ECN425 Solving Economic and Social Problems with Big Data

• Topics

  How do globalisation, automation, pollution, and artificial intelligence affect inequality? What is the impact of immigration on local employment? What are the consequences of an aging population? What are the economic and social consequences of the Covid-19 pandemic or environmental regulations? These questions relate to timely challenges with a clear need for data driven policy recommendations.

  ECN425 will show how data can be used to understand and address some of the most important current economic and social problems. The course will give students an introduction to frontier research and policy applications in economics in a manner that makes the course suitable both for students starting a master degree in economics, as well as for students exploring economics as a supplement to their profile. The topics are guided by the UN sustainable development goals and provide an economist’s perspective on issues including equality of opportunity, work, education, migration, and pollution. In the context of these topics, the course will also provide a non-technical introduction to basic methods in data analysis, including causal inference and machine learning. The course will include guest lectures and discussions with leading researchers and practitioners who use big data in real-world applications.

  The course is divided into five broad themes:

  • Demographic change
  • Inequality
  • Pollution
  • Globalisation
  • Technological change

• Learning outcome

  Knowledge

  Upon completion of the course, the student can:

  • recognise how data can be used to understand and address current economic and social challenges and distinguish between different analysis techniques
  • describe how policy decisions come about and how sustainability is considered in political decision-making
  • interpret the results of empirical methods for testing the implications of theoretical economic models and evaluating policies

  Skills

  Upon completion of the course, the student can:

  • analyse the impact of various public interventions
  • analyse the economic and social consequences of large economic shocks as pandemics, resource booms, armed conflicts, or climate change regulations

  General Competence

  Upon completion of the course, the student can:

  • debate economic and social challenges such as inequality, intergenerational mobility, population aging, international migration, and pollution
  • evaluate consequences of government policies

• Teaching

  The course consists of plenary lectures, labs, videos, and assignments.

• Recommended prerequisites

  ECN402 - Econometrics.

• Compulsory Activity

  None.

• Assessment

  The final grade will be based on two assignments in groups of 2-3 students (50%) and a final written 3-hour individual digital school exam (50%).

  The students will have two weeks to complete each of the assignments. 

  Language: English.

• Grading Scale

  A-F

• Computer tools

  R

• Literature

  Selected articles will be distributed on Canvas/Legato.

  Podcasts.

• Permitted Support Material

  One bilingual dictionary (Category I)

  All in accordance with Supplementary provisions to the Regulations for Full-time Study Programmes at the Norwegian School of Economics Ch.4 Permitted support materialhttps://www.nhh.no/en/for-students/regulations/https://www.nhh.no/en/for-students/regulations/and https://www.nhh.no/en/for-students/examinations/examination-support-materials/https://www.nhh.no/en/for-students/examinations/examination-support-materials/