[Master: Advanced Specialized III] Empirical Methods for Poverty and Inequality

course number

9.28901

semester

SoSe 2026

lecturer

description

This seminar introduces students to the empirical methods used to identify and evaluate causal effects in economics and development studies, followed by their application to the analysis of poverty and inequality. In the first part of the course, students are introduced to the fundamental concepts of causal inference and impact evaluation, including counterfactual reasoning, causality, randomization, and attribution. The course covers the main empirical strategies used in applied research, such as Randomized Control Trials, Instrumental Variables, Difference-in-Differences, and Regression Discontinuity Designs. Students also learn about key sampling methods and the assumptions underlying each evaluation approach.
In the second part of the course, these methods are applied to the study of poverty and inequality, with a particular focus on low- and middle-income countries. Students examine the measurement of poverty and inequality, their relationship with economic growth, gender inequality, and economic mobility.
Learning objectives: The students will become acquainted with topics related to poverty alleviation and inequality measurements. They will also learn how to synthesize, interpret regression tables, critically review, and discuss peer-reviewed papers in the field. In addition, students will improve their presentation and academic writing skills and will learn how to handle feedback and questions from their peers in class.
The lecturer is: Dr. Viviana Urueña Moyano

additional information

location: 22/104: Thursday, 21.05.2026 16:15 - 19:30, Friday, 22.05.2026 09:15 - 10:45, Friday, 22.05.2026 15:15 - 18:30, Saturday, 23.05.2026 10:15 - 13:30, Thursday, 28.05.2026 16:15 - 19:30, Friday, 29.05.2026 09:15 - 10:45, Friday, 29.05.2026 15:15 - 18:30, 02/E05: Saturday, 30.05.2026 10:15 - 13:30
times: Dates on Thursday, 21.05.2026 16:15 - 19:30, Friday, 22.05.2026 09:15 - 10:45, Friday, 22.05.2026 15:15 - 18:30, Saturday, 23.05.2026 10:15 - 13:30, Thursday, 28.05.2026 16:15 - 19:30, Friday, 29.05.2026 09:15 - 10:45, Friday, 29.05.2026 15:15 - 18:30, Saturday, 30.05.2026 10:15 - 13:30, Room: 22/104, 02/E05
first term: Thursday, 21.05.2026 16:15 - 19:30, Room: 22/104
course type: seminar

fields of study

• Wirtschaftswissenschaften > M.Sc. Betriebswirtschaftslehre (Akkreditierung 2022) > Seminare
• Wirtschaftswissenschaften > M.Sc. Betriebswirtschaftslehre (Akkreditierung 2022) > Volkswirtschaftslehre und Methoden
• Wirtschaftswissenschaften > M.Sc. Economics (Accreditation 2022) > Volkswirtschaftslehre und Methoden (Economics and Methods) > Seminare (seminars)
• Wirtschaftswissenschaften > Courses in English
• Wirtschaftswissenschaften > M.Sc. Economics (Accreditation 2022) > Schwerpunkte (Specializations) > Empirical Economics
• Wirtschaftswissenschaften > M.Sc. Economics (Accreditation 2022) > Schwerpunkte (Specializations) > Sustainability, Behavior and Environmental Policy
• Business Administration and Economics

modules

• Master of Science Betriebswirtschaftslehre > WIWI-08301 - Advanced Specialized Seminar III - Empirical Methods for Poverty and Inequality
• Master of Science Economics > WIWI-08301 - Advanced Specialized Seminar III - Empirical Methods for Poverty and Inequality