Grades are calculated by a weighted average of scores received on in-class presentations/discussions, written responses to assigned readings, Stata homework assignments, and an Original Research Paper in economic demography.
There are no examinations. Participation in class discussions is also expected; in cases where a student is on the margin between two final grades, consistent and constructive class participation may make a positive contribution toward the final grade.
An important objective of this seminar is to give students practice in reading and evaluating research in economics and economic demography. As noted above, each regular class will include a brief presentation of the model used in the weekly reading, a formal presentation of the article, and a formal discussion of the article. Two students will be assigned for each paper, a presenter and a discussant. They are jointly responsible for presenting the model.
Grading: 5-point scale
Six students will be responsible for formally presenting the econometric model(s) from the assigned articles(s) in class. Presentation dates will be assigned on September 11.
These presentations should cover the following topics in no more than 10 minutes:
- Statistical properties of the model (if appropriate)
- Assumptions underlying the model
- An intuitive example
- Advantages of the model relative to alternative models
Although the assigned articles make use of econometric models, they do not always discuss these topics. As such, presenters should draw from outside materials.
Six students will be responsible for formally presenting the assigned article(s) in class. Presentation dates will be assigned on September 11.
Each presentation has a strict time limit of 20 minutes, during which time the presenter should address the following questions:
- What problem/question is being addressed?
- Why is this problem/question important? Is it of policy importance? Does it solve a puzzle in the discipline? Are new methodologies being used to derive solutions/answers? That is, how does this paper contribute to the economic literature?
- What is the central hypothesis? How is the hypothesis being tested?
- What data are being used to address the problem/question? Describe them.
- What are the paper's main results? Compare the results to those found in other studies.
- What conclusions may be derived? What are the main policy implications?
This format closely follows the presentation format employed at academic conferences. The instructor will provide concrete example of a formal paper presentation during the fourth day of class.
Six students will be responsible for formally discussing the assigned article(s) in class. Discussion dates will be assigned on September 11.
Each discussion has a strict time limit of 15 minutes, during which time the presenter should address the following questions:
- What is the central problem/question being addressed? What is the central hypothesis? How is the hypothesis tested? What are the main findings? What are the major contributions of the article?
- Are there any limitations in the data, methodology, data analysis, policy implications, and/or conclusion?
- How could the article be improved? If appropriate, repeat the analysis with corrected results
- May the results be generalized to other settings? Explain or provide an example
This format closely follows the discussion format employed at academic conferences. The instructor will provide concrete example of a paper discussion during the fourth day of class.
The remaining class time is reserved for general discussion of the assigned articles. The discussion will revolve around questions and insights raised by students in short written responses to each article.
This short response is required of each student except for the two presenters. It should address the same set of questions as the formal discussion, although there is no need to replicate or generalize results:
- What is the central problem/question being addressed? What is the central hypothesis? How is the hypothesis tested? What are the main findings? What are the major contributions of the article?
- Are there any limitations in the data, methodology, data analysis, policy implications, and/or conclusion?
- How could the article be improved?
- May the results be generalized to other settings?
The response must be at least 600 words in length and not longer than 800 words in length. Grading will be based on evidence that students have carefully internalized the reading and understand the implications of the methodologies and conclusions.
The written response is due at the instructor's office via hardcopy each Monday at 8:00 AM. Late responses will not be accepted.
Grading: 5-point scale
Students are responsible for completing eight Stata homework assignments. The assignments are based closely on the articles discussed each Tuesday and on the Stata techniques demonstrated in lab each Thursday. They are designed to strengthen students' empirical research abilities by providing hands-on experience with data analysis. Many of the homework assignments are time consuming; plan accordingly.
The Stata homework assignments are due at the beginning of class each Tuesday.
Stata homework assignments that are up to 24 hours late will be penalized by one grade. After 2:30 PM on Wednesday, Stata homework assignments will not receive credit.
Grading: 5-point scale
Each student is responsible for writing and presenting an original research paper using data from household surveys. Students are encouraged to focus on questions related to economic demography topics discussed in class; each student should feel free to be creative, however, taking advantage of the wide variety of variables that are included in household surveys.
Students may use any of the data sets used in the Stata labs; students may also use alternative household survey data with permission of the instructor. Please note that students who wish to receive credit toward a major or minor in East Asian Studies must complete an Original Research Paper using data from that region.
Papers must include an appropriate review of previous theoretical and empirical findings. The data analysis must be undertaken in Stata and the paper should include carefully constructed figures and tables that provide support for the thesis. The papers covered in class provide excellent examples of empirical research undertaken by economists and demographers.
There are three steps in completing the research paper:
The research proposal is a detailed plan for the original research paper. The proposal should begin by clearly identifying a problem or question and explaining why the problem/question is important. Indicate the hypothesis that will be tested and describe the key preliminary variables. Include figures to motivate the question and to explain the relationships between variables. Finally, propose the econometric model for use in the paper.
Make a 15-minute appointment to discuss the research proposal with the instructor on October 3.
Students will present their Original Research Papers to seminar participants and invited guests at the Student Research Seminar. Each student will also provide formal comments for one other conference presentation.
The 20-minute presentation will follow the format described under "Formal Presentation of Assigned Readings" above. The grade will reflect the presentation as well as the quality of the paper itself.
Grading: 5-point scale
In addition to presenting their own research, students will formally discuss another seminar participant's original research paper. This 15-minute presentation will follow the format outlined under "Formal Discussion of Assigned Readings" above. Discussants are also required to provide written comments to the presenter and to the instructor at the time of the discussion. Comments generated during the seminar are intended to serve as the basis for paper revisions. The grade will reflect both the discussion and the quality of the written comments.
Grading: 5-point scale
Final revisions of the original research paper are due at the beginning of class.
Click here for more specific guidelines for writing the research paper.
Click here for the metric used to grade the research paper.
Students are expected to adhere to Colby's policies on academic honesty. In accordance with these policies, students who plagiarize or cheat will be dismissed from the class with an F. Any such incidents will be reported to the Dean of Students and may result in suspension or expulsion.
