MSc Economics “What about the Dissertation?”

Department of Economics Mathematics and Statistics Birkbeck University of London

Luca AndrianiPhD Candidate Economics

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

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?)

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!)

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

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

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

Choosing a Topic

Your interests

Employers’ interests

P.O.C interests

Data and research material

Your Interests

What did capture more your interests during the master course?

What are you planning to learn?

Methodology

Software

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

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…

Data and Research Material

Birkbeck e-Library

JSTOR

ScienceDirect

Google Scholar

DO NOT OVER-READ!!!!!

General Structure of Dissertation

Abstract Introduction Literature review Data summary and description Methodology and econometric technique Results of analysis Conclusions

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

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

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

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

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

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!!

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

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?

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)

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

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, W www.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

Finally!

Good Luck!!