Graduate Center of DIW Berlin

Courses

First Year (Winter Term)

During winter term of the first year, doctoral students will take the following core courses:


Advanced Microeconomics

Advanced Microeconomics deepens modern duality concepts in the analysis of consumer and producer behavior and welfare economics as well as many game theoretic concepts and links them to market analysis (incomplete competition), market design (auctions), markets under incomplete information (moral hazard, adverse selection), and elaborates on microeconomic decision theory (dynamic programming, decision under uncertainty, etc.).

Textbook: Mas-Colell, A., M. Whinston and J. Green, "Microeconomic Theory"


Econometric Methods

Econometric Methods starts with a review of basic regression analysis in the context of single equation linear models, and continues with stochastic regressors and simultaneous equation models. Estimation methods like generalized least squares, instrumental variables, generalized methods of moments, maximum likelihood techniques, two and three step least squares will be introduced.

Textbook: Greene, W., "Econometric Analysis"


Advanced Macroeconomics

Advanced Macroeconomics addresses recent developments in macroeconomic theory including monetary and international economics and models for endogenous growth. Special focus is given to dynamic optimization.

Textbooks: Ljungqvist, L. and T. Sargent, "Recursive Macroeconomic Theory"
Gali, J., "New Perspectives on Monetary Policy, Inflation, and the Business Cycle"
Gali, J. and P. Rabanal, "Technology Shocks and Aggregate Fluctuations: How Well Does the Real Business Cycle Model Fit Postwar U.S. Data?"


Economic Policy

The Economic Policy course is presented by DIW researchers from different departments and serves to introduce the students to the institute’s research areas. It includes theory lessons as well as practical hand-on sessions, for example in SOEP data analysis. All students are requested to attend this course.


First Year (Summer Term)

The second term of the first year begins with either Microeconometrics or Macroeconometrics. The choice depends on each student's interest and research area.


Microeconometrics

The course Microeconometrics will be chosen from the manifold lectures in this field offered by the cooperating universities in Berlin. While the curriculum depends on the specific course and year, the lecture typically provides an in-depth introduction to eocnometric models for cross section and panel data. Topics may include linear and non-linear models for panel data, discrete-choice analysis, censored regression and duration models and self-selection models.


Macroeconometrics

As with Microeconometrics, Macroeconometrics will be chosen from the range of courses offered by Berlin universities. It typically provides an in-depth introduction to the application of econometric techniques to macroeconomic issues. Topics may encompass univariate and multivariate time series techniques, including structural autoregressive models, the concepts of integration and cointegration, and error correction modeling. In addition, ARCH models can be topic of this course, as they are of special importance in the analysis of financial markets.


Two Field Courses

Finally, students choose two additional courses out of the broad programs offered by the three cooperating universities in Berlin. The courses must be at master or doctoral level and fit well to the students' research interests. Whether the courses of your choice qualify to be part of the GC curriculum hinges on their academic level, the specific course syllabuses and your motivation. All BDPEMS-courses automatically qualify for the GC program.


Graduate Center Masterclasses

GC Masterclasses, taught by globally renowned guest lecturers, are a series of 1-2 days courses covering a wide range of topics of interest to economists. The targeted audience includes GC students as well as postdocs, graduate students in economics from universities and other research institutes across Berlin.

Please find the current schedule here.