Ardiana Gashi, Ph.D.

The focus of the course is gender differences on the labour market, and will cover both theoretical and empirical studies. Students will delve into these topics to understand the many ways that gender is relevant in the economy. Students will obtain an evidence-based understanding of two key aspects: 1) the potential mechanisms behind gender inequality, and 2) the policies and evidence of their effects on advancing the gender equality. Specifically, this course analyzes the economic aspects of issues related to gender, such as gender wage gaps, labor force discrimination, family-friendly policies in the workplace, the valuation of unpaid household work, and the differential impact of public policies. During the course, students will become familiar with the methodology of gender analysis in the economic sciences and research gender analysis indicators to support skills development for relevant research and analysis.

Vilém Semerák, Ph.D.

This course focuses on applied empirical analysis of trade flows and the effects of trade policies. It is not a course in pure trade theory (only), but instead focuses on (i) how to provide reliable facts on actual trade flows and evidence-based insight into policy-related issues, and (ii) how to understand the results of such methods.

We will start with traditional indicators- and index-based analysis of international trade data, and will continue to newer and more complex approaches that include network analysis and gravity models.

The course will be based on a hands-on approach to learning. Throughout the course, we will use actual and up-to-date data on trade flows, and students will calculate indicators and estimate results relevant for current discussions about international trade. Each section will conclude with a practical demonstration of using the methods and concepts.

Silvester Van Koten, Ph.D.

Energy is a basic necessity of daily life and a vital input to industry in any society around the world. Energy also plays a central role in climate policy and geopolitics.

The course, taking mostly the viewpoint of economic markets and economic regulation, aims at giving the student knowledge about various topics related to the energy system. The main focus will be on supply side of the market, targeting the main properties of the fossil and renewable energy sources. While the economics (supply, demand & pricing) is the main focus, special attention is also given to the security and strategic value of the different energy sources.

Part of the course gives a broad background of knowledge on energy topics and issues. The other part uses economic tools and (relatively simple) mathematical models to better understand the economic logic of energy. Such economic tools provide a way to systemize the (abundance of) information available on energy nowadays. This also helps to understand and appraise the present policies regarding energy. While to focus is more general, attention is paid to some of the local settings for the EU, the Caucasus, Ukraine, Central-Asia and Russia.

Olga Popova, Ph.D.

This course covers the key concepts in public economics, a field of economics that studies the role of government in the economy. The course is designed to introduce seminal theoretical concepts and discuss the most recent empirical developments in public economics with the aim to understand: (i) why and how governments intervene in an economy, (ii) how individuals and firms react to these interventions, and (iii) what are the implications of those interventions for the overall welfare and economic development.

Daniil Kashkarov, Ph.D.

This course aims to provide students with the basics of labor economics. Theoretical models will be linked to real-life examples, making the course beneficial for subsequent studies and professional life. The tentative list of topics includes labor demand and supply, wages (equilibrium wages, hedonic wages, etc.), human capital, discrimination in the labor market, and unemployment.

Ella Sargsyan, Ph.D.

The course will introduce regression analysis and cover some of the most recent econometric techniques central to modern econometric practice. Successful students will gain a deeper understanding of the material discussed in other Distance Learning Program courses. They will be up to speed with Western European students at the same education level, making them more competitive in their further studies and on the labor market. At the end of this course students will understand basic econometric concepts, basic estimation methods, and methods for testing statistical hypotheses. They will be able to apply standard methods of constructing econometric models, process statistical information, obtain statistically sound conclusions, and give meaningful interpretation to the results of the estimated econometric models. In addition, students will gain real data processing skills, using econometric packages for building and estimating econometric models in R.

Vladimir Otrachshenko, Ph.D.

This introductory course presents various concepts in the field of environmental economics. It is designed to help students understand theories related to natural resources and make use of microeconomic and statistical analysis. This course will also focus on valuation techniques for environmental goods used in the real world by analysts and policy makers. There is a growing demand in economics and public sectors for individuals with quantitative skills who can understand and apply these techniques, analyze results, and produce reports. By the end of this course, students should be able to analyze economic problems related to environmental goods using rigorous valuation techniques.

Laure de Batz, Ph.D.

This course aims at raising awareness and scrutiny of students to possible ethical challenges firms, managers and employees face when thinking about financial laws and enforcement, with an economic perspective and illustrated with real-life and up-to-date examples. The scope of unethical financial behaviors covers mostly market abuses, with price manipulation, insider trading, and communication of false information (in particular accounting frauds). This course should contribute to a better understanding of how ethical issues play a role in finance and how they may conflict with firms’ strategies and of how managers’ and employees’ decisions can impact financial markets and investors’ wealth.

The ultimate goal of this Ethics and Finance course is to prepare students to potential ethical dilemmas they might face along their careers. Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to challenge and put into perspective the financial behavior of firms (financial institutions and listed firms in particular) in terms of ethics, from an economic perspective.