Literature Reviews Theory-oriented Papers Case Studies Issue Papers Appendix Other Writing Assignments Literature Reviews - Theoretical Papers -Case Studies - Issue Papers Lecture 5 Lucia Milone LUISS Guido Carli, Rome March 31st, 2014
Literature Reviews Theory-oriented Papers Case Studies Issue Papers Appendix References for this lecture This set of slides is entirely based on the following materials: ( D ) Dudenhefer, P. (2009), “ A Guide to Writing in Economics ”, Department of Economics, Duke University ( T1 ) Thomson, W. (2011), “ A Guide for the Young Economist ”, Second Edition, Massachussets Institute of Technology. Ch.2, Sections 3-4-5. ( M1 ) MONASH University Library, “How to write the case study”, QuickRef 27. ( M2 ) MONASH University, “Language and Learning online” website. ( GTTP ) “How To Write A Good Case”, pdf available here. ( H ) Harling, K., An Overview of Case Study. (strongly suggested as additional reading) ( R ) Rif. Robert E. Stake, “The Art of Case Study Research” ( PSE ) “How to Write a problem-Solution Essay” ( X ) XAVIER University Library, “ How to Write a Position Paper ”. see the homepage of the course for links to the download pages and/or links to website(s).
Literature Reviews Theory-oriented Papers Case Studies Issue Papers Appendix Writing Assignments (examples from Utrecht University) 1 [Multidisciplinary Economics Approach to Economic Growth] Keep two countries (OECD members). Explain differences in economic growth looking at different indicators (such as cultural aspects, entrepreneurship, wealth distribution, etc.). → be able to find and use statistical sources (see handout lect. 2) 2 [Econometrics] Econometric analysis (by means of STATA) with the aim to explain data trends. A brief review of the literature was required. 3 [Macroeconomics] Choose one OECD member. Analyze it by answering questions on a weekly basis. 4 [Corporate finance] Case study : analyze the financial performance of a firm. 5 [Competition theory] Issue paper (on competition).
Literature Reviews Theory-oriented Papers Case Studies Issue Papers Appendix Literature Reviews nearly every economics paper has a short assessment of other works on the topic at hand. Here, we refer to article-lenght treatments of a large body of studies keep trace of what we know, and do not know, about an economic topic. survey the important papers (and books) written on a subject. outline the trends in research and the challenges that still remain. usually proceed chronologically or thematically. [ref. ( D ), Part III-12] Remember (from lect.1-2; see, in particular, handout lect. 2) : JEL, and JEP.
Literature Reviews Theory-oriented Papers Case Studies Issue Papers Appendix Literature Reviews - cont’d
Literature Reviews Theory-oriented Papers Case Studies Issue Papers Appendix Literature Reviews - cont’d Searching papers to survey the literature on the topic at hand, might be useful to refer/use the JEL Classification System. Figure : JEL Classification System (link to the website)
Literature Reviews Theory-oriented Papers Case Studies Issue Papers Appendix Theory-oriented Papers Theoretical papers : Unlike empirical papers: are characterized by absence of data. 1 can contain as much mathematics as prose. 2 Develop an “internally logically consistent” model . The model may be 1 an extension/modification of a model borrowed from the literature. 2 something completely new, constructed by the author himself. Conclusions of models should be proved . Contain “propositions”, “proofs”, “theorems”, “lemmas”, etc. [ref. ( D ), Part III-9]
Literature Reviews Theory-oriented Papers Case Studies Issue Papers Appendix Theory-oriented - cont’d 1. Definitions → 2. Models → 3. Theorems and Proofs
Literature Reviews Theory-oriented Papers Case Studies Issue Papers Appendix Theory-oriented - cont’d [ref. Thomson, W. (2011), Ch.2 Section 3 (index)] 1. Definitions Don’t assume readers’ familiarity with your terms and definitions; make it clear when you are defining a new term; indicate the kind of mathematical object each new notation designates; give examples illustrating novel definitions; separate formal definitions from interpretations; present basic concepts in their full generality; write in logical sequences; don’t collapse two or three similar statements into one; when defining a concept, indicate what it depends on; be unambiguous and consistent in quantification; don’t use different terms or phrases for the same concept; name concepts carefully; avoid unnecessary technical jargon; challenge dominant but inadequate terminology and usage; use technical terms correctly; clean up your text. (Recurrent) Keywords : clarity, coherency, cohesiveness.
Literature Reviews Theory-oriented Papers Case Studies Issue Papers Appendix Theory-oriented - Definitions, cont’d Figure : Source: Sandholm (2006), “Sequences of Take-It-or-Leave-It Offers: Near-Optimal Auctions Without Full Valuation Revelation”
Literature Reviews Theory-oriented Papers Case Studies Issue Papers Appendix Theory-oriented - cont’d [ref. Thomson, W. (2011), Ch.2 Section 4 (index)] 2. Models Understand the role of models; introduce your model by moving from infrastructure to superstructure; avoid long sentences; redundancy is useful, but don’t overdo it; don’t be shy about explaining very simple things; beware the apparent simplicity of numerical examples; if you name your agents, do so in a helpful way; use one enumeration for each object category; state assumptions in order of decreasing plausibility or generality; group assumptions by category; figure out and indicate logical relations among assumptions and groups of assumptions; make sure there are objects satisfying all your assumptions; use a common format for formal statements of results and similar parts of proofs.
Literature Reviews Theory-oriented Papers Case Studies Issue Papers Appendix Theory-oriented - Models, cont’d Figure : Source: Rigotti (2006), “Sharing Risk and Ambiguity”
Literature Reviews Theory-oriented Papers Case Studies Issue Papers Appendix Theory-oriented - Models, cont’d Figure : Source: Rigotti (2006), “Sharing Risk and Ambiguity”
Literature Reviews Theory-oriented Papers Case Studies Issue Papers Appendix Theory-oriented - cont’d [ref. Thomson, W. (2011), Ch.2 Section 5 (index)] 3. Theorems and Proofs Choose the right mixture of words and mathematics in proofs; divide proofs into clearly identified steps or cases; gather in front of a conclusion all the conditions needed to reach it; pay special attention to quantifications; specify precisely the assumptions, or particular parts of them, used in each step; don’t leave (too many) steps to reader; use a consistent writing style; be consistent in choosing running indices and quantifications; don’t use quantifiers in an english sentence; show clearly where each proof ends; if you think a step is obvious, look again; verify the independence of your hypotheses; explore all possible variants of your results.
Literature Reviews Theory-oriented Papers Case Studies Issue Papers Appendix Theory-oriented - Theorems(/Propositions) and Proofs, cont’d Figure : Source: Sandholm (2006), “Sequences of Take-It-or-Leave-It Offers: Near-Optimal Auctions Without Full Valuation Revelation”
Literature Reviews Theory-oriented Papers Case Studies Issue Papers Appendix Case Studies Case : is the “real life” situation. Case Study : is the analysis of this situation. A case study is a puzzle that has to be solved. It should: relate the theory to a practical situation. have a problem for the readers to solve. (identify the problems and select the major problems in the case) have enough information in order to understand what the problem is. be able to come up with a proposed solution. (recommend the best solution to be implemented and give a detailed explanation about how it has to be done) “ A good case is more than just a description . It is information arranged in such a way that the reader is put in the same position as the case writer was at the beginning when he or she was faced with a new situation and asked to figure out what was going on. A description, on the other hand, arranges all the information, comes to conclusions, tells the reader everything, and the reader really doesn’t have to work very hard”. [ref. ( M1 ), ( GTTP )]
Literature Reviews Theory-oriented Papers Case Studies Issue Papers Appendix Case Studies - cont’d There are two different approaches to case studies: The Analytical Approach 1 understand what has happened and why. The Problem-Oriented Method 2 identify problems and suggest solutions. Check with your lecturer which type they require. [ref. ( M1 )]
Literature Reviews Theory-oriented Papers Case Studies Issue Papers Appendix Case Studies - cont’d How shall cases be selected? Two criteria: Select cases which are typical or representative of other cases . 1 A sample of one or a sample of just a few is unlikely to be a strong representation of others. However, “ we do not study a case primarily to understand other cases. Our first obligation is to understand this one case ” 2 Maximize what we can learn . Select cases that are likely to lead us to understandings, to assertions, perhaps even to modifying of generalizations. [ref. ( R )]
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