Applied Economic Analysis

Aims of the course

Acquaintance of students with contemporary economic topics, so that they are able to:
– understand the functioning of the pension system, the effects of the pension reform and the public finance sustainability in Slovenia (current research and articles, new pension act);
– understand the functioning of the Eurosistem (overview, key interest rates of the ECB, formation of EURIBOR, common monetary policy of the ECB during the financial crisis);
– understand income inequality in Slovenia and in the wider region (current research and professional articles);
– understand intangible capital and innovations as drivers of growth in Slovenia and the EU (current research and international comparison);
– understand corporate income taxation in Slovenia (current research papers and articles);
– understand the global financial and economic crisis and its consequences (current professional papers and research).

Acquaintance of students with domestic and international statistical data, research resources and interactive tools, so that they are able to:
– obtain statistical data (publications and databases of the Statistical Office of the Republic of Slovenia, Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Slovenia, Eurostat, ECB, OECD, IMF, World Bank, United Nations);
– inquire about the availability of statistical micro data, their specificities and how to acquire them for research purposes (demonstration with cases, computer sessions);
– use business, micro and macro statistical data in conducting research work, and writing papers and theses (demonstration with cases, computer sessions);
– obtain research papers and working papers, their caveats and how to use them (papers of the Bank of Slovenia, IMAD, research institutes and universities, ECB, OECD, IMF, World Bank, United Nations);
– acquire scientific articles and monographs and use them properly (access to full-text databases of articles and books, resources for Economists on the Internet);
– use interactive tools for research purposes and infographics for presentations (list of interactive tools, working with infographics).

No specific methodological skills are needed, though this is extremely useful for applications of statistical data, research resources and interactive tools later on.

Course syllabus

1. Pension system
2. Public finance sustainability
3. European monetary system
4. Income inequality
5. Intangible capital and economic growth
6. Corporate income tax and investment

7. Statistical publications
8. Domestic statistical data bases
9. International statistical data bases
10. Usage of statistical microdata
11. Research papers and articles
12. Interactive tools and infographics

Course director(s)