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Modern Economic Growth Theory: Models and Empirical Implications
07/13/10

Modern Economic Growth Theory: Models and Empirical Implications

CRRC-Armenia invites applications from researchers, university staff, PhD students and interested others who have at least a basic knowledge of modern macroeconomic and econometric techniques, STATA software, a good grasp of mathematics and ability to understand English, to participate in a methodology oriented course/training “Modern Economic Growth Theory: Models and Empirical Implications” conducted by Mr. Vahagn Jerbashian.

Dates: July 13th – 23rd, 2010
Time: 16.00-18.00
Total course duration: 20 hours
Location: CRRC-Armenia, 3rd floor, Room 309
Language: English, with Armenian comments and short explanations when necessary

Overview:
The course covers some advanced topics from modern economic growth theory. These topics primarily include the capital variety models with horizontal product differentiation. In the theoretical section, the course first introduces the neoclassical models. It briefly covers the Solow-Swan and the Ramsey growth models, which are the keystones of the neoclassical growth theory and are assumed to be well known amongst the audience. The course, then, identifies the weaknesses of these growth models. It suggests ways to overcome those weaknesses and proceeds to growth models implemented nowadays.  In the empirical section the focus of the course is not on a quantitative analysis, but on the ways of devising an empirical specification from the theoretical arguments. For more details see the course description attached.

Outline of the Course

1. Brief introduction to growth theory, Solow-Swan and Ramsey models and their weaknesses (2 lectures, 2 hours each)
2. Romer (1986) and Lucas (1988) endogenous growth models (2 lectures, 1.5 hours each)
3. Romer (1990) and Jones (1995) models (2 lectures, 2 hours each)
4. Smulders and van de Klundert (1995) model (2 lectures, 1.5 hours each)
5. Empirical section - the empirical specification of Roller & Waverman (2001), 3SLS and GMM techniques, replication of Roller & Waverman (2001), and its weaknesses (3 lectures, 1.5 hours each)
6. Concluding remarks - my own research (1 lecture, 1.5 hours)

Vahagn Jerbashian is a doctoral student in Economics at The Center for Economic Research and Graduate Education Economics Institute (Prague, Czech Republic) a joined program of Charles University and Czech Academy of Science. He has received his MA in Economics from the same program and has already co-authored a few publications. He has also been a recipient of several grants and scholarships related to his academic career.

Application: To apply to this training, please follow the link and fill in the information required by July 6th, 2010

 https://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?formkey=dHhZT3VBQjBySUV0SHl0dTN2WlNPS1E6MA

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