MASTER OF SCIENCE IN QUANTITATIVE ECONOMICS (MS(QE))
Three-year Bachelor's degree with Economics and Mathematics
as full subjects. Holders of the B.Stat. degree of the Institute are eligible
only if they have taken all the four elective papers in Economics
in the B.Stat. course. The details of admission
are available in the prospectus.
2. STIPENDS AND OTHER FINANCIAL SUPPORTS:
The students admitted to this course will be given initially
a stipend at par with that of M.Stat. students which is at present
Rs.800/- only per month and an annual
contingency grant of Rs.1250/- only. Students should
be warned at the end of each semester if
the performance is unsatisfactory and in which case his/her
stipend may be withdrawn fully or partially.
If the stipend of a student is withdrawn fully
or partially at the beginning of any
particular semester, but his/her academic
performance in that semester turns out to be good then
the full amount of the stipend for that semester
may be restored with retrospective effect. A student
will deserve this provided the requirements for
continuation of the programme are satisfied and the course
composite score in that semester is at least 60% and no more than one composite
score in that semester is less than 45%. Stipend should be
given after the end of each month for eleven months
in each academic year.
3. METHOD OF EXAMINATION AND AWARD OF DEGREE:
For each course there should be
periodical and semestral examinations; the
scores in these would be combined in suitable ratios
to be decided by the teachers' committee
to obtain a composite score in the course. A student will be
allowed to take a semestral examination if he/she attends
at least 75% of all classes in the semester and
his/her character and conduct are satisfactory.
A student would be declared to have passed
the first/second year of the course if he/she
a) does not obtain a composite score of less than 25%
in any course,
b) does not obtain a composite score of less than 45% in
more than three courses, and
c) secures at least 45 in an overall percentage of
composite scores in the course.
If the composite score of a student falls short of 45% in a course, the student may take a back paper examination. At most four back paper examinations will be allowed in a year for each student. Maximum possible score in the back paper examination is 45. Only one back paper is allowed in each course. A maximum of 6 back paper examinations will be allowed in two years. If a student fails to appear in periodical/semestral examinations due to illness or extreme family emergency, and this is promptly reported to the Dean of Studies in writing, the teachers' committee, at its discretion, may allow the student to take supplementary examinations.
If the student fails in the first year examinations, even
after appearing for supplementary/back paper examinations referred to in
the preceding paragraph, then he/she has
to discontinue the course. However, if he/she fails in the
second year examinations even after supplementary/back
paper examinations, then at the discretion of the
teachers' committee, he/she may be allowed to repeat
the second year of the course without stipend. If a student fails to meet
the attendance requirements due to illness
or extreme family emergency, which is promptly reported to the
Dean of Studies in writing, the teachers' committee, at its discretion,
may waive the attendance requirements. A student who successfully completes
the first and the second year of the course will be declared
to have passed the M.S. in Quantitative
Economics degree examination and placed in the
i) First Class with Distinction if he/she secures
an overall average percentage score of at least 75 in the twenty
courses,
ii) First Class if the student secures
an overall average percentage score of at least 60 but
less than 75 in the
twenty courses,
iii) Second Class if the student fails to secure First Class with Distinction
or First Class.
A student passing the M.S.(Q.E) degree examination will be given a certificate of M.S.(Q.E) degree and a marks sheet mentioning
i) the twenty courses taken and the composite percentage score in each course, and
ii) the class in which the student is placed.
The programme comprises fourteen compulsory courses (including a dissertation) and six optional courses distributed as follows :
(a) five compulsory courses each in semesters I
and II (first year), two in semester
III and one in semester IV (second year);
(b) six optional courses and the dissertation in semesters III and
IV (second year).
The student will have to opt for one of
the following three packages in the second year.
Package (i) : three optional courses in
each of semesters III and IV and a dissertation in semester
III;
Package (ii) : three optional courses in each
of semesters III and IV and a dissertation in semester IV;
Package (iii) : two optional courses
and a dissertation in semester III and four
optional courses in semester IV.
Semester I of the course will be taught in Delhi, semesters II and III
will be taught in Kolkata and semester IV will be taught both in Delhi
and Bangalore. However, any particular student will have to take
the course for semester IV either in Delhi or in Bangalore depending upon
his optional subjects. The semesterwise distribution of compulsory courses
apart from the
Dissertation is given below :
Semester I :
(a) Microeconomic Theory I,
(b) Macroeconomic Theory I,
(c) Statistics I (for
students without statistics background)
or
Advanced Mathematics (for
students with statistics background),
(d) Economic Development
I,
(e) Mathematical Methods
in Economics
or
Optimisation
Techniques (for students with mathematical
background).
Semester II :
(a) Microeconomic Theory
II,
(b) Macroeconomic Theory II,
(c) Statistics II (for
students without statistics background)
or
Advanced Statistics
(for students with statistics background),
(d) Statistics
III, Computer Programming and Applications
(for students without computer
programming
background)
or
Advanced
Computer Programming (for students with computer
programming background),
(e) Econometric Methods I.
Semester III :
(a) Econometric Applications
I
(b) Planning Techniques.
Semester IV :
The optional courses are to be chosen from the following list :
1. Econometric Methods II
2. Econometric Applications
II
3. Time Series Analysis and
Forecasting
4. Sample Survey : Theory
and Practice
5. Bayesian Econometrics
6. Intertemporal Economics
7. Game Theory and Economic Analysis
8. Theory of Planning
9. Industrial Organization
10. Social Accounting
11. Agricultural Economics
12. Public Economics
13. Regional Planning
14. International Economics I
15. International Economics II
16. Mathematical
Programming with Applications to Economics
17. Monetary Economics
18. History of Economic Thought.
19. Macro Dynamics.
20. Social Choice and Political
Economy.
21. Incentives and Organization.
22. Privatization and Regulations.
23. Environmental and Resource
Economics.
24. Theory of Finance I.
25. Theory of Finance II.
26. Political Economy
and Comparative System.
The list of optional courses may be revised from time to time and the courses to be actually offered announced at appropriate time.
A student is required to submit a dissertation paper on a topic assigned/approved by the teachers' committee and prepared under the supervision of a faculty member. The work should be started at the beginning of the third semester by the students taking package (i) of the course and the fourth semester by other students and be completed along with the courses of the respective semesters. The dissertation should be submitted within two weeks of completion of all examination for the courses in the semester. The work for the dissertation should relate to some important problem in an area of Economics, conometrics, Quantitative Economics or related topics and would be graded as one full course in a semester. The dissertation will be evaluated by the supervisor and a copy of it, along with the grade/score awarded by the supervisor, be submitted to the Dean of studies sufficiently prior to the meeting of teachers' committee for finalising the result.
The Compulsory Courses would be as follows :
1. Microeconomic Theory I
2. Macroeconomic Theory I
3(a). Statistics I, or
3(b). Advanced Mathematics (for students with
a statistics background)
4. Economic Development I
5(a). Mathematical Methods in Economics, or
5(b). Optimization Techniques
6. Microeconomic Theory II
7. Macroeconomic Theory II
8(a). Statistics II, or
8(b). Advanced Statistics (for students with
a statistics background)
9(a). Statistics
III, Computer Programming and Applications, or
9(b). Advanced Computer Programming (for students
with a computerprogramming background)
10. Econometric Methods I
11. Econometric Applications I
12. Planning Techniques and
Plan Models
13. Economic Development
II
14. Dissertation
The Optional Courses would be as follows:
1. Econometric Methods II
2. Econometric Applications II
3. Time Series Analysis and Forecasting
4. Sample Survey: Theory and Practice
5. Bayesian Econometrics
6. Intertemporal Economics
7. Game Theory and Economic Analysis
8. Theory of Planning
9. Industrial Organization
10. Social Accounting
11. Agricultural Economics
12. Public Economics
13. Regional Planning
14. International Economics I
15. International Economics II
16. Mathematical
Programming with Applications to Economics
17. Monetary Economics
18. History of Economic Thought
19. Macrodynamics
20. Social Choice and Political
Economy
21. Incentives and Organizations
22. Privatisation and Regulations
23. Environmental and Resource
Economics
24. Theory of Finance I
25. Theory of Finance II
26. Political Economy
and Comparative Systems
(A) SYLLABI FOR COMPULSORY COURSES:
Compulsory Course 1: Microeconomic Theory
1. Theory of consumer Behaviour under Certainty, Preference
orderings, utility functions, budget sets,
demand
theory, duality theory. Theory of revealed
preference. Aggregation of individual demand curves.
Applications.
2. Theory of the Firm Production sets, cost minimization,
profit maximization, supply curves. Duality theory, Aggregation
of
individual supply curves, theory
of monopoly, Applications.
3. Demand-Supply Equilibrium in a Single Market Equilibrium
in a single market. Stability
: Walrasian, Marshallian,
and cobweb models, Methods of
comparative statics, Applications to capital an labour markets.
4. Decision-Making under Uncertainty Preference over
lotteries. Von Neumann-Morgenstern
utility functions. Risk
aversion and measures thereof. Partial
orderings of risky projects. Applications.
5. Market Structure with Imperfect Competition Monopolistic Competitions.
Oligopoly Theory.
Compulsory Course 2: Macroeconomic Theory I
1. Review of National Income and Product Accounts.
2. Keynesian Macroeconomics: effective demand and the multiplier
- IS-LM model - aggregate demand and
supply curves - simple macroeconomics of the open economy.
3. Structuralist Macroeconomics : Structural rigidities in a
less developed economy- demand, supply and credit constraints.
4. The Supply of Money: monetary and financial institutions.
5. Introduction to Growth Theory.
Compulsory Course 3(a): Statistics I
1. Type of investigation and collection of data : Complete enumeration,
sample survey, controlled experiments,
observational studies, retrospective and prospective
studies.
2. Types of observations : Classification and tabulation of univariate
data. Summarisation of univariate data-Histogram, mean,
variance, skewness, kurtosis, ogive,
percentiles, Interpretation.
3. Notions of statistical inference:
(a) Estimation of population mean
- Use of random sampling, simulation study.
(b) Randomized allocation - Valid comparisons-simulation
study.
(c) Elementary concepts of design of experiments
- Local control, randomization and replication - through examples
and
simulation.
4. Probability Theory: Sample space, events. combinatorics.
classical and axiomatic definition of probability;simple
consequences. Equally likely probability model.
Conditional probability and independence. Bayes'
formula.
Random variables, distribution
function, discrete random variables, Binomial,
Poisson, Geometric, Negative Binomial, Hypergeometric
- illustration through data, genesis. Poisson
approximation to Binomial. Continuous
random variables - introduction, illustration
by simulation, Uniform, Normal, Exponential,
Beta, Gamma, Logistic, Pareto,
Lognormal - illustration trough data, genesis.
Normal approximation to Binomial. Distribution
of function of a random variable. Expectation
- definition, mean, variance and moments in general. Illustration.
5. Bivariate data : Discrete and continuous type. Scatter diagram.
Bivariate frequency distribution-arrays and marginals. Correlation -
computation and interpretation. Linear regression
- regression effect, least-squares
computation, residuals, RMS errors for regression and
its use, outliers, (graphically), check on
linearity and homoscedasticity (graphically) Curvilinear regression,
correlation ratio, intraclass correlation, Rank Correlation.
Association of attributes.
6. Bivariate probability distribution : Marginal and conditional.
Conditional expectation. Regression, Correlation. Bivariate
normal distribution.
Compulsory Course 3(b): Advanced Mathematics : Real Analysis
1. Elements of point-set topology in Rn : Open sets in Rn,
structure of open sets in Rn,
closed sets,
Accumulation points, Bolzano-Weierstrass
Theorem, Cantor inter-section theorem, Lindelof
covering theorem. Heine-Borel Theorem, Compactness in Rn.
Metric space, point-sot topology in metric space, Boundary
of a set.
2. Limits and continuity in metric space: Convergent sequences
in a metric space. Cauchy sequence. Complete metric spaces, Limit
of a function. Continuous function, Continuity and inverse images
of open and closed sets, Functions continuous
on compact sets, Topological mappings. Bolzano's theorem, connectedness.
3. Discontinuities of real-valued functions: Monotonic functions.
Functions of bounded variation. Total variation.
Compulsory Course 4: Economic Development I
1. Introduction
2. Technological Dualism
3. Financial Dualism
4. Contractual Relations in Agriculture:
5. Industrial Development
6. Growth. Distribution and Employment
7. Inequality and Poverty
8. International Economy and Economic Development
Compulsory Course 5(a): Mathematical Methods in Economics
A. Linear Algebra
Vector in Rn. Simple operations. Vector spaces in Rn. Spanning set. Linear dependence and independence. Basis and finite-dimensional vector space, Dimension of finite-dimensional vector space. Extension of a linear independent set to a basis, subspace and its dimension. Norm and inner product. Orthogonality. GramSchmidt process. Orthogonal basis. Projection of a vector on a sub-space. Matrix. Row-space and column-space. Nullity. Rank. Singular and nonsingular matrices. Inversion of a matrix. Idempotent Matrix. Orthogonal Projection. Numerical solution. Linear equations: homogeneous and non-homogeneous.
B. Advanced Calculus: Functions of Several Variables
1. Sequences and convergence. Closed and open sets. Limit points.
2. Functions of several independent variables. Geometry.
3. Continuity
4. Partial derivatives; change in the order of differentiation.
5. Differential and its geometric meaning.
6. Mean-Value Theorem and Taylor's Theorem.
7. Integrals of a function depending on a parameter continuity and
differentiability. Interchange of Integrals.
C. OPTIMIZATION
Lagrange method of multiplies. Maxima and Minima of several variables. Elements of linear programming.
Compulsory Course 5(b): Optimization Techniques.
1. Convex sets; Separation theorems for convex sets.
2. Lagrange method of multipliers. Maxima and minima of functions
of several variables.
3. Elements of linear programming. Convex programming.
Dynamic programming. Applications.
4. Partial derivatives; change in the order of differentiation.
5. Differential and its geometric meaning.
6. Mean-value theorem and Taylor's Theorem.
7. Integrals of a function depending on a parameter-
continuity and differentiability. Interchange of integrals.
Compulsory Course 6: Microeconomic Theory II
1. Equilibrium with Many Commodities and Agents Equilibrium of exchange
: the working of the model; relatedness of
goods; complementality and
substitutability-stability on comparative statics vs dynamic stability
and the correspondence
principle.
Equilibrium with production : relatedness of goods and
factors; stability and comparative statistics with production.
Process of factors and goods in general equilibrium under constant
returns to scale : the non-substitution theorem and the
factor price equalization theorem: the production frontier.
2. Existence of a General Equilibrium Pure exchange model. The model
with production.
3. General Equilibrium and Welfare. Welfare functions. Social choice
and aggregation of individual objectives. The Pareto
ranking and the fundamental theorem of
welfare economics. Theory of the core of
an economy. Market failures.
4. General Equilibrium with Public Goods External effects. Collective
consumption. Lindahl equilibrium.
5. Introduction to non-Walrasian Equilibrium Dreze equilibrium.
Benassy equilibrium. Malinvaud-Yonnes
equilibrium. Equivalences between the
different types of non-Walrasian equilibria.
Efficiency of non-Walrasian equilibrium.
Compulsory Course 7: Macroeconomic Theory II
1. Microeconomic foundations of Macroeconomics - contributions of
the disequilibrium theorists :
The Hicks Patinkin theory: full employment
and involuntary unemployment in Patinkin'smodel. Clower's critique
of the Hicks- Patinkin theory: notional
demand, effective demand and non-Walrasian
equilibrium - Classical and Keynesian unemployment in a non-Walrasian
framework. Asymmetric price flexibility and effectiveness
of employment policies. Role of money
in the disequilibrium framework.
2. Microeconomic foundations of macroeconomics - contributions
of the non classical school. The basic market clearing model,
Money, inflation and interest rates in the market clearing
model. The labour market, investment and
economic growth. Government behaviour - taxes,
transfers and the public debt, Money
and business fluctuations - the market clearing model with incomplete
information. rational expectation and the
new approach to stabilization policy.
3. Special Topics Overlapping generations model and money, contract
theory of price rigidity and unemployment, theory of government
policy, recent developments in the analysis
of the problem of balance of payments,
inflation and unemployment.
Compulsory Course 8(a): Statistics II
1. Multivariate data: Covariance matrix. Multiple
linear regression. partial correlation. Multiple
correlation.
2. Multivariate distributions : Continuous and discrete conditional
and marginal. Independence, Expectation and conditional
expectation, Moments, Regressions. Partial and
multiple correlations. Multivariate
normal distribution - description and properties.
Joint probability distribution of random variables. Order
Statistics. Chebyshev's inequality, WLLN,CLT.
3. Random sampling : Techniques of drawing random sampling;
Theory and methods of stratified sampling,
systematic sampling, varying probability sampling,
multistage sampling and ratio estimation
methods; related sampling distribution by simulation.
4. Point Estimation Finite population : Estimation of mean and
proportion. Standard error. Estimation of
parameters in standard univariate distribution.
Statistic, estimator, MSE, uniasedness, consistency, Sufficiency.
Method of moments, LSE,
MLE, Computations. Illustrations, Comparison of estimators,
Cramer-Rao inequality.
5. Interval Estimation : Introduction. Illustrations with standard
distribution. Criteria for goodness - Simulation.
Confidence interval for median. Large-sample approximation.
Compulsory Course 8(b): Advanced Statistics
Time-series Analysis: Discrete-parameter
stochastic processes; strong and week stationarity; autocovariance
and
autocorrelation. Moving average (MA), autoregressive (AR),
autoregressive moving average (ARMA) and
autoregressive
integrated moving average(ARIMA) processes.
Box-Jenkins models. Estimation of the parameters
in ARIMA models;
forecasting. Residuals and diagnostic checking.
Use of computer packages. Spectral analysis of
weakly stationary
processes. Periodogram and correlogram
analysis; fast Fourier transforms
Compulsory Course 9(a): Statistics III, Computer Programming and Applications
Computer Programming - (First half of the semester)
1. Computer Organisation : Hardware : Memory; control unit; arithmetic
logic unit; input and output devices; number system; internal representation
of numbers and characters; machine language.
Software : Higher level language: compiler;
assembler; operating system; editor.
2. Programming in a high level language (FORTRAN/C etc.) : Flow charts:
constants and variables; arithmetic operators; string
operators; logical operators; relational operators; arithmetic and
logical expressions,; input and
output statements, type
specification and storage location allocation control statements;
subprogramme, files.
3. Numerical/Statistical applications, random number generation
4. Numerical/Econometric/Statistical packages :
Statistics III (second half of the semester)
1. Tests of Statistical Hypotheses: Statistical Hypotheses, Type I and
Type II errors, level and size, p-value, randomized test,
power. Illustration with binomial distribution.
Sign test.
Normal distribution - one-population and two-population problems.
One way classified data. F-Test. Unbiasedness.
Computation of Power. Distribution of X-bar and S2.
Tests for correlation. Tests for regression coefficients. Tests for parameters
in N2.
2. Large-sample tests for means, proportions etc. Chi-Square
test of goodness of fit. Test of homogeneity. Test for independence.
Compulsory Course 9(b): Advanced Computer Programming
1. Programming in PASCAL/C Concept of data, program heading,
label declaration, constant definition, type definition, variable
declaration, procedure and function declaration. Assignment
statement, compound statement, repetitive statement,
conditional statement, unconditional jump statement, Data types
- scaler and subrange, structured types - array, record, set
file. pointer.
2. Procedures and function : Input and Output Statements.
3. Data structures : (The course will consist of 5 hours on the terminal
per week and 50 lecture hours)
Compulsory Course 10: Econometric Theory I
1. Estimation of parameters of multivariate normal
distribution and principal components analysis.
2(a) The Nature of Econometrics.
2(b) Review of classical Least Squares Regression Analysis:
point and interval estimation and tests of
hypotheses involving regression coefficients; R2
and adjusted R2 ; prediction : non-linear
relationships; Use of dummy variables;
multicollinearity - consequences and use of
extraneous information; specification errors : ML estimation
and asymptotic results.
2(c) Generalized LS Theory:
Detection and handling of heteroscedasticity
(Glesjer test and Goldfeld-Quandt test) and autocorrelation
of disturbances (AR(1), error process only): DW statistic
and Von Neuman ratio (BLUS and recursive residuals ) ; properties
of OLS estimators under non-spherical disturbances;
prediction.
2(d) Stochastic Regressors; (i) case where X and epsilon are
fully independent; (ii)case where X and epsilon are contemporaneously
uncorrelated; uses of lagged independent variables; distributed
lags; use of lagged dependent
variables with/without autocorrelated disturbances; time
series methods; (iii) case where X and epsilon are contemporaneously correlated:
(a) The errors in variables problems, IV estimation and grouping
methods; (b) The problem of simultaneous equation systems -
structural and reduced forms. Least squares bias, the problem of
identification, rank and
order conditions for identifiability, use of
restrictions on variances and covariances of disturbances; indirect
least squares,
recursive systems and OLS, two-stage LS, K-class estimators.
IV estimation, LIML/Least Variance Ratio estimation. Three-stage
LS and FIML methods. Comparative merits of different
estimators - asymptotic results, Monte Carlo studies. Prediction
from estimated structural models.
Compulsory Course 11: Econometric Applications I
1. Analysis of Income and Allied
Size Distributions Pareto distribution, graphical test and
fitting, universality of Pareto's
Law. Lognormal distribution-properties, graphical
test and fitting, law of proportionate effect. Income inequality
- notion
of economic inequality, Lorenz curve, Lorenz
ratio and their properties, other common measures of inequality;
poverty - concept and measurement.
2. Demand Analysis Demand function and elasticities
of demand; Engel curve specification
and estimation from budget data, treatment
of demographic factors in Engel curve analysis. Demand
function - specification and estimation from time-series data, methodological
problems in estimation, dynamic factors in the analysis of demand
for a single commodity.
3. Production Analysis: Production function - theoretical
properties, elasticity of substitution: problems of estimation
of a production function; Cobb-Douglas production
function - methods and problems of
estimation.
Compulsory Course 12: Planning Techniques and Plan models
1. Introduction Concept of economic planning, planning techniques and
plan models.
2. Linear Programming (LP) (i) Examples of LP problems; dual problems;
some duality theorems. (ii) A review of relevant results
in linear algebra, Simplex method and related theoretical
results. Exercises, (iii) Use of LP model to solve resource allocation
problem-decentralized planning, an outline of the Dantzig Wolfe
algorithm as a decentralized planning technique.
3. Input-Output (IO) Analysis :(i) The Structure, (ii) The problem
of viability, (iii) Uses of I/O model, (iv) Extensions
of I/O
models - (a) Introduction of primary factors
and feasibility approach, (b) Leontief model, (c) Introduction of
joint products in an activity and also alternative activities
for producing a given good.
4. Cost-Benefit Analysis(CBA) (i) Objectives of CBA : (ii) Identification
and measurement of costs and benefits ,
(iii) Rate of interest for CBA; time
preference for individual and for society: methods of discounting. Exercises
on CBA.
5. Plan Models (i) Methodology of plan models. (ii) Macroeconomic
growth models and their uses in planning: (a) the Harrod-Domar model
-investment and growth; (b) investment capacity "the Feldman
- Mahalanobis model.(iii) Multi-sector models: (a) general
structure of such models, (b) selected multisector planning
models.
Compulsory Course 13: Economic Development II (Indian Economics)
A. MACROISSUES
1. Development of the Indian Economy - an Overview
2. Unemployment, Urbanisation and Industrialization
3. Constraints on Growth
4. Level of Living and Poverty
5. Planning in a Mixed Economy
6. Economic Policies
7. Resource Mobilization
8. Balance of Payments
9. Monetary Policy
B. MICROISSUES
1. Agricultural Development
2. Industrial Development
3. Regional Disparities and Urbanization
Compulsory Course 14: Dissertation
(B) SYLLABI FOR OPTIONAL COURSES:
Optional Course 1: Econometric Methods II
1. Inference in Linear Regression Model
with Non-spherical Disturbances; Detection of
Presence of herteroscedasticity in disturbances - Breusch Pagan
- test. Ramsey's test, Szroeter's class of
tests, White's test; estimation under alternatives
specifications of heteroscedasticity: detection of presence
of serial correlation in disturbances - Breush - Godfrey
test and gereralization of the Durbin-Watson test: estimation
of models with MA(1) and ARMA(1,1) error processes.
2. Qualitative and Limited Dependent
Variable Models; Linear probability model; probit and
logit analysis; censored and truncated models;
Heckman's and Amemiya's approaches
to estimation of such models.
3. Specification Analysis: Types of misspecification
and their consequences: Criteria for selection of a set of regressors
R2 and adjusted R2, Mallow's Cp Criterion,
Amemiya's prediction criterion, Akaike's information criterion
and Sawa's information criterion;non-linearity,
transformation of variables and related econometric problems, estimation
of models with Box-Cox transformation of
variables, Hausman's general test of misspecification; tests
for non-nested models.
4. Analysis of Panel Data: Alternative model specifications - models
with varying intercepts and constant slope coefficient,
dummy variable model and the error components model, the SUR models; and
Swamy's random coefficient model; stimation of
these models; Hildreth-Houck random coefficient
models switching regression model and adaptive regression model.
5. Decision Theoretic and Other Types of Inferences
in Linear Models: Alternative approaches to inference;
decision-theoretic estimators; models with prior information
- pretest estimator, James-Stein estimation ridge
and adaptive ridge estimators; Boot-strap
and Jacknife - resampling procedures
and their applications in regression analysis.
6. Inferences in Nonlinear Statistical Models Introduction: estimation
methods. computational methods - gradient methods, method of steepest descent;
Newton-Raphson methods etc.
7. Introduction to Bayesian Econometrics Bayes' Theorem,
prior probability density functions.
point estimates of parameters, Bayesian intervals for parameters,
point prediction, some large sample properties of Bayesian
posterior
probability density functions.
Optional Course 2: Econometric Applications II
1. Income and Allied Size Distributions Stochastic
models of income distribution- forms of income
distribution and their properties. Measurement
of economic inequality- positive and normative
measures of relative inequality, Aitkinson-Kohm-Sen
measure, significance of Lorenz curve in inequality comparison;
problems of measurement and comparison of
income inequality; Indian studies on income distribution,
inequality and absolute poverty.
2. Demand Analysis Theoretical frame for demand analysis based
on complete demand systems: alternative approaches
to specification of complete static demand system: models
of complete static demand systems and their properties - linear expenditure
system. Rotterdam models. models based on generalized
Gorman Polar form cost functions; method and
problems of estimation of complete static
demand system; dynamic demand models - sources of dynamism
in consumer
behaviour; alternative approaches to specification
of dynamic functions - Chow's model, Stone Rowe
model, state adjustment model, properties and estimation methods
for these models.
3. Production Analysis Review of production theory
with special reference to the alternative
approaches to representation of production technology and the
properties of a production function including
the elasticity of substitution: Cobb-Douglas production
function - properties, specification, problem
of identification and alternative estimation
techniques; constant elasticity of
substitution (CES) production function - properties and estimation techniques;
treatment of technical progress in
production analysis; aggregate production functions:
general problems of production analysis with particular reference
to the problems of choice of form, choice of variables, problem
of aggregation and measurement of variables and interpretation.
4. Application of Econometrics to Macro-economic
ProblemsMacro econometric models - econometric issues in the specification
and estimation: illustrative application; uses in
forecasting and policy evaluation.
Optional Course 3: Time Series Analysis and Forecasting
Time series as a realization of stochastic process. Stationarity
and strict stationarity. White noise, test
of randomness.
Estimation and elimination of trend and
seasonal components. Autocovariance function and their estimation.
AR, MA and ARMA processes their properties,
conditions for stationarity, invertibility, Autocovariance
function and partial
autocovariance function , ARIMA
processes. Identification, estimation and diagnostic checks;
order selection; Seasonal ARIMA processes. Prediction -Minimum
MSE forecasts, including standard errors. stepwise
autoregression. Exponential smoothing and its variants. Optimality
of exponential smoothing. Combination of forecasts.
Comparative merits of different techniques. Transfer function
models - construction and use. Asymptotic
properties of maximum likelihood and least squares
estimators. confidence intervals. Multivariate time series models.
Threshold models, Elements of spectral analysis - estimation and use. Use
of computer packages for time series analysis.
Optional Course 4: Sample Survey: Theory ad Practice
1. Introductions: Need of sample surveys. Sampling versus complete enumeration.
Merit of random sampling. Random sampling number. and their uses for random
sampling. pps selection by Lahiri's method and using map frames.
2. Sampling Techniques Simple random sampling with/without replacement
estimation with s.e.'s of population/domain
totals/means, proportions etc. stratified
srs allocation of sample size,
gain due to stratification, construction
of strata. linear and circular systematic
sampling. pps and pps systematic sampling.
Cluster sampling. Multi-stage sampling two-stage simple random
sampling, choice of sample sizes. Composite sampling
designs; self-weighting
designs:
interpenetrating sub-samples. Ratio estimators-bias.
use etc. Regression estimators, Double sampling: sampling
on successive occasions.
3. Planning and Conduct of Sample Surveys Statement of objectives:
choice of method of data collection; questionnaire
designing: choice of reference period and handling of seasonality;
choice of sampling frame and sampling design:
pilot surveys: cost and variance functions;
field work and supervision; data editing and processing.
4. Non-sampling Errors: Measurement and control: coverage errors; nonresponse
and response errors: Post-enumeration surveys and
reinterviews: external (record) checks; consistency
checks; use of interpenetrating samples etc.
5. Experience of Indian Surveys on Selected Topics
Optional Course 5: Bayesian Econometrics
1. Principles of Bayesian Analysis
2. The Simple Univariate Normal Linear Regression Model
3. Analysis of Single Equation Nonlinear Models
4. Multivariate Regression Models
5. Comparison and Testing of Hypothesis
6. Simultaneous Equations Econometric Models
Optional Course 6: Intertemporal Economics
1. A Model of Intertemporal Accumulation The General multisector
growth model, drawn from Von-Neumann.Malinvaud,
Feasible programmes, Properties of the set of feasible programmes.
2. Efficient Consumption Programs Characterizations of efficiency in
aggregative and multisectoral models, efficiency and present
value maximization.
3. Optional Consumption Programs Optimality criteria in
discounted and undiscounted models, Existence
of optimal programs.
4. Selected Topics Exhaust resources, Consistent
planning and dynamic games, Irreversible
investment, Overlapping generations models, Temporary equilibria.
Optional Course 7: Game Theory and Applications
1. Noncooperative Games Games in normal form. Nash equilibrium
and standard concepts, Applications of static games to
economics, Games in extensive form. A refinement
of Nash equilibrium: subgame perfection.Applications
of extensive games. Other refinements. Applications to economic
situations with incomplete information. Repeated games
and applications.
2. Cooperative Games Games in characteristic function form. Various
solution concepts: core, bargaining set, Shapley
value, etc. Application to economics.
Optional Course 8: Theory of Planning
1. Political Economy of the State, Alternative Viewpoints
2. Modelling Government Behaviour Rational choice models,
median voter model, legislatures and special interest
groups; bureaucracy models.
3. Planning Models Centralized planning: informationally
decentralized planning processes: Lange-Lerner, MDP procedures:
Team Theory.
4. Incentives within the Public Sector Performance Incentives for managers,
decentralized organisation of production, multidivisional firms,
cost centres and profit centres, cost allocation
transfer pricing, labour policies: Soviet and East European firms.
5. Cost-Benefit Analysis
6. Pricing Public Sector Outputs Marginal cost and
average cost pricing, peak load pricing,
priority pricing.
Optional Course 9: Industrial Organisation
1. Structure-Conduct Performance Paradigm
2. Static Oligopoly Models Homogeneous goods-Cournot and
Bertrand models: differentiated products - horizontal and vertical
differentiation: models with free entry contestable markets.
Cournot and price setting models with free entry.
3. Dynamic Oligopoly models Entry deterrence, limit pricing, attrition
and reputation models, collusion and cartels.
4. R & D and Adaption of Technology Private vs. social incentives
for R & D models of adoption.
diffusion and transfer of technology.
5. Mergers and Takeovers Firm size and vertical integration, corporate
finance.
6. Regulation of Monopolies Rate of return regulation,
regulation of firms with unknown costs/demands.
7. Multinational Firms
Optional Course 10: Social Accounting
1. The Economic Process and Various Concepts
2. System of Scocial/National Accounts
3. National Accounts and Various Estimates
4. 'Real' Gross Domestic Product/'real' National Income
5. Estimation of National Income in India
6. Preparation of an Input-output (IO) Table,
Optional Course 11: Agricultural Economics
Part I : Theory
1. Price and income elasticities of demand
for agricultural commodities, factors affecting
demand for agricultural
commodities with particular reference to developing economies.
2. Characteristics of the supply function
for agricultural commodities - output response in periods of
rising prices - lags
in adjustment and the cobweb model -price responsiveness of market
supply.
3. Agricultural price policies: aims of price policy -
types of price policy - theoretical analysis of
price support and its
applicability.
Part II Issues in Indian Agriculture
1. Growth & fluctuations in Indian agriculture since
independence.
2. Farm efficiency.
3. The New Agricultural Techonology.
4. Behabiour of marketed/marketable surplus of foodgrains.
5. Rural employment.
6. Relations of production.
Optional Course 12: Public Economics
1. Welfare Objectives of the State :
Interpersonal utility comparisons; incentives
and mechanism design; Gibbard
Satterthwaite theorem. Groves scheme for public goods.
2. Consumer Surplus & Deadweight Loss, Tax incidence. (Harberger)
3. Optimal Taxation and Public Production
4. Dynamics : incidence and efficiency analysis of taxes.
5. Tax Evasion
6. Imperfect Competition and Optimal Fiscal Policies.
7. Controlling Externalities: second-best theory
and optimal taxes.
8. Procurement Policies : incentive contracts and auction theory.
Optional Course 13: Regional Economics
1. Introduction to Regional Planning
2. Review of the Indian Situation
3. Concepts and Techniques Used in Regional Planning
4. Regional Decisionmaking and Regional Balances
5. Functioonal Spatial Configuration and Regional Synthesis
Optional Course 14: International Economics I
1. The Basic Exchange Model: Stability and comparative statics - immeserizing
growth, transfer problem.
2. Ricardian Trade Theory - comparative advantage with many goods
and many countries - neo-Ricardian trade theory.
3. Neo-classical Models of Trade - The
Heckscher - Ohlin - Samuelson model and the specific
factor model.
4. Theory of Commercial Policy - tariffs, taxes and quantitative
restrictions.
5. Imperfect Competition and International Trade
6. International Trade and Economic Development
Optional Course 15: International Economics II
1. Introduction to balance of payments
2. Different approaches to the problem of balance
of payments adjustments.
3. Exchange Rate Regimes - fixed exchange rate. flexible exchange
rate.
4. Forward Markets. spot markets and
the efficient market hypothesis of exchange rate determination.
5. Selected Topics - The Quershooting hypothesis, components
of the current account and the exchange
rate. international transmission of economic disturbances.
Optional Course 16: Mathematical
Programming with Applications to Economics
1. Static Problems Quadratic Programming - Wolfe's algorithm,
optimization problems with large variance in returns.
Nonlinear Programming Methods - Frank-Wolfe
method, gradient method, resource allocation problems.Stochastic
Linear programming
2. Dynamic Problems Calculus of Variations - Euler Equation, first
and second order conditions for fixed and end point
problems, free horizon and transversity condition. Optimal
Control Theory-The Ponntryagin Maximal
Principle,
applications to production planning, growth
and investment. Dynamic Programming- Principle
of optimality, application of optimal growth
problems, Stochastic Dynamic Programming
- Application to asset price, investment under uncertainty.
Optional Course 17: Monetary Economics
Transaction, Precautionary and speculative demands for money, Money in a overlappling generation model, General equilibrium Baumol-Tobin Model, Cash-in-advance model, Currency and Credit with long lived agents in overlapping generations, Monetary policy (non-)neutrality, Money, inflation and stability, Money vs. interest rate targetting.
Optional Course 18: History of Economic Thought
Part I. Overview of the Subject and Time-frame of Reference "Beginning"
of the subject in the concept of "circular flow"
-
idea of "social accounting"; the mercantilist background - common
and distinct analytical features of the
"reaction" against
mercantilism in Adam Smith and Quesnay ; theoretical structure
of classical economics - division of labour and exchange, wage, rent
and profit, the Ricardian system; Marx- the wider
perspective, surplus value; abandonment of classical framework of the
"turning point" in the history of economic thought - common
and distinct analytical features of the "reaction" against classical
economics in Jevons, Menger and Walras, the second generation marginalists,
birth of "welfare economics","perfect"
and "imperfect competition", "effective demand";
review of the theoretical structure of contemporary
economics - micro and macroeconomics; short vs long run;
economic theory and econometrics.
Part II. Major Thematic Developments Social Accounting: Physiocracy
- breaking through the "circular flow", the concept of
"product net", the physiocratic system as a whole; classical
economics - departures from physiocracy,
distinguishing the "physical" and the "value" approaches to
the problem, developments in each approach, the problem of "services" -
contribution of Mill and Senior; neoclassical
economics - subjectivist redefinition of the concept of production,
national
income accounting and related systems. Price formation: Classical (Smith)
- natural vs market price, the problem
of "rent"; neoclassical (Marshall) - "firm theory", market morphology
and the bench mark of "perfect competition", short vs long run and
fixed vs variable costs, further developments - doctrines of
imperfect competition; modern (Kalecki and others) - theories
of producer pricing.Macro Modelling : Quesnay
: Tableau Economique; Ricardo : Distribution
through time; Marx : Theories of crises;
Keynes, Kalecki and genesis and morphology of macro-models
of business cycles/ growth/ distribution/ development. Welfare Economics
: Origin and evolution of the concept
of "utility"; Marshall and the Cambridge tradition; Paretian welfare
economics; Social welfare function. General equilibrium : Walras; the problem
of " existence" and the development of mathematical
economics; tatonnement, non- tatonnement and the
problem of "stability"; feedback from "general equilibrium" to "macro modelling"
- multisector models of von Neuman, Leontief and
Sraffa. Developments in Money- Banking, Public Finance and
International Trade.
Optional Course 19: Macrodynamics
Traditional Growth Models : Bounds on long term
growth rates, technological progress and unbounded growth,
predictive contents of the models. The Convergence Question and The
Need for an Endogenous Theory of Growth : Early results on endogenous
growth - market failures, new growth theory models and alternatives
channels for endogenizing growth - technology (physical capital,
product innovation, human capital), population
growth (fertility), government policy.
Growth in an Open Economy.
Optional Course 20: Social Choice and Political Economy
1. Classical Aggregation Theory: Arrow's theorem, Harsanyi's
theorem, aggregation with rich informational
structures.
2. Classical Voting Theory : The Gibbard - Satterthwaite
theorem, results on restricted domains, the median voter
result, stochastic outcome functions. The Theory
of Implementation in Complete
and Incomplete Information Settings.
The Theory of Elections, Legislatures and Agenda Control.
3. The Theory of Interest Groups : Lobbying, bureaucracies, endogenous
coalition formation. Models of Corruption.
Optional Course 21: Incentives and Organizations
1. Theory of Incentives : Adverse selection, moral
hazard, multiple agents, contract dynamics.
2. Organization Theory : Team theory, message space size,
costly information processing models.
3. Incentive-based Approaches : Supervision, managerial slack, limited
commitment.
4. Applications to the Theory of the Firm : Decentralisation,
hierarchies, transfer pricing, managerial
compensation, cost allocation.
Optional Course 22: Privatization and Regulation
Regulation of competition; externalities and natural monopolies; vertical integration; mergers and takeovers; bureaucracies and corruption. Public Sector Performance in India and Other Developing Countries. Privatisation : Theory and experiences.
Optional Course 23: Environmental and Resource Economics
Externalities; model of resource depletion; exhaustible and renewable resources; irreversibility and uncertainty; common property; the charges and standard approach in environment regulation; direct control and taxes; contingent valuation and other approaches to non-market valuation.
Optional Course 24: Theory of Finance I
Preference Representation Under Uncertainty. Stochastic Dominance. Measures of Risk. Portfolio Frontier. Value aximisation and the Seperation Theorem. CAPM. Valuation of Security. Asymmetric Information and Efficiency.
Optional Course 25: Theory of Finance II
Modigliani-Miller Theorem. Agency Costs and Management. Debt vs Equity. Corporate Law and Governance.Takeovers, Mergers, Acquisitions and Their Disciplinary Impact on Opportunistic Behaviour. Value of Large vs Small Share Holders. Financial Institutions and the Market for Corporate Control.
Optional Course 26: Political Economy and Comparative System
1. Classical Political Economy : Crystallisation of the
concept of "social structure" in the concept
of "class"- class division and boundary of
production ("productive" vs "unproductive" class/labour)
in Quesnay and Smith, the systems of social accounting, policy
aspects - reaction against "mercantilism"; theoretical
structure of classical
political economy- value, distribution and accumualations,
the Ricardian system, the post Ricardian
scene : emergence of "socialist" doctrines.
2. Marxian Political Economy : The boarder perspectives
and view of history - "modes
of production" (feudalism, capitalism and socialism); the political
economy of capitalism - surplus value, theories of crises.
3. Further Developments in the Political Economy of Capitalism :
Developments within a "class" framework - Kalecki's
theory of effective demand and business cycles;
abandoning the "class" framework or the turning point in the
history of economic thought - birth of "welfare economics",
"competition" and "monopoly", Keynes' theory of effective demand
and its link up with the theory of growth.
4. Political Economy of Socialism : Doctrines and experiences.
5. Political Economy of LDCs : The intrinsic heterogeneity and amorphousness
of LDCs, the "goal" of development and role of "governments" -
the "mixed" economy, economic development in a historical perspective
- the concept of "dual economy", global perspectives.