Theory For Applications (Half-Term)

The goal of this class is to equip graduate students with the skills to develop theoretical economic models destined to support empirical analysis. The course is targeted to both empiricists (especially in Industrial Organization and Development) and theorists. Writing theory for a specific application requires a critical reading of standard models, as well as a careful evaluation of the merits of sophistication. The course emphasizes two key aspects: Constructing a streamlined, core model that captures essential forces, and deliberately incorporating more complex elements as needed to serve the ultimate application.