(in Polish) Szara strefa, korupcja, przestępstwa - zjawiska trudno mierzalne w ekonomii

Master's seminars

During the seminar students prepare their master theses focused on hard to measure phenomena like shadow economy, corruption, quality of institutions, regulations, crime, smuggling, betting games etc. These issues seem to be interesting and are “hot topics” (when looking e.g. on mass media). Economic research focusing on them is still a novelty.

The course is based on latest research and publications. It also allows for the usage of knowledge acquired during the course “Advanced Econometrics”. The thesis can be also prepared in English.

Grades are given for: writing the master thesis and preparing a paper (one in each semester) showing the progress in the development of the thesis topic.

I. Introduction

II. Presentation of rules relevant for a master thesis (references, footnotes etc.)

III. Discussion of selected hard to measure phenomena

IV. Selecting a topic for the thesis

V. Presentations, discussion of the progress in preparing the master thesis

Examples of topics which can serve for master theses:

“Causes and consequences of shadow economy in post-communist countries”

“Determinants of unregistered work in Poland”

“Causes and economic consequences of corruption in post-communist countries”

“Corruption and economic growth”

“Factors influencing the perception of corruption”

“Laffer curve – fiction or reality?”

“Regulations and economic growth”

“Economic factors influencing the outcomes of political elections”

“Economic expectations and the results of political elections”

“The influence of taxes on the consumption of cigarettes”

“Economic causes of crime”

“Crime and business cycle”

“Determinants of crime in USA”

“Forecasting crime using big data”

“Socio-economic determinants of crime – a spatial analysis”

“Determinants of wins in poker”

“Wage discrimination in NBA, NHL, NFL and MLB”

“The influence of drugs and alcohol on students’ grades”

“Bullying at school – influence of economic factors”

“Easterlin’s paradox – does wealth make you happy?”

Reading will be tailored to students' interests

Knowledge:

1. The student knows the rules of writing a master thesis.

2. The student knows methods of analyzing data and methods of research

3. The student knows basics of methodology of science and ways of formulating scientific hypotheses.

4. The student knows basic definitions connected to hard to measure phenomena.

5. The student has basic knowledge regarding quantitative methods used in research on hard to measure phenomena.

Skills:

1. The student is capable of finding data and information necessary for preparing a master thesis. The student is able to prepare a master thesis according to formal rules.

2. The student has the skill of applying knowledge acquired during studies to problems connected to the topic of his master thesis.

Social competences:

1. The student is capable of finding data and analyzing it. The student can work with data. He is able to formulate a research problem and a scientific hypothesis. The student is able to prepare a master thesis.

2. The student is able to complete the acquired knowledge. He is capable of finding literature.

3. The student is capable of working individually.

KW01, KW02, KW03, KU01, KU02, KU03, KK01, KK02, KK03

Writing the master thesis and preparing a paper (one in each semester) showing the progress in the development of the thesis topic. A positive final grade is only give after the thesis has been submitted to the students office .