This version of the course guide is provisional until the period for editing the new course guides ends.

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Specific Topics in Applied Economics A

Code: 43792 ECTS Credits: 6
2025/2026
Degree Type Year
Applied Research in Economics and Business OT 0

Contact

Name:
Maria Cervini
Email:
maria.cervini@uab.cat

Teachers

Perihan Ozge Saygin
Emilio Padilla Rosa

Teaching groups languages

You can view this information at the end of this document.


Prerequisites

None


Objectives and Contextualisation

To provide a wider understanding in advanced techniques and topics for empirical research in economics.


Competences

  • Analyse, synthesise and critically evaluate a certain matter of scientific interest and/or real problem case, considering its different perspectives and supporting the results and conclusions obtained.
  • Possess and understand knowledge that provides a basis or opportunity for originality in the development and/or application of ideas, often in a research context
  • Produce and draft projects, technical reports and academic articles in English, making use of the appropriate terminology, argumentation, communication skills and analytical tools for each context, and rigorously evaluate those produced by third parties.
  • Select and apply different and adequate models and/or theoretical frameworks, methodologies and techniques for scientific research, data sources and IT tools for research applied to business and economics.
  • Student should possess an ability to learn that enables them to continue studying in a manner which is largely self-supervised or independent
  • Understand, analyse and evaluate the main scientific advances and existing lines of research in the fields of contemporary applied and public economics in a globalised context in order to integrate this in scientific research, projects and/or public or private policy. (Speciality in Research in Applied Economics)
  • Work in international and inter-disciplinary teams.

Learning Outcomes

  1. Analyse, synthesise and critically evaluate a certain matter of scientific interest and/or real problem case, considering its different perspectives and supporting the results and conclusions obtained.
  2. Possess and understand knowledge that provides a basis or opportunity for originality in the development and/or application of ideas, often in a research context
  3. Produce and draft projects, technical reports and academic articles in English, making use of the appropriate terminology, argumentation, communication skills and analytical tools for each context, and rigorously evaluate those produced by third parties.
  4. Recognise and discern theoretical and empirical knowledge related to the economic analysis of environmental issues, including the economic policies dealing with them.
  5. Recognise and discern theoretical and empirical knowledge related to the measurement of poverty and inequality in income and wealth distribution, including redistributive policies.
  6. Recognise and distinguish the theoretical and empirical knowledge associated to questions of efficiency and equity in economics, and how they can contribute to the economic development of societies.
  7. Resolve global socio-economic problems and challenges in a context of the increasing integration of the global economy by applying economic analysis.
  8. Student should possess an ability to learn that enables them to continue studying in a manner which is largely self-supervised or independent
  9. Understand the mathematical, statistical and econometric fundaments and instruments required for statistical inference.
  10. Work in international and inter-disciplinary teams.

Content

Ecological Economics

Themes: 

1. The relationship between the economy and the environment. Economic analysis of environmental problems.

2. Different conceptions and indicators of sustainable development.

3. Economic appraisal of environmental policies.

4. The relationship between economic growth and environmental quality. Environmental policy tools.

5. Global environmental problems: Economics and policy of climate change.

 

Gender Economics

Themes:
 
1. The gender gap in labor market outcomes: Trends across countries

2. Traditional explanations: Human capital and discrimination

3. Psychological traits and non-cognitive skills

4. Social norms and children

5. The role of public policy


Activities and Methodology

Title Hours ECTS Learning Outcomes
Type: Directed      
Directed 37.5 1.5 1, 9, 3, 2, 8, 4, 6, 5, 7, 10
Type: Supervised      
Supervised 22.5 0.9 1, 9, 3, 2, 8, 4, 6, 5, 7, 10
Type: Autonomous      
Autonomous 82.8 3.31 1, 9, 3, 2, 8, 4, 6, 5, 7, 10

Classes, essay writing, tutorials, study and research activities.

The proposed teaching methodology may undergo some modifications according to the restrictions imposed by the health authorities on on-campus courses.

Annotation: Within the schedule set by the centre or degree programme, 15 minutes of one class will be reserved for students to evaluate their lecturers and their courses or modules through questionnaires.


Assessment

Continous Assessment Activities

Title Weighting Hours ECTS Learning Outcomes
Discussion of presentations 5% 1 0.04 1, 9, 2, 8, 6, 5, 7, 10
Discussion of readings 25% 2 0.08 1, 9, 3, 2, 8, 4, 6, 5, 7, 10
Exam Ecological Economics 25% 1.6 0.06 1, 9, 3, 2, 8, 4, 6, 7, 10
Exam Gender Economics 30% 1.6 0.06 1, 9, 3, 2, 8, 6, 5, 7, 10
Presentation of readings 15% 1 0.04 1, 9, 2, 8, 6, 5

Class attendance, presentation and discussion of essays and problems, presentation and discussion of readings, exams.

 

Calendar of evaluation activities

The dates of the evaluation activities of the module (final exams, exercises in the classroom, assignments,...) will be announced well in advance during the semester.

"The dates of evaluation activities cannot be modified, unless there is an exceptional and duly justified reason why an evaluation activity cannot be carried out. In this case, the degree coordinator will contact both the teaching staff and the affected student, and a new date will be scheduled within the same academic period to make up for the missed evaluation activity." Section 1 of Article 264. Calendar of evaluation activities (Academic Regulations UAB). Students of the Faculty of Economics and Business, who in accordance with the previous paragraph need to change an evaluation activity (mainly final exam/s) date must process the request by filling out an Application for exams' reschedule form.

Grade revision process

After all grading activities of the module have ended, students will be informed of the date and way in which the module grades will be published. Students will be also be informed of the procedure, place, date and time of grade revision following University regulations.

Retake Process

"To be eligible to participate in the retake process of the module, it is required for students to have been previously evaluated for at least two thirds of the total evaluation activities of the module." Section 2 of Article 261. The recovery (UAB Academic Regulations). Additionally, it is required that the student to have achieved an averagegrade of the module of at least 3.5.

The date of the retake exam will be duly announced by the coordination of the program. Students who take this exam and pass, will get a grade of 5 for the module. If the student does not pass the retake, the grade will remain unchanged, and hence, student will fail the module.

Irregularities in evaluation activities

In spite of other disciplinary measures deemed appropriate, and in accordance with current academic regulations, "in the case that the student makes any irregularity that could lead to a significant variation in the grade of an evaluation activity, it must be graded with a 0, regardless of the disciplinary process that can be instructed. In case of various irregularities occur in the evaluation of the same module, the final grade of this module is 0" Section 11 of Article 266. Results of the evaluation. (UAB Academic Regulations).

Not Assessed Grade 

A student can obtain "Not Assessed" grade in the module only when he/she has not participated in any of the evaluation activities within it. Therefore, students who perform even only one evaluation component cannot obtain "Not Assessed" grade in the module.

Comprehensive evaluation

This module does not offer the option for comprehensive evaluation.

 


Bibliography

 Ecological Economics

  • Bergh, J.C.J.M van den (ed.) (1999). Handbook of Environmental and Resource Economics. Edward Elgar, Cheltenham.
  • Common, M. and  S. Stagl (2005),”Ecological Economics”. Cambridge University Press
  • Pearce, D. and R. Turner (1990), Economics of Natural Resources and the Enviromental, Harvester Wheatsheaf
  • Padilla Rosa, E. and Ramos-Martín, J. (2023) Elgar Encyclopedia of Ecological Economics. Edward Elgar, Cheltenham.
  • Spash, C. (ed.) (2017). Routgedge Handbook of Ecological Economics. Nature and Society. Routledge, Abingdon

 

Gender Economics

Altonji, J. G., & Blank, R. M. (1999). Race and gender in the labor market. In O. C. Ashenfelter & D. Card (Eds.), Handbook of Labor Economics (Vol. 3). Elsevier.

Azmat, G., & Petrongolo, B. (2014). Gender and the labor market: What have we learned from field and lab experiments? Labour Economics, 30, 32–40.

Betrand, M., & Duflo, E. (2016). Field experiments on discrimination. Prepared for the Handbook of Field Experiments.

Bertrand, M. (2010). New perspectives on gender. In O. Ashenfelter & D. Card (Eds.), Handbook of Labor Economics (Vol. 4B, pp. 1545–1592).

Bertrand, M., Kamenica, E., & Pan, J. (2015). Gender identity and relative income within households. Quarterly Journal of Economics, 130(2), 571–614.

Bertrand, M., & Pan, J. (2013). The trouble with boys: Social influences and the gender gap in disruptivebehavior. American Economic Journal: Applied Economics, 5(1), 32–64.

Bhalotra, S., Clots, I., & Iyer, L. (Forthcoming). Path-breakers: How does women's political participation respond to electoral success? The Economic Journal.

Blau, F., & Kahn, L. (2017). The gender wage gap: Extent, trends, and explanations. Journal of Economic Literature, 55(3), 789–865.

Cobb-Clark, D. A. (Forthcoming). Biology and gender in the labor market. Oxford Handbook on the Economics of Women. IZA DP No. 10386.

Gneezy, U., Niederle, M., & Rustichini, A. (2003). Performance in competitive environments: Gender differences. Quarterly Journal of Economics, 118, 1049–1074.

Goldin, C. (2006). The quiet revolution that transformed women's employment, education and family. American Economic Review, 96(2), 1–21.

Goldin, C. (2014). A grand gender convergence: Its last chapter. American Economic Review, 104(4), 1091–1119.

Goldin, C., & Mitchell, J. (2017). The new life cycle of women's employment: Disappearing humps, sagging middles, expanding tops. Journal of Economic Perspectives, 31(1), 161–182.

Iriberri, N., & Rey-Biel, P. (2017). Stereotypes are only a threat when beliefs are reinforced: On the sensitivity of gender differences in performance under competition to information provision. Journal of Economic Behavior and Organization, 135, 99–111.

Juhn, C., & McCue, K. (2017). Specialization then and now: Marriage, children, and the gender earnings gap across cohorts. Journal of Economic Perspectives, 31(1), 183–204.

Ngai, R., & Petrongolo, B. (Forthcoming). Gender gaps and the rise of the service economy. American Economic Journal: Macroeconomics.

Niederle, M. (2016). Gender. In J. Kagel & A. E. Roth (Eds.), Handbook of Experimental Economics (2nd ed., pp. 481–553). Princeton University Press.

Olivetti, C., & Petrongolo, B. (2008). Unequal pay or unequal employment? A cross-country analysis of gender gaps. Journal of Labor Economics, 26, 621–654.

Olivetti, C., & Petrongolo, B. (2014). Gender gaps across countries and skills: Supply, demand and the industry structure. Review of Economic Dynamics, 17, 842–859.

Olivetti, C., & Petrongolo, B. (2016). The evolution of the gender gap in industrialized countries. Annual Review of Economics, 8, 405–434.

Olivetti, C., & Petrongolo, B. (2017). The economic consequences of family policies: Lessons from a century of legislation in high-income countries. Journal of Economic Perspectives, 31(1), 205–230.


Software

  • Statistical/Econometric software and/or for data management: Stata.

Groups and Languages

Please note that this information is provisional until 30 November 2025. You can check it through this link. To consult the language you will need to enter the CODE of the subject.

Name Group Language Semester Turn
(TEm) Theory (master) 30 English second semester morning-mixed