Choose one of the following questions.
Essay Question 1:
Using data for 30 low-income group
countries and 30 middle (lower middle income or upper middle
income)/high-income group countries investigate whether stock market
development leads to an increase in economic growth.
1. Your sample should cover the period
1975-2017 and should exclude the following industrialised countries: Australia,
Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland,
Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway,
Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UK, US.
2.Your analysis should be conducted using a
selection of statistical methods, which may include descriptive tools (e.g.,
scatterplots, time series plots) and regression analysis.
3. Carefully interpret each bit of
empirical evidence you present. By which we mean you need to link your
findingsto the essay question. Your results need to be used to produce evidence
in support or against, or in some instances both (e.g., support for some
countries and against fro others), the arguments you present.
Notes: Essay question 1
1. Scatter or time series plots: although
Stata is strongly recommended, you are allowed to use othersoftware packagesif
you wish to do so. The only requirement isthat in your figuresthe country
identifier should be visible. Some basic guidance documents on how to perform
descriptive statistical analysis using Stata are available on the Blackboard
page.
2. Data availability: Please note that in
some instances, you may not have information for all the countries from
1975-2017. This is perfectly understandable. Please don’t fret about this. The
idea behind the providing sample period is to use data/variables as much as
possible based on their availability. From the perspective of developing your
research skills, you should use all the available information effectively. So,
the sample period and the number of countries to be covered which is given in
the question is to provide you with a direction, but not steadfast (on the
condition that the data is unavailable).
3.
Use the literature, and your learning from Quantitative Methods courses, to
identify the appropriate Methodology. If you try to replicate the methodology
used by other Authors, this should be acknowledged by appropriately citing
them. Use standard academic sources to search for publications and also use
your reading list to identify relevant literature.
Essay Question 2:
Financial development has an impact on how
income is distributed in the economy. While many would agree with this idea, it
is still controversial whether its effect relieves or exacerbates inequality
and whether it is significant.
Using one or more proxies for financial
sector development (obtained from the World Bank’s Global Financial Development
Database) and data on income inequality (e.g., from the World Income Inequality
Database, the University of Texas Inequality Project, World Wealth and Income
Database), discuss whether the above idea is empirically valid.
For your analysis, you should:
1. Choose a sample of at least 45
countries, composed of 10 OECD countries and the remainder of
developing/transition economies.
2. The analysis should be conducted using a
range of statistical methods, which may include a selection of descriptive
statistics (scatterplots, time series plots or other) and regression analysis.
Justify why you select them: what a given statistical procedures allows to
investigate and why it is useful in the context of this question.
4. Carefully interpret each bit of
empirical evidence you present. By which we mean you need to link your
findingsto the essay question. Your results need to be used to produce evidence
in support or against, or in some instances both (e.g., support for some
countries and against fro others), the arguments you present.
Notes: Essay question 2
1. We are not providing any sample period
here asthe student can decide about it. It is perfectly understandable if you
cannot cover all the 45 countries mentioned in the question because of the data
unavailability. Please don’t fret about it. The idea is to use as much
information on countries as possible based on the availability. The sample of
45 countries to be used is to give you a direction, and not steadfast solution
(on the condition that the data is unavailable).
2. Use the literature, and your learning
from Quantitative Methods courses, to identify the appropriate Methodology. If
you try to replicate the methodology used by other Authors, this should be
acknowledged by appropriately citing them. Use standard academic sources to
search for publications and also use your reading list to identify relevant
literature.
3.
Scatter plots: If you plan to use scatter plot, please read the relevant
section (scatter plot) under notes for Essay question 1.
Essay question 3
Dimensions of financial development (e.g.,
financial depth or access to finance) show large variations across countries.
Why? Empirically investigate the factors explaining why one economy may have
higher levels of financial development than others.
For your analysis, you should:
1. Use variables for financial sector
development (obtained from the World Bank’s Global Financial Development
Database or World Development Indicators).
2. The analysis should be conducted using a
selection ofstatistical methods, which may include descriptive statistics
(e.g., scatterplots, time series plots or other) and regression analysis.
3.
Carefully interpret each bit of empirical evidence you present. By which we
mean you need to link your findingsto the essay question. Your results need to
be used to produce evidence in support or against, or in some instances both
(e.g., support for some countries and against fro others), the arguments you
present.
Notes: Essay question 3
1. We are not providing any sample period
or the list of countries to study. Explain why you choose a certain country or
sample of countries.
2. Use the literature, and your learning
from Quantitative Methods courses, to identify the appropriate Methodology. If
you try to replicate the methodology used by other Authors, this should be
acknowledged by appropriately citing them. Use standard academic sources to
search for publications and also use your reading list to identify relevant
literature.
3. Scatter plots: If you plan to use a
scatter plot, please read the relevant heading (Scatter Plots) under notes
provided in Essay question 1.
Suggested essay structure:
Introduction A brief survey of the related
theoretical and empirical literature (hint: you should be keep this part very
focussed, otherwise you will have no space left for the empirical analysis and
interpretation of the results)
Description of the data and methodology
Analysis
Conclusion
Appendix
References
3 Sample Essays below in Attach Files
