Teaching
International Institute of Social Studies (ISS) of Erasmus University Rotterdam
The Hague, The Netherlands

A short video about the Economics of Development (ECD) Major I am teaching in, can be found here.
Courses taught

Regression and Data Analysis (Graduate)
  • Taught in the academic year 2018/19, 2016/17, 2015/16, 2014/15, 2013/14, 2012/13 
This course is intended for students interested in quantitative development policy analysis. The course introduces students to the basic principles of classical regression analysis and discusses modern techniques of data analysis both as supplements to standard regression analysis and as stand-alone diagnostic tools. Hands on computer workshops are designed to familiarize students with the statistical package STATA. Topics covered include the simple two-variable linear regression model and the derivation of the ordinary least squares (OLS) estimator, extension of the simple linear model to the case of multiple regressors, hypothesis testing and inference, the use of binary variables, and the consequences of relaxing the assumptions underlying the OLS estimator. 


Collecting and Evaluating Data (Graduate)
  • Taught in the academic year 2020/21, 2019/20, 2017/18
This course responds to the increasing demand for primary (micro-)data collection. Typically, courses on statistics and econometrics focus on estimation and model specification and do not pay much attention to issues such as how the data used for the analysis have been collected, and/or the quality of the data. This course is designed to deal with such blind spots and addresses the following issues – survey design and sampling strategies, the effect of the survey design on data analysis, sample size, power calculations and minimum detectable effects, the use of sample weights, dealing with non-response and measurement error. We will also discuss implementation issues such as questionnaire design and different methods of data collection (online, face-to-face). Furthermore, even if students are not interested in collecting their own data but plan to use secondary data, the course will encourage them to interrogate the features of the data set, examine the validity and the reliability of the data, evaluate how the data were collected and the consequences of the data collection strategy for the analysis.


Principles of Economic Development -- Microeconomics (Graduate)
  • Taught in the academic year 2020/21, 2018/19, 2017/18, 2016/17, 2015/16, 2014/15, 2013/14
This course is aimed at giving students a thorough knowledge of the key theoretical and policy debates in development macro- and micro-economics. The microeconomics part deals with the economic analysis of households, firms and institutions. The students are introduced to current debates and research in microeconomics of development and examine the role of market imperfections, market failure and non-market institutions in shaping decisions. The microeconomics part draws on neoclassical economics, institutional economics, and behavioural/experimental economics.  Current research in this area blends theoretical models and empirical applications. Accordingly, the course introduces both types of work. The microeconomics part deals with three topics and begins by applying economic analysis to understand the behaviour of rural households. Various models of the household are analysed, intra-household resource allocation and technology adoption are discussed. This is followed by an analysis of the constraints faced by small and micro firms operating in developing countries and a review of micro-finance. The final bit of the microeconomics part introduces the role of institutions and the state in driving economic development, and in particular scrutinises corruption as an institutional failure.


Health and Economic Development: Policies and evaluation (Graduate)
  • Taught in the academic year 2017/18
Health and nutrition are important inputs to individual well-being and economic development. Individual and population health in turn are driven by individual income and public resources allocated to the health sector. This two-way relationship renders the link between health and economic development complex and the evaluation of the economic impacts of health interventions a challenging endeavour.  The course is designed to illustrate these challenges and deals with two broad issues (i) the linkages between health and economic development, in particular, in the context of developing countries and (ii) an examination of the rationale for public provision of health care, factors driving resource allocation and the effectiveness of public health spending including issues such as absenteeism of health workers, corruption in the health sector and tools that may be used to tackle corruption.



STATA Workshop: Doing your own survey (Graduate)
CERES Workshop: Impact Evaluation of Social Programs (Graduate)
  • Taught in the academic year 2013/14, 2012/13                

Economics of Development (Undergraduate)


Teaching Assistance

The Graduate Institute ¦ Geneva
Geneva, Switzerland

Statistical Methods for Social Sciences (Graduate)
  • Teaching Assistance in the academic year 2011/12, course taught by R. Mukherjee

Econometrics II (Graduate), Econometrics IIIa (Graduate) & Econometrics IIIb (Graduate)
Introduction to Development Economics (Graduate)
  • Teaching Assistance in the academic year 2010/11, 2009/10 course taught by J.-L. Arcand

Impact Evaluation (Graduate)
  • Teaching Assistance in the academic year 2009/10, 2008/09 course taught by J.-L. Arcand

Trade Theory and Policy (Graduate)
  • Teaching Assistance in the academic year 2008/09 course taught by R. Baldwin



Eberhard-Karls-Universität
Tübingen, Germany

Explorative Data Analysis (Undergraduate)
  • Teaching Assistance in the academic year 2007/08 course taught by J. Grammig

Microeconomics I (Undergraduate)
  • Teaching Assistance in the academic year 2006/07 course taught by J. Baten