Microeconometrics:
This course is concerned with econometric techniques for the analysis of micro data. Topics in both theoretical and applied econometrics are covered, with a view to illustrate the interaction between models, data and methods.

Contents:
- GMM & optimal instruments.
- Linear panels.
- Discrete choice.
- Duration models.
- Endogenous selection and treatment effects.
- Differences in differences and synthetic controls.

Quantitative Macroeconomics:
This course has three main aims: i) analyze three workhorses of modern macroeconomic analysis: heterogeneous agents models, models with firm dynamics, and search and matching models; ii) introduce numerical methods to solve these models; and iii) study several recent papers from macroeconomics literature that use these frameworks.

Contents:
Part I: Basics (14 classes)
A. Background – Facts (2 classes, Week 1)
Inequality, Firm Dynamics, Labor Market Dynamics
B. Background – Models (9 classes, Weeks 1 - 4)
Heterogeneous Agent Models (permanent income hypothesis, basic set-up, defining equilibrium, nature of income shocks, aggregate uncertainty); Firm Dynamics (basic set-up, entry and exit, defining equilibrium); Search and Matching Models (basic set-up, on-the-job-search)
C. Background – Computational Methods (3 classes, Week 5)
Value function iteration, policy function iteration, endogenous grid methods, projection methods.

Part II: Topics (16 classes, Weeks 5-10)
A. Labor Supply (4 classes)
D. Fiscal Policy and Welfare State -- (4 classes)
C. Human Capital Accumulation -- (4 classes)
E. Firms and Misallocation (4 classes)

Regulation and Competition Policy:
The course is divided in two parts. In the first part, we provide a framework to study the classical regulation policies in sectors such as energy, telecommunications, transportation, etc. We present the most commonly used regulation mechanisms and we compare them with the theoretical proposals in the literature. We later discuss the liberalization processes undertaken in most developed countries and we draw lessons from their implementation. The second part of the course is an introduction to competition policy. Using standard industrial economics models we discuss the three prototypical areas of intervention: abuse of dominant position, collusion and merger control. In each of these areas we combine the study of theoretical models with empirical papers related to their implementation. Finally, a group of students will present a resolution by the European Commission or a national competition authority concerning each area in order to illustrate how the process is resolved in practice.

Contents:
- Economic Regulation: When and Why (Week1)
- The Classical Theory of Economic Regulation (Week 1-2)
- Incentives in Regulation (Week 2-3)
- Public Procurement: Auctions (Week 4)
- Liberalization and Competition (Week 4-6)
- Introduction to Competition Policy (Week 6)
- Abuse of Dominant Position (Week 7)
- Collusion and Leniency Programs (Week 8)
- Horizontal and Vertical Integration (Week 9-10)

Urban Economics:
In this course in urban economics we will study theory and evidence on how productivity, amenities and congestion determine the size and composition of cities and their evolution. We will examine the determinants and consequences of location choices made by firms and workers. We will also explore the importance of cities for aggregate economic development. The research strategies, modelling tools and problems of measurement and identification discussed, while examined in the context of urban issues, are intended to be useful to students interested in a wide variety of topics.

Contents:

Economics of Banking:
This course focuses on understanding the role of banks in the markets for credit and liquidity. Starting with the industrial organization approach to banks, it covers contributions to financial intermediation theory based on information economics, as well as the analysis of the foundations and main tools for the micro- and macro-prudential regulation of banks.

Contents:
- The industrial organization approach to banks.
- Credit market imperfections.
- Banks as delegated monitors.
- Banks as liquidity providers.
- The prudential regulation of banks.
- Systemic and macro-prudential aspects of banking.

Labor Economics:
This course is an introduction to various topics in labor economics. We will start by discussing models of labor supply and labor demand, and the determinants of the market equilibrium. We will then analyse imperfections in the labor market, market failures, and inequality – all potential reasons for public policy intervention. We will conclude by introducing methods for the evaluation of public policies. Throughout the course we will combine theory with empirical evidence.

Contents:

International Economics:
The course covers the main theories of international economics and the associated empirical evidence.

Contents:
- Gains from Trade.
- Neoclassical Models of Trade.
- Economies of scale and product differentiation.
- Heterogeneous firms, selection and intra-industry reallocations.
- Multinational Firms.
- International Trade and Productivity.
- Globalization and Inequality.

Development Economics:
This course focuses on the understanding of the process of economic development. The central questions of the course are:
1) why are some countries so much poorer than others?
2) what are the main barriers to the process of economic development?
3) what are the main barriers that prevent the poor to escape from poverty?
4) why do these barriers exist and persist?
The purpose of the course is to give you a sense of the frontier research topics and a good command of the methodologies used in the field of Economic Development. The main emphasis will be in empirical and micro-studies, although some applied theory studies and macroeconomic analysis will also be discussed.

Contents:
- Global trends in growth, development and poverty. - Credit and insurance markets. - Health, nutrition, productivity. - Education and human capital. - Technical change and technology adoption. - Institutions as a fundamental cause of long-run development. - Corruption and local accountability.

Topics in Empirical Economics:
This is an advanced course in Industrial Organization. This course is designed to bridge between theory and empirics, and, for the most part, aims to understand how empirical models in the structural IO literature arise naturally from the theoretical literature.

Contents:
With this aim, the course will be structured around frontier topics in Industrial Organization. Throughout the course, we will follow this structure: first, we will identify the economic (Industrial Organization) question that we want to answer to then determine which tools are needed to answer it. This will often lead us to follow an ordered sequence. We will start by analyzing the main models in the theoretical literature that have asked the question that we want to address (or part of it), covering the models' assumptions and findings---this will be important as it will allow us to identify the theoretical findings that our empirical model should embody. Then we will work on developing an empirical model and place special emphasis on highlighting how our empirical model embodies existing theoretical work and findings. We will also address why a structural empirical approach may or may not be necessary. Lastly, we will discuss the models’ computational requirements and their empirical implementation. Among the topics covered, we will include IO topics that bridge between different fields in Economics and that belong to very active research fields.

Topics in Macroeconomics:
This course discusses continuous-time asset pricing theory and continuous-time derivative pricing models. Intuitively, we relate some asset returns to other asset returns (derivative assets), appealing to absence of arbitrage and risk-neutral pricing arguments. To do so, some knowledge of stochastic calculus is needed, so we introduce it. Finally, we look at some applications, specifically, interest rate and credit risk models.

Contents:

Applied Economics Workshop:
The workshop has two main goals. First, to learn and to practice the techniques of an academic presentation. Second, to become acquainted with some of the methodological issues and the empirical evidence in different areas of Applied Economics. Each session consists of a couple of presentations by students, based on selected papers, followed by an informal discussion in class. Each session will be attended by the coordinator of the workshop and another faculty member whose area of expertise is close to the topic of the session.

Contents:
- Regulation in electricity markets.
- Transmission of monetary policy.
- Growth.
- Experimental economics.
- Natural experiments in labor economics.
- Intergenerational transmission of human capital.
- Economics of ageing.
- Corporate finance and investment.
- Business cycles and structural VAR’s.
- Industry entry models.
- Asset pricing.

Economic Policy Workshop:
The purpose of this workshop is to discuss important economic policy issues using the tools provided in the Master courses. The focus is not just on the issues themselves but on economic policy angles related to them. Each session will consist of two paired presentations and, for some of them, discussions, based on the recommended readings. The readings highlight different aspects of the topic at hand. A general discussion will take place during and after the presentations, in which all students are expected to participate.

Contents:
- Active Labor Market Policies.
- Education Policies.
- Economic Inequality.
- Fiscal Policy.
- Financial Regulation.
- Intellectual Property.

Master Thesis:
The Master Thesis is an original research piece in the field chosen by the student. Each student is assigned an adviser who helps him or her in identifying a suitable research topic and oversees the whole process.

Contents:
In the course of their work on the thesis, students make two preliminary presentations. The first one is in February and consists of a presentation of the research project. The second takes place in May and allows students to present their first results. The Master Thesis defense takes place in a public session in June. This work is evaluated by the adviser and another examiner, and it is later graded in a plenary faculty meeting.