MSc Economics
“What about the Dissertation?”
Department of Economics Mathematics and Statistics
Birkbeck University of London
Luca Andriani
PhD Candidate Economics
Key Information: Deadlines
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Proposal deadline 3rd May 2011
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After proposal
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Proposal can be modified only in exceptional cases (lack of
data, new data set or very innovative approach to the topic)
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Submission deadline 30th September 2011
Point of Contact (P.O.I)
Key Information: P.O.C and not only

Communication better before the end of June
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(July and August?)
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The student can ask material and suggestions to the P.O.C
(papers, useful links, data?)

The student can ask material and suggestions to other
members of the department including PhD students (papers,
useful links, data?)
From the Handbook

The dissertation is an INDEPENDENT work
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Set a question about a specific topic (Interesting question:
new way or/and new data)
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Good knowledge of the relevant literature
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Good understanding and application of techniques (only
critical survey is not enough!)
From the Handbook

Good presentation of the work

problems with the written English

no page numbers

abstract missing

the discussion is not focussed: a paragraph is often
followed by another that contradicts it
From the Handbook
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Good presentation of the work

spends too long on unit root testing (7 pages)

Repeat the same exercise three times and reports them
separately. These should have been aggregated into one
section
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Not enough literature review to be a good dissertation
From the Handbook

Data and analysis replication

examiners have to be able to replicate the exercises
developed in the dissertation

entire data set required

confidentiality issue
Choosing a Topic

Your interests

Employers’ interests

P.O.C interests

Data and research material
Your Interests

What did capture more your interests during the master
course?

What are you planning to learn?

Methodology

Software
Employers’ Interests

Dissertation on your CV

Interesting title

Skills and abilities acquired during the dissertation
(confidence in applying some econometric technique, ability
in data manipulation etc…)

Interesting topic to discuss during an interview
P.O.C Interests

Read the staff web page

Your topic might match the interests of one or more
members of the Department

Talk to several members of the Department (It is not rude!)
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PhD students might help as well (suggestions, hints etc…)

Dissertation is a good route into a PhD…
Data and Research Material

Birkbeck e-Library

JSTOR

ScienceDirect

Google Scholar

DO NOT OVER-READ!!!!!
General Structure of Dissertation
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Abstract
 Introduction
 Literature review
 Data summary and description
 Methodology and econometric technique
 Results of analysis
 Conclusions
Abstract
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Very difficult!!! In 100-200 words you have to explain:
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the importance of the question of the dissertation

the methodology and the data you have used

the results of the analysis
Abstract: “Social Norms and Community Enforcement”
Kandori 1991 (Game Theory)
Abstract: “Credit Cycles” Kiyotaki and Moore 1997 (Credit
Market Imperfections)
Introduction

IT IS NOT A LITERATURE REVIEW!!!!

Show that the paper is related to something interesting


Ex 1. Y matters: when Y rises or falls people are hurt or helped
Ex 2. Y is controversial: some argue one thing while other say another

Question: tell the reader what the paper actually does

Compare this paper with prior works and explain the
differences
Introduction

List two or three potential contributions of your work

Road map of your work: explain the structure of your paper

Section 2 introduces the formal model of public game
Section 3 shows regression results on the relationship between
corruption and decentralisation using country level data
Section 4…
Section 5 concludes the paper


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Literature Review

No chronological way!!!!
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Less than 50% of your entire paper
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Less than 50% of your efforts (try not to focus most of your
work on reading papers and summarise them)
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Classical papers are very welcome but do not forget most
recent papers as well!!
Data

Good and accurate descriptive analysis

Descriptive statistics might help to interpret the econometric results and
to develop final recommendations

Econometric analysis

Underline the results on line with the theoretical framework
BUT
Focus on original findings
It is not the Econometric project so do not spend 6-7 pages on
explaining the technical procedures adopted for unit root
Make tests and mention them but in a concise way

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
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Conclusions
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Not Just what you did!!

You should put in context of the literature you have
mentioned (literature review) the value added of your results
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Possible extension of your work in the future?
Keep in Mind!!!!

Dissertation is full of constraints (time, resources,
data, personal ability, learning process)

Start as soon as possible!

Data = topic (especially for empirical works)

Play with your data as soon as you can (problems are
behind the corner: incompatible series, unexpected
gaps etc… These problems cannot be solved the last
few days)
Keep in Mind!!!!

Make the P.O.C part of your academic life as soon as
you can

The P.O.C will not correct the draft of your dissertation
but he/she will provide useful suggestions

Use the papers as your template
Some Useful References

Hamermesh D “How to Publish in a Top Journal (I wish that
I knew!)”
https://webspace.utexas.edu/hamermes/www/HowtoPublish.pdf

Smith, W www.commoditymodels.com “How to choose a
Dissertation Topic”
http://www.ems.bbk.ac.uk/faculty/phdStudents/smith/presentations/dissert_f

“The Introduction Formula”
http://strategy.sauder.ubc.ca/head/brander.htm
Finally!
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Good Luck!!