptive statistics might help to interpret the econometric results and to develop final recommendations • Econometric analysis • Underline the results on line with the theoretical framework • BUT • Focus on original findings • It is not the Econometric project so do not spend 6-7 pages on explaining the technical procedures adopted for unit root • Make tests and mention them but in a concise way

21. Conclusions • Not Just what you did!! • You should put in context of the literature you have mentioned (literature review) the value added of your results • Possible extension of your work in the future?

22. Keep in Mind!!!! • Dissertation is full of constraints (time, resources, data, personal ability, learning process) • Start as soon as possible! • Data = topic (especially for empirical works) • Play with your data as soon as you can (problems are behind the corner: incompatible series, unexpected gaps etc… These problems cannot be solved the last few days)

23. Keep in Mind!!!! • Make the P.O.C part of your academic life as soon as you can • The P.O.C will not correct the draft of your dissertation but he/she will provide useful suggestions • Use the papers as your template

24. Some Useful References • Hamermesh D “How to Publish in a Top Journal (I wish that I knew!)” https://webspace.utexas.edu/hamermes/www/HowtoPublish.pdf • Smith, Wwww.commoditymodels.com“How to choose a Dissertation Topic” http://www.ems.bbk.ac.uk/faculty/phdStudents/smith/presentations/dissert_f • “The Introduction Formula” http://strategy.sauder.ubc.ca/head/brander.htm

25. Finally! • Good Luck!!