4th Summer School in Advanced Economics

The 4th Summer School in Advanced Economics will be held from

July 8 - 12, 2019

at Syros Island – Greece

A few words about...

In 2013 the Department of Economics of the University of Ioannina started to organize bi-annually a Summer School in Advanced Economics. The purpose of the Summer School is to bring together students and young researchers who are interested in modern methods in theoretical and empirical Economics. In each event a small number of participants is selected. This creates an environment which allows better communication with the instructors and also exchange of ideas among students. A distinguished Professor on the field of Economics is the main instructor of the Summer School.

Overview

The Department of Economics of the University of Ioannina organizes the 4th Summer School in Economics in Syros - Greece. The general objective of the Summer School is to provide a stimulating environment for young researchers who seek to obtain advanced training on important disciplines of economics and econometrics. Moreover, it offers the opportunity to all the participants, and especially the advanced doctoral students, to present their research and to interact with other students from all over the world, as well as with leading scholars of the academic profession.

The 4th Summer School in Advanced Economics will take place from July 8, 2019 to July 12, 2019 at Galissas - Syros. This year’s specialized topic will be “Econometric Methods to Estimate Causal Effects” and we are honored to welcome Sascha O. Becker as the Distinguished Guest Professor. The School consists of both theoretical sessions (in the form of lectures) and practical sessions. The practical sessions take place in a computer lab. Their aim is to complement the lectures with empirical applications. The working language is English.

Sascha O. Becker is a Professor of Economics at the University of Warwick– UK. He got his Ph.D from the European University Institute, Florence, Italy. He joined the Warwick Faculty in 2011. His research interests are: Economic History, Labour Economics, Education Economics and Public Economics. He is also Deputy Head of Department and Research Director of the ESRC Centre for Competitive Advantage in the Global Economy (CAGE) and associate editor of Economic Journal.

Sascha O. Becker has numerous publications in top international journals such as: American Economic Review, Economic Journal, Journal of Public Economics, American Economic Journal: Macroeconomics, American Economic Journal: Economic Policy, Journal of Economic Growth, Journal of Banking and Finance, The Quarterly Journal of Economics, European Economic Review, Journal of International Economics, The Review of Economics and Statistics. CV: (www.sobecker.de )

Course Outline - Programme

The School consists of both theoretical sessions (in the form of lectures) and practical sessions. The practical sessions take place in a computer lab. The goal is to familiarize participants with the theory and application of modern econometric evaluation techniques, including guided lab sessions. The working language is English.

Participants will have the opportunity to replicate published studies, learn the methods and apply econometric techniques in STATA to conduct their own research. They will have the chance to replicate existing studies and see the published econometric results. In this way they will obtain the background in STATA to conduct the econometric methods that they are going to learn in their field of interest.

PROGRAMME

Sunday 7 July 2019

• Arrival of the participants and Welcome Reception (at Francoise Hotel Galissas (www.francoise.gr/))

 

Monday 8 July 2019

• 09:15-10:30 Lecture 1 (Sascha Becker)
• 10:30-10:45 Coffee break
• 10:45-12:00 Lecture 2 (Sascha Becker)
• 12:00-14:00 Lunch
• 14:00-15:30 Lab Session 1

 

Tuesday 9 July 2019

• 09:15-10:30 Lecture 3 (Sascha Becker)
• 10:30-10:45 Coffee break
• 10:45-12:00 Lecture 4 (Sascha Becker)
• 12:00-14:00 Lunch
• 14:00-15:30 Lab Session 2

 

Wednesday 10 July 2019

• 09:15-10:30 Lecture 5 (Sascha Becker)
• 10:30-10:45 Coffee break
• 10:45-12:00 Lecture 6 (Sascha Becker)
• 12:00-14:00 Lunch
• 14:00-15:30 Lab Session 3

 

Thursday 11 July 2019

• 09:15-10:30 Lecture 7 (Sascha Becker)
• 10:30-10:45 Coffee break
• 10:45-12:00 Lecture 8 (Sascha Becker)
• 12:00-14:00 Lunch
• 14:00-15:30 Lab Session 4
• 20:00 Farewell dinner (at local tavern)

 

Friday 12 July 2019

• 09:15-10:30 Lecture 9 (Sascha Becker)
• 10:30-10:45 Coffee break
• 10:45-12:00 Lecture 10 (Sascha Becker)
• 12:00-14:00 Lunch
• 14:00-15:30 Lab Session 5

COURSE DESCRIPTION

Format of sessions:

Some sessions will review the theoretical background, other sessions will deal with (re-estimation of published papers and understanding the identification strategy and how it is implemented in Stata code.

We will re-estimate some classical papers as well as more recent work, some of which covers less commonly used material (e.g. synthetic control groups, basic machine learning) which turns out to be useful in various contexts. Potential list of papers to be covered, sorted by "method":

main paper for Stata analysis:

Becker, Sascha O. and and Ludger Woessmann (2009) Was Weber Wrong? A Human Capital Theory of Protestant Economic History. Quarterly Journal of Economics 124(2), 531–596.

http://qje.oxfordjournals.org/content/124/2/531.short

additional reading(s):

Ashenfelter, Orley and Alan Krueger (1994) Estimates of the Economic Return to Schooling from a New Sample of Twins, American Economic Review, 84(5), 1157-1173.

http://www.jstor.org/stable/2117766

Card, David (1995) Using Geographic Variation in College Proximity to Estimate the Return to Schooling, in Louis N. Christofides, E. Kenneth Grant, and Robert Swidinsky, eds., Aspects of labour market behaviour: Essays in honour of John Vanderkamp, Toronto, Buffalo and London: University of Toronto Press, 1995, pp. 201–222.

http://www.nber.org/papers/w4483

main paper for Stata analysis:

Redding, Stephen J. and Daniel M. Sturm (2008) The Costs of Remoteness: Evidence from German Division and Reunification, American Economic Review 98(5), 1766–1797.

http://www.jstor.org/stable/29730152

Card, David and Alan Krueger (1994) Minimum Wages and Employment: A Case Study of the Fast-Food Industry in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, American Economic Review 84(4), 772–793.

http://www.jstor.org/stable/2118030

main paper for Stata analysis:

Becker, Sascha O. and Andrea Ichino (2002) Estimation of average treatment effects based on propensity scores. Stata Journal 2(4), 358–377.

http://www.stata-journal.com/article.html?article=st0026

additional reading(s):

Dehejia, Rajeev H. and Sadek Wahba (1999) Causal Effects in Nonexperimental Studies: Reevaluating the Evaluation of Training Programs.Journal of the American Statistical Association 94(448), 1053–1062.

http://www.jstor.org/stable/2669919

main paper for Stata analysis:

Angrist, Joshua and Victor Lavy (1999) Using Maimonides’ rule to estimate the effect of class size on scholastic achievement. Quarterly Journal of Economics 114(2), 533–575.

http://www.jstor.org/stable/2587016

additional reading(s):

Becker, Sascha O., Peter H. Egger and Maximilian von Ehrlich (2013) Absorptive Capacity and the Growth Effects of Regional Transfers: A Regression Discontinuity Design with Heterogeneous Treatment Effects.American Economic Journal: Economic Policy, 5(4): 29-77.

http://dx.doi.org/10.1257/pol.5.4.29

Lee and Lemieux (2010) Regression Discontinuity Designs in Economics.Journal of Economic Literature 48(2): 281–355.

http://www.aeaweb.org/articles.php?doi=10.1257/jel.48.2.281

main paper for Stata analysis:

Billmeier, Andreas and Tommaso Nannicini (2013) Assessing Economic Liberalization Episodes: A Synthetic Control Approach. Review of Economics and Statistics 95(3): 983-1001.

http://dx.doi.org/10.1162/REST_a_00324

additional reading(s):

Abadie, Alberto, Alexis Diamond and Jens Hainmueller (2010) Synthetic Control Methods for Comparative Case Studies: Estimating the Effect of California’s Tobacco Control Program.Journal of the American Statistical Association 105(490): 493-505.

http://dx.doi.org/10.1198/jasa.2009.ap08746

main paper for Stata analysis:

Becker, Sascha O., Thiemo Fetzer, and Dennis Novy (2017) Who Voted for Brexit? A Comprehensive District-Level Analysis, Economic Policy 32(92): 601-650.

https://doi.org/10.1093/epolic/eix012

bounding for matching estimates:

Becker, Sascha O. and Marco Caliendo (2007) Sensitivity Analysis for Average Treatment Effects. Stata Journal 7(1), 71–83.

http://www.stata-journal.com/article.html?article=st0121

Organizers

Organizing Committee

Michael Chletsos, Professor, University of Ioannina

Theodore Palivos, Professor, Athens University of Economics and Business

Spyros Symeonidis, Professor, University of Ioannina

Antonis Adam, Assistant Professor, University of Ioannina

Nikos Benos, Associate Professor, University of Ioannina

Nikolaos Mylonidis, Associate Professor, University of Ioannina

Apply

Eligibility:

Participants to the Summer School would ideally hold a Master’s degree on Economics and/or econometrics or in a relevant subject with a good background in economics. However, PhD students and students of MSc programs willing to continue their studies for a Ph.D. are strongly encouraged to apply to the Course. Participants can be members of the academic society but people outside academia (e.g., government, public and private sector) are also welcome, given that they have the minimum academic qualification and relevant experience. Finally, participants should have a good knowledge of the English language.

Participants will be selected according to the following criteria:

• - Educational background
• - Letter of Intent (why you want to attend the summer school)

Approximately 30 students will be admitted to the Summer School. We intend to restrict the class size to ensure interactive course and discussion. We aim to create a truly international student body on a first-come, first-served basis.

Students admitted to the 4th Summer School in Advanced Economics are expected to fully participate in the program and attend all lectures, computer labs and social events.

Application:

To apply online, please click here

Registration Fees

There is a fee of 350€ that covers:

• The teaching material (lecture notes)
• All coffee breaks
• All lunch breaks (one every day)
• Farewell Dinner
• Certificate of Participation

The registration fee for accompanying person is €150 and includes lunches and participation in social events (Reception cocktail and Farewell Dinner)

The deadline for early payment is April 16, 2019. Late registration fee is 450 euros. The deadline for the late payment is June 8, 2019.

If cancellation is confirmed before May 6, 2019 (note: only written cancellation by e-mail will be accepted), fees will be refunded minus a cancellation fee of 50€. In the case where the applicant has omitted to inform us for cancellation, no fees will be refunded.

If a minimum of 15 participants have not paid the fee by the date of May 15, the Summer School will not take place and the fee will be fully reimbursed.

Registration / Payment

Tuition fees are payable by bank transfer. Specific guidelines are given upon acceptance. The corresponding invoices are handed to the participants in the last day of the course together with their certificate of attendance.

Registration information will be given to Summer School participants in their letters of acceptance.

Certificate & ECTS Credits:

Students participating and successfully completing the Summer School can earn 4 ECTS Credits. A certificate of attendance will be issued at the end of the Summer School stating the ECTS credits earned. Participants should check with their own European Institutions whether these ECTS credits are transferable.

Practical Information:

Computers and Software

The participants need to bring a laptop computer for the laboratories.

The following software packages are needed:

1. Microsoft Excel
2. Stata (The software will be provided with a temporary license on arrival) in case that the participants do not own a valid licence for this package.

Health Insurance

Health insurance is not provided by the Organizers.

Power Adaptors

The power grid is 220 V / 50 Hz. Greek standard socket

Important dates

Application opening: October 15, 2019

Application deadline: April 29, 2019

Early Notification of Acceptance: January 14, 2019

Final Notification of Acceptance: May 6, 2019

Deadline for early payment of fees: April 16, 2019

Deadline for late payment of fees:: June 8, 2019

Accommodation / Travel

Accommodation

The Summer School will take place at the town Galissas in Syos Island, in Greece. Galissas is the most popular tourist resort of Syros, located in a protected bay on the west coast of the island and it is located about 7 km from Ermoupoli, the capital of Cyclades.

Accommodation is NOT included in the registration fees. Special prices at the following hotels (Summer School venue) have been negotiated for Summer School participants:

Francoise Hotel (http://www.francoise.gr/) Single room 30 euros per day, Double room 50 euros per day, Triple room 65 euros per day (breakfast included).

Other Hotels

• Blue Sea Hotel
• Remvi Hotel

Travel

Geography of Syros

Syros Greece is located in the centre of the Cyclades. Due to its rich history and the cultural part, this is the admninistrational capital of the Cycladic complex. It is the most populated island of the Cyclades with 20,000 inhabitants and an area of 84 sq km. The capital of Syros island is Ermoupolis, which is also the capital of the entire Cyclades. The population is mostly gathered in the capital and in Ano Syros, on the eastern coast of the island, but other settlements are scattered all over the island. The highest peak of Syros is Pyrgos, rising at an altitude of 442 metres. From the hillsides of Ano Syros, the neighbouring islands of Tinos, Mykonos and Delos can be seen. The geography of Syros is formed by a great number of capes and bays of an extreme natural and unspoiled beauty. Many rocky islets are surrounding the island of Syros, such as Gaidouronissi, Stroggylo, Aspronisi and others.

History of Syros

Syros island lies in the centre of Cyclades and according to the archaeological evidence, it was first inhabited in the prehistoric times (4000 BC) and later in the Cycladic period (3000 BC). In the areas of Kastri and Chalandriani, graves and cultivated settlements have been found. The first reference to Syros was made by Homer under the ancient name "Syrie". The first settlers in the history of Syros were the Phoenecians who moved around the Cyclades. Traces of ancient settlements from the 7th century BC were found in the hill of Agia Pakous, in Galissas and west of Ermoupolis. During the 6th century, Syros was inhabited by the Samians, one of whom was the great philosopher Ferekidis, who later became the teacher of Pythagoras. Ancient Ermoupolis was built by the Ionians and was later settled by the Persians, Romans, Franks and Turks, who left their cultural traces. During the Roman years, the relics of the old capital, built on the site of the present Ermoupolis and the bronze coins of Syros, witness a great economical development. However, the Venetians played a major role in the cultural development of the island making Syros an important trade centre of the Eastern Mediterranean. The constant pirate invasions though forced the inhabitants of Syros to move the capital on top of the hill, where today lies the medieval settlement of Ano Syros, with the chucrh of Saint Georgio. When the French conquered the island, in the 17th century, Syros was inhabited by a great number of catholics, the known cappuchins who founded a small monastery that remains active to this day. The island flourished greatly following the Greek revolution in 1821, when a massive wave of emigrants from Psara, Chios, Crete and Mimor Asia settled in Syros using the island as the centre of their trading and maritime activities. This was a huge economic boost for Syros and at the same time, the wealthy families of Syros took the initiative to buils nunerous buildings, like schools and theatres. The prosperous period lasted until the early 20th century with the arrival of the German troops to Syros. Thousands of people died from famine and diseases that period and the local economy was left destroyed.

Transportation

Syros can be reached either by plane or ferry. Although there are no international direct flights to Syros airport, flights from Athens are daily and ferry connections with other islands and ports (like Mykonos) are very frequent.

From Pireaus port the ferry takes 3 hours to Syros. Also there are routes from Lavrio port and from Rafina port which is the closest to Athens International Airport.

For further information, visit:

https://www.bluestarferries.com

https://hellenicseaways.gr/

Get around on Syros

By Bus: There are local buses that connect Ermoupolis with other villages inside Syros. The routes are very frequent and it takes only 20’ to reach Galissas from Ermoupolis.

For further information visit:https://www.syrosisland.gr/en/ktel/

By Taxi: You can also get a taxi at the central streets in the most popular resorts. You can find information here:http://syros-taxi.gr/

For more information about Syros:https://www.syrosisland.gr/en/

Venue

The Summer School will take place at Municipal Hall of Galissas.

Galissas is situated in a picturesque setting around a natural cove with golden sand that used to be the perfect place for seclusion. Today is a favorite tourist destination with an abundance of tourist accommodation options. Galissas offers plenty of taverns, bars and other tourist services. Just 7 km from Ermoupolis one can visit the stone pier with the palm trees, the chapel of Agia Pakou, the Catholic Church of the Holy Heart of Jesus, the ruins of ancient Galissos, the chapel of St. Stephen beneath the sea cliff and the beach of Armeou.

Transport in Galissas

There are frequent routes from Ermoupolis to Galissas by the local bus services. Also, there is a taxi service which costs about 10 euros. The approximate time from Ermoupolis to Galissas is about 20 minutes.