Faculty of Economics

and Management

Course Descriptions - Summer term 2019

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List of Courses

at Bachelor’s Level

Lecture Field of Studies ECTS Type of Class Name

Competitive Intelligence Business Studies 6 Seminar Ralf Wagner

Corporate Finance Business Studies 6 Lecture Boris Lehnert Christian Klein

Demarketing concepts, waste avoidance Business Studies 6 Seminar Mohammed Salem

Ralf Wagner

Empirical Analysis of big data Methods 6 Seminar Vahidin Jeleskovic

Inequality, Poverty, and Public Policy

Economics 6 Lecture/ Exercise/ Seminar Christian Toft

International Communication - How to Communicate with the Consumer

Business Studies 6 Seminar Carmen Rodriguez Santos Ralf Wagner

International Human Resource Management Business Studies 6 Seminar Thomas Degener

Peter Eberl

International Marketing Business Studies 6 Seminar Reinhard Hünerberg Ralf Wagner

Introduction to Behavioral Economics Economics 6 Lecture Astrid Dannenberg

Introduction to Environmental Economics

Economics 6 Lecture Sven Christens Sonja Zitzelsberger

Introduction to Game Theory Economics 6 Lecture Björn Frank Elina Khachatryan

Microeconomics Using Calculus Economics 6 Lecture/Exercise Ivo Bischoff

Luzie Thiel Strategic Operations Management Business Studies 6 Lecture/ Seminar Erik Siems

Axel Zehendner

Sustainability Management ll Business Studies 6 Seminar Stefan Gold

List of Courses

at Master’s Level

Lecture Field of Studies ECTS Type of Class Name

Advanced Supply Chain Management Business Studies 6 Lecture/ Seminar Stefan Seuring

Behavioral Economic Milestones Economics 6 Lecture Björn Frank

Behavioural Economics & Business Ethics Business Studies 6 Seminar Michael Niekamp

Cross-Cultural Issues in Business Psychology Business Studies 6 Seminar Viktoria Gochmann

Sandra Ohly Cryptocurrencies, blockchain

technology and forecasting methods

Methods 6 Seminar Vahidin Jeleskovic

Digital Management Business Studies 6 Seminar Michelle Heber Sabrina Schneider

Economics of Entrepreneurship Economics 6 Lecture Guido Bünstorf

Maria Mavlikeeva Field Experiments in Economics Economics 6 Lecture Igor Asanov

Impact Evaluation in Environmental Economics Using Field Experiments

Economics 6 Seminar Martin Kesternich

Intermediate Public Economics Economics 6 Lecture/ Exercise Ivo Bischoff

Law and Economics/ Public Choice Law 3+3 Lecture/ Seminar

Georg von Wangenheim

Martina Deckert Leadership and Change Management Business Studies 6 Lecture Peter Eberl

Microeconometrics Methods 6 Lecture/ Exercise Gunnar Gutsche

Population Economics Economics 6 Lecture/ Seminar Holger Bonin

Quantitative Methods of Experimental Economics Economics 6 Seminar Christoph Büren

Björn Frank Research Methods for Business Methods 6 Lecture Stefan Gold

Stefan Seuring-Stella Research Seminar on Sustainability and Supply Chain Management

Business Studies 6 Seminar Philipp Sauer

Risk Management Business Studies 6 Lecture Christian Klein Boris Lehnert

Stress at Work Economics 3 Seminar Sandra Ohly Kathrin Reinke

Targeting Business Studies 6 Seminar Ralf Wagner

Tensions in Sustainability Management Business Studies 6 Seminar Annika Mies

Stefan Gold

Advanced Supply Chain Management

Seminar Business Studies

6 ECTS Type of

examination: t.b.a.

Stefan Seuring

Wed 08:00 - 12:00 h, weekly 24.04. – 17.07.2019

Content:

The course covers the topics of supply chain management in base-of-the-pyramid markets, supply chain management of minerals, measuring performance in (sustainable) supply chains, and accounting and accountability in supply chains.

Prerequisites:

The seminar requires a profound understanding in Supply Chain Management, so it is required that you completed the master class in Supply Chain Management already.

Behavioral Economics Milestones

Lecture Economics 6 ECTS Exam Björn Frank

Fri 12:00 – 16:00 h, weekly 19.04. – 19.07.2018

Content: Behavioral economics is a flourishing and influential field of research; it is impossible to cover it comprehensively in one single course. Hence, I focus on milestones, which might be either researchers (like Daniel Kahneman, Herbert Simon, Gary Becker or Thomas Schelling), tools for research (like the ultimatum game and cross-cultural experiments) or modelling approaches (like multiple selves).

Behavioural Economics & Business Ethics

Seminar Business Studies

6 ECTS Type of

Examination: Presentation

and term paper Michael Niekamp

Mon 12:00 - 16:00 h, weekly 29.04. – 15.07.2019

Content:

It is well known that people do have social preferences and act morally, but oftentimes also behave in quite immoral ways, either deliberately or subconsciously (see, e. g., Fehr & Schmidt, 1999; Bazerman & Tenbrunsel (2012). This raises the question of how (im)moral behavior in the business domain is generated, especially how human beings adapt to situational incentives (affordances and constraints) and how their personal moral principles are activated and used in actual situations. What’s more, ordinary people fairly often fail to do what they deem right or even deny and redefine their moral failures (see Ariely, 2012; Bazerman & Tenbrunsel, 2012).

We will address these issues from a behavioral economic perspective and shed some light on it’s potentials to analyse and solve some of the above problems in theory and practice.

Competitive Intelligence

Seminar Business Studies

6 ECTS Type of

Examination: written exam

Ralf Wagner

Mon 14:00 - 18:00 h, weekly 22.04. – 15.07.2019

Content:

The course starts by emphasizing the importance of information in marketing management. It covers the theory of information collection behavior – covering topics like selective perception, weak signals. The course goes on to introduce students to various topics and methods in information collection and processing that firms and scientists in the field of marketing research can use (coding and text mining, monitoring of pre-specified topics; choice of sources: information foraging, text classification, and visualization, classic procedures (SWOT, etc.), competitor analysis in the WWW, social engineering, econometric models, stochastic models, multilayer perceptron, implementation of CI processes, control and management of activities).

Corporate Finance

Lecture Business Studies

6 ECTS Type of

Examination: written exam

Boris Lehnert Christian Klein

Tue 14:00 - 18:00 h, weekly 23.04. – 16.07.2019

This module is an introduction to the principles of corporate finance. The aim of the module is to provide the students with knowledge regarding the main sources of corporate financing, give them the ability to apply key techniques for evaluating corporate investment decisions and facilitate an understanding for corporate dividend policy.

Following contents will be discussed in this course:

1. Introduction to Corporate Finance: a. Types of Business Entities b. Introduction to Financial Statement Analysis

2. Basic Tools in Corporate Finance: a. The time value of Money b. Interest rates

3. Valuation Tools in Corporate Finance: a. Capital Budgeting and its techniques b. Valuation of Stocks c. Valuation of Bonds

4. Risk and Return: a. Capital Markets and the pricing of risk b. Optimal portfolio and CAPM c. Estimating the Cost of Capital d. Investor Behaviour and Market Efficiency

5. Capital Budgeting and valuation with leverage 6. Valuation and Financial Modelling 7. Working capital management and short term financial planning 8. Financial Derivatives

a. Futures and Forwards b. Options and their valuation c. Hedging

Cross-Cultural Issues in Business Psychology

Seminar Economics 6 ECTS Presentation and booklet

Viktoria Gochmann Sandra Ohly

24.04.2019, 18:00 – 20:00 h (Kick-off) 22.07. – 26.07.19, 10:00 – 18:00 Block Course

Content:

This course is supposed to be fun! You should learn about cross-cultural differences and similarities, about its antecedents and its consequences. But at the same time you should teach and tell your experiences and examples from your travels or your home country. Thus this course is about communication and exchange. Consequently it’s absolutely required to be open-minded, to be willing to share and to be courageous to try out and experience. As a next step common grounds for global business will be presented and implications for negation processes deduced. This course will strive above many relevant topics to give you a feeling about “what matters” in cross-cultural interactions in work life… and maybe inspire you also further.

Participants will be drawn on the 31st of march, when necessary. For them participation as guaranteed! But feel free to come to the first session and try to get in.

IMPORTANT: There will be a first meeting on the 24th of april. This meeting is obligatory!

Cryptocurrencies, blockchain technology and forecasting methods

Seminar Methods 6 ECTS Presentation

and term paper

Vahidin Jeleskovic

Tue 16:00 – 20:00 h, weekly 23.04. – 23.07.19

Content:

Recent developments in forecasting methods state that a better forecast can be achieved rather through the combination of different models than by the use of one individual model. Many theoretical and empirical studies have indeed shown that certain application of different combinations so-called “model-averaging” of individual models can dominate individual forecasts in many different areas of economics and finance. In one such model-averaging, each individual forecasting model is represented in the final forecast combination with certain weights which have to be estimated. Consequently, numerous methods have been proposed for the estimation of optimal weights in model-averaging that can be constant or varying with time. The goal of this course is to introduce students to the theory of optimal forecast combination and to allow students to become familiar with it. After that, a statistics-software (such as Matlab, R, GAUSS, STATA or EViews) will be introduced through a practical application of model-averaging so that students can carry out an empirical project on the basis of certain empirical data. In the empirical part of the course, the focus is placed on the forecasting variables from the real economy – that is mainly the GDP, financial market data (both monthly and daily data, as well as so-called intraday data) and interbank credit-market. In addition, the subprime crisis has shown that there are certain not-well-working mechanisms between the real economy (GDP) and financial market

which both may also be connected over interbank credit-market. Therefore a special focus in the context of optimal forecasts will be placed on the analysis and forecasts of the effects of mechanisms that connect real economy and financial market via interbank credit-market. Students have to choose a topic for the application of model-averaging and, most at the end of the first part of the course present their research topic. In this first presentation, students need to explain which is the variable of interest as well as the methods for the optimal forecast combination for this variable. Moreover, it should be clearly presented and show how this survey would be conducted and how to apply a certain software for these purposes. Last, students shell share their thoughts with others in a sense what may show concrete benefits for theoretical or empirical research to be expected from their empirical project. The end of the semester is then followed by the second part of the course to the extent of two days with the second part of the presentation in which finale results and outlook will be presented. Until the end of the semester, the final seminar work should be finished and submitted.

Demarketing Concepts, waste avoidance

Seminar Business Studies

6 ECTS Type of

examination: Exam

Mohammed Salem Ralf Wagner

Tue 18:00 – 22:00 h, weekly 23.04. – 11.06.19 Thu 18:00 – 22:00 h, weekly 25.04. – 03.06.19

Content:

Digital Management

Seminar Business Studies

6 ECTS Presentation

and term paper

Michelle Heber Sabrina Schneider

10.05.2019, 09:00 - 18:00 h (Kick-off) 24.05.2019, 09:00 - 18:00 h 28.06.2019, 09:00 - 18:00 h 12.07.2019, 09:00 - 18:00 h

Content:

The seminar offers the chance to analyse current challenges and opportunities that firms are facing in light of digitization and digital technologies such as blockchain, artificial intelligence, platforms or additive manufacturing. Both, state-of-the-art research and practical implications will be emphasized. A special focus of this year’s seminar lies on digital work.

Prerequisites:

No formal requirements. Prior participation in courses on technology management, innovation management/ business model recommended.

Registration:

Please note that there is a limited number of places for this course. Participation in this seminar requires an application by mail to m.heber@uni-kassel.de. Please list your full name, study program and year of study, and your matriculation id. No further documentation required. Deadline is April 25rd 2019!

Economics of Entrepreneurship

Lecture Economics 6 ECTS Exam Guido Bünstorf

Maria Mavlikeeva

Mon 14:00 - 18:00 h, weekly 29.04. – 15.07.2019

Content:

Entrepreneurship is a major driving force in dynamic economies and an important objective of policy makers worldwide. Following decades of virtual neglect of the topic, the last years have seen a surge of research on entrepreneurship in economics as well as related fields such as management, psychology and geography. This course will provide an introduction to the essential economic theories and empirical studies analyzing the phenomenon of entrepreneurship. The course agenda covers a broad range of topics including determinants of new venture creation, the financing of entrepreneurship, business performance, the economic relevance of entrepreneurship and policies. The lectures will combine overviews of the respective topics with detailed discussions of the methods and findings of exemplary studies

Literature:

• Parker, S. (2009): The Economics of Entrepreneurship, Cambridge UK: Cambridge University Press.

• Bhide, A.V. (2000): The Origin and Evolution of New Businesses, Oxford: Oxford University Press.

• Lazear, E.P. (2004): “Balanced Skills and Entrepreneurship”, American Economic Review, 94(2), 208–211.

• Shane, S. (2003): A General Theory of Entrepreneurship, Cheltenham: Edward Elgar.

• Shane, S. (2009): “Why encouraging more people to become entrepreneurs is bad public policy”, Small Business Economics, 33(2): 141#149.

Empirical analysis of big data

Seminar Methods 6 ECTS Presentation

and term paper

Vahidin Jeleskovic

Tue 10:00 - 14:00 h, weekly 23.04. – 23.07.2019

Students conduct their own empirical studies, present their results and write a seminar paper to successfully complete this project seminar. For these purposes, students have to work with empirical data and to use a statistical software. A component of the seminar is also to hold two presentations, namely at the beginning and at the end of semester.

The focus of empirical projects in this semester will be put on the internet statistics. However, any kind of quantitative or empirical topics can be chosen.

Interested students are asked to attend the first session!

Field Experiments in Economics

Lecture Economics 6 ECTS Type of

Examination: t.b.a.

Igor Asanov

Thu 14:00 - 18:00 h, weekly 18.04. – 18.07.2019

Content:

Field experiments in economics allow to estimate the impact of social programs or policies in the naturally occurring environment using random assignment to the treated and the control group. For instance, using this method one can understand if helping people to escape poor districts does help them to start a new life or if entrepreneurial education increases start-up rate. The goal of this course is to explain 1) why and when field experiments randomized control trials are useful, 2) how to provide field experiments.

During the lectures you will learn:

• Why one should randomize to evaluate the impact of economic (social) programs?

• When to use field experiments (randomised control trials)? • How to randomize in the best way? • How to choose right indicators and instruments to measure the outcomes

of a program? • How to make power analysis to determine the sample size needed for the

study? • How to limit the threats that can undermine the reliability of the study? • How to provide statistical analysis of the data from randomised control

trial? • How to draw policy conclusions from the field experiment?

During the seminars we will discuss the results of the field experiments that study discrimination, corruption, entrepreneurship, gender and power, incentives and economic behaviour, fairness, voting behaviour, and education.

Prerequisites: Basic Microeconomics; Basic Econometrics.

Preferred previous courses: Experimental or Behavioural Economics; Advanced Econometrics; Meta-analysis in Economics.

Impact Evaluation in Environmental Economics Using Field Experiments

Seminar Economics 6 ECTS Type of

Examination: Term Paper

Martin Kesternich

Wed, 17.04.19, 10:00 – 12:00 h Wed, 24.04., 10:00 – 12:00 h

21.06. – 22.06.19, 08:00 – 18:00 h

Content:

In recent years, we have seen an enormous increase and rising interest in academic research using field experimental methods to address questions across a broad range of topics in environmental economics including individual climate protection, the management of energy or water consumption, traffic management, and resource conservation. At the same time, field partners from policymaking and business start to appreciate the benefits that field experiments can have to design and evaluate policy programs and investigate individual behavior. This seminar is designed to provide an overview of the design and the analysis of field experiments in environmental economics. In the first part of the course, we will focus on methodological issues surrounding the design of field experiments and subsequent interpretation of the results. In the second part of the course, students will present and discuss selected examples where field experiments have been used to (i) test predictions of theoretical models and/or enhance our understanding of the factors that drive individual behavior and to (ii) evaluate whether and why policy interventions work.

Inequality, Poverty, and Public Policy

Lecture/ Exercise/ Seminar

Economics 6 ECTS Exam Christian Toft

Wed 12:00 - 16:00 h, weekly 24.04. – 24.07.2019

Course Objectives:

This course provides an introduction to the empirical analysis of income distribution with particular emphasis on practical application of theoretical and statistical concepts and on the principles of data analysis. The advantages and disadvantages of different empirical methods, the properties of different inequality and poverty measures, basis significance international and German data sets are treated. The role of different income sources, including market wealth, the redistributive effects of government taxes and transfers will be treated in some detail as will recent international trends in the development of inequality and poverty. In the second part, of course, we go into detail with some latest empirical studies on topic published by amongst others the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and the World Bank.

Prerequisites:

Basic math, basic statistics, microeconomics, some public economics. Students, who do not feel confident that they are on the same level as German Bachelor students – who have successfully completed their first semester core courses - are advised not to take this course.

Intermediate Public Economics

Lecture Economics 6 ECTS Exam Ivo Bischoff

Tue 08:00 - 12:00 h, weekly 23.04. – 16.07.2019

Content:

The course covers essential concepts in Public Economics (public goods, taxation, federalism, political economy). A special focus rests on the application of graphical and analytical tools. The application of these tools is trained in exercise session. In addition, we will work through empirical studies on selected concepts.

Basic readings:

• Tresch, R. W. (2014). Public Finance - A Normative Approach, 3rd edition, Oxford.

• Hindriks, J. and Mylse, G. D. (2013). Intermediate Public Economics 2nd edition, Cambridge, Mass.

International Communication - How to Communicate with the Consumer

Seminar Business Studies

6 ECTS Type of

Examination: t.b.a.

Carmen Rodriguez Santos

Ralf Wagner

Block: 03.-08.06.2019, 08:00 - 12:00 h and 12:00 h - 16:00 h

Content:

This course is divided into three main parts. The first part is called Marketing Communication, which covers the communication process, communication strategy and integrated communications. The second part is about Advertising and will look at the topics advertising as a communication process, objectives, and how to create the message. The last part provides a more detailed perspective of Communication Strategy, which includes the attitude of the consumer, the perception of the consumer, and the learning process.

International Human Resource Management

Seminar/ Exercise

Business Studies

6 ECTS Presentation

and term paper

Thomas Degener Peter Eberl

Fri 12:00 - 16:00 h, weekly 26.04. – 19.07.2019

Content:

The seminar focuses on intercultural management issues. Specific topics are: Expatriate recruitment and selection, international performance appraisal, intercultural training and development, international compensation policies, international industrial relations.

Learning Objectives:

• Understanding the complexity and challenges of International Human Resource Management

• Identify the specific demands placed on HR activities, when managing expatriate employees

• Awareness of cultural a national differences in Human Resource Management

• Profound reflection of intercultural management

International Marketing

Seminar Business Studies 6 ECTS

Type of Examination: presentation and written

exam

Reinhard Hünerberg Ralf Wagner

23.-25.04.2019, 18:00 - 22:00 h 29.04.-30.04.2019, 18:00 -22:00 h

06.-09.05.2019, 18:00 - 22:00 h 13.-16.05.2019, 18:00 - 22:00 h

Content:

After completion of the course students will have learnt or repeated the fundamentals of marketing; the added value is the rigorous international perspective leading to specificity and new challenges for companies in their marketing activities. The participants will not only be able to understand the complex international environment and resulting company decisions, but they will be trained to analyze themselves international situations and to develop marketing solutions. Thus, conceptual and theoretical findings as well as practical company experience are the basis for a decision-oriented approach the students need for their professional career. The course covers concepts, environment, objectives and strategies as well as instruments in international marketing.

Introduction to Behavioral Economics

Lecture Economics 6 ECTS Exam Astrid Dannenberg

Tue 08:00 - 12:00 h, weekly 16.04. – 16.07.2019

Content:

Behavioral economics integrates insights from psychology into economics. Going beyond the bounds of rationality and self-interest of economic agents, behavioral economics is concerned with the effects of psychological, social, and cognitive factors on the decisions of individuals and groups as well as their consequences for social welfare and the distribution of resources. In the first part of the course, we look at the most important cognitive biases as well as their causes and consequences. Students learn, for instance, how people behave under uncertainty, make predictions for the future, remember and evaluate the past, and what makes them happy. The second part of the course is on strategic decision making. Here the question is how people behave when their decisions not only affect their own welfare but also other people’s welfare. Students learn when people are generous, when they are trustful and trustworthy, when they cooperate for the sake of the group even if this is costly. We will play games in the classroom and compare the results with the results of lab experiments conducted with real money. We look at many real-world examples like international climate change negotiations. The aim of the course is to give an overview of the most important findings in behavioral economics.

Registration:

Students have to register on Moodle via the following link: https://moodle.uni-kassel.de/moodle/course/view.php?id=11157

Introduction to Environmental Economics

Lecture Economics 6 ECTS Exam Sonja Zitzelsberger

Sven Christens

Thu 14:00 - 18:00 h, weekly 25.04. – 18.07.2019

Content:

The course gives an overview of environmental and resource economics.

Registration:

Students have to register via moodle: https://moodle.uni-kassel.de/moodle/enrol/index.php?id=2174

Introduction to Game Theory

Lecture Economics 6 ECTS Exam Björn Frank

Elina Khachatryan

Thu 10:00 - 14:00 h, weekly 18.04. – 18.07.2019

This introductory course is designed to introduce students to the main tools of Game Theory and explain some basic concepts, useful in understanding strategic interactions.

Over the past 50 years Game Theory has revolutionized economics and other social sciences, including political science, sociology and psychology. Recognized multiple times by the Nobel Prize in economics, Game Theory is a ”language” one can use to understand any situation where strategic decision-makers interact: firms, politicians, countries, family members, drivers in traffic, lawmakers and criminals, conflicting interests within the same person.... and so on.

Topics include:

• Solution concepts for static games • Sequential Evolutionary game theory Oligopoly Repeated • Negotiations • Auctions • Behavioral Game Theory

Law and Economics/ Public Choice

Lecture/ Seminar

Law 3+3

ECTS Exam

Georg von Wangenheim

Martina Deckert

Public Choice: Thu 08:00 - 10:00 h, weekly 18.04. – 18.07.2019 Law and Economics: Mon 10:00 - 12:00 h, weekly 22.04. – 15.07.2019

Content:

This course covers the basic assumptions and concepts of Law and Economics (rationality assumption, methodological individualism, evolutionary Law and Economics) and their application to different fields of law. In its Public-Choice part the course deals with the economic analysis of decision-making in polities, in particular the economic theory of elections and votes, including the relevant concepts of power, the theory of stakeholder groups (organizability of interests, influence of associations, and economic development), the positive economic theory of regulation, theory of bureaucracy, and the economics of constitutions. Students may choose either the entire course (6 ECTS) or only the Law-and-Economics or the Public-Choice part (3 ECTS each).

Leadership and Change Management

Lecture Business Studies

6 ECTS Type of

Examination: Exam

Peter Eberl

Thu 08:30 - 12:00 h, weekly 25.04. – 18.07.2019

Content: Leadership and Change Management are closely linked in the literature. Leadership is often discussed as an important driver of change management. The aim of the course is to understand and discuss the possible impact of leadership on organizational change. After the course students should be able to differentiate between different kinds of relevant leadership approaches and their starting points for change processes. In addition, a critical reflection from a theoretical and a practical point of view is a major challenge of the course.

Topics:

Basic Concepts of Leadership and Organizational Change

Leader-Member-Exchange Theory

Charismatic and Transformational Leadership

Follower-centered Approaches

Leading Teams for Strategic Change

Influencing Cultural Change

Increasing Organizational Learning and Innovation

Microeconometrics

Lecture/ Exercise

Methods 6 ECTS Exam Gunnar Gutsche

Lecture: Mon 14:00 - 18:00 h, weekly 15.04. – 15.07.2019 Tutorial: Mon 18:00 - 20:00 h, weekly 15.04. – 15.07.2019

Content:

This direction of econometrics examines cross-sectional micro data, i.e. data from persons, households, firms, but also regions, countries, or even supermarket-scanner data. Empirical analyses with microdata and thus microeconometrics are often not based on quantitative continuous dependent variables with an unrestricted range, but other types of variables, i.e. qualitative (categorial) variables as well quantitative which are not continuous or with a restricted range. This course provides an overview of the most important estimation methods and test procedures in selected microeconometric models. The focus will be on the practical application of the main concepts by analyzing real datasets using the statistical software Stata. Thus, the course consists of two parts, i.e. a lecture part and an integrated computer course.

Prerequisites:

For this course we expect a good knowledge in common regression analysis, i.e. estimation methods and tests in linear regressions models.

Microeconomics Using Calculus

Lecture/Exercise Economics 6 ECTS Type of

Examination: Exam

Ivo Bischoff Luzie Thiel

Tue 12:00 – 16:00 h, 16.04. – 16.07.19 (weekly) 24.05.19, 08:00 – 12:00 h 14.06.19, 08:00 – 12:00 h

Content:

The course aims at deepening the skills in microeconomics and calculus. The course works through a wide range of topics in microeconomics including public goods, game theory, contract theory, general equilibrium, taxation. Participants are expected to participate actively in the class, do assignment and discuss their solutions in the exercise sessions. The assginments and the slides for the course are provided via Moodle. The moodle platform is also used to communicate all news concerning this course. To receive 6 credits, you need to pass the final exam.

Model Thinking

Lecture Economics 6 ECTS Exam Maria Paz Monge

Larrain Björn Frank

18.04. - 23.05.2019: Thu 08:00 - 10:00 h, weekly 26.04. - 31.05.2019: Fri 08:00 - 12:00 h, weekly and

25.05.2019, 08:00 - 16:00 h, block

Content:

Models are widely used in science. They help, among others, to explain different phenomena, to guide the data collection process, to discover new questions, to inform policy decisions, and to promote a scientific habit of mind (Epstein, 2008).

The purpose of this course is that the student explores how social dynamics from everyday life can be analyzed using simple and intuitive models. During the semester, we will analyze issues such as:

• Why do we tend to hang out with people similar to ourselves? • How do people decide to join a riot? • Why some diseases become an epidemic while others do not?

Population Economics

Lecture/ Seminar

Economics 6 ECTS Presentation, term paper

Holger Bonin

Wed 12:00 - 16:00 h, weekly 17.04. – 17.07. 2019 and Block: 05.07.2019, 14:00 - 18:00 h

06.07.2019, 08:00 - 18:00 h

Content: The course will examine the economic determinants and consequences of population change and demographic behavior including household formation, marriage, child bearing and rearing, mortality and migration. We will apply analytical tools of economics to investigate various economic and social consequences of population change. The consequences studied include the economic impact of population aging and fiscal sustainability, the effects of government policies in support of families, and the economic impact of immigration. The course mostly emphasizes a microeconomic approach. Occasionally, however, the lecture also adopts a macroeconomic perspective. Topics: 1. How Populations Change

• Mechanics of Population Change • History of Population • And the Future?

2. Economic Consequences of Population Change • Population Growth and Decline • Demographic Ageing

3. Marriage and Divorce • Economic Rationale for Marriage • Decision Making within Couples • Transitions into and out of Marriage

4. Fertility • Neoclassical Fertility Theory • The Quantity-Quality Trade-Off • Time Allocation and the Demand for Children

5. International Migration • Economic Models of the Migration Decision • Impact of Immigrants on Natives • Economic Integration of Immigrants

Prerequisites: While the course is self-contained, a good understanding of economics basics, in particular in the realm of micro economics, will be taken for granted. The course will also cover some empirical studies, in particular the seminar part. Therefore, a basic understanding of econometrics will be useful, though it is not a necessary condition for successful completion of the course. Course Organization: The course consists of seven three-hour lectures given in the course of the semester, and a block seminar which takes place close to the end of the summer term.

Registration: The seminar topics (including a core paper, which is compulsory reading, as a starting point for your own literature search) will be distributed via moodle by ______ (date yet to be announced).

You are asked to send a message to bonin@iza.org by ______ (date yet to be announced) in order to express your interest in taking the seminar. This message should provide me with your three preferred topics, in descending order. Your of course also contain your name, and your student ID.

Seminar topics will be assigned ______ (date yet to be announced). When allocating the seminar topics, I will try to respect your preferences as far as possible.

But it still may happen that you will be eventually assigned to a topic that is not among your three most preferred topics.

You need to register participation in the course via HIS. You may deregister from the course until ______ (date yet to be announced). If you

deregister later, do not take part in the seminar, or do not submit a seminar paper, the course will be marked as failed.

Literature: The lecture does not follow a single text book but draws from a range of sources. Particularly useful reading parallel to the course would include:

• Bloom, D. E, D. Canning and J. Sevilla (2003), The Demographic Dividend, A New Perspective on the Consequences of Population Change, RAND Corporation.

• Bloom, D. E., D. Canning and G. Fink (2011), Implications of Population Ageing for Economic Growth, PGDA Working Paper No.64, Camgridge MA.

• Borjas, G. (1999), The Economic Analysis of Immigration, in: O. Ashenfelter and D. Card (eds.): Handbook of Labor Economics, Vol. 3a, Amsterdam: North-Holland, 1697-1760.

• Börsch-Supan, A. (2014), Ökonomie einer alternden Gesellschaft, Perspektiven der Wirtschaftspolitik, Vol. 15, No. 1, 4-23.

• Friedberg, L. and S. Stern (2005), The Economics of Marriage Divorce, in: W. Bowmaker ed.); Uncut: A Complete Guide to Life, Death and Misadventure, Cheltenham: Edward Elgar, 133-167.

• Hotz, V. J., Klerman, J. A. and R. J. Willis (1997), The Economics of Fertility in Developed Countries – A Survey, in: Rosenzweig, M. and O. Stark (eds.): Handbook of Population Economics, Vol. 1a, Amsterdam: North-Holland, 275-347.

Quantitative Methods of Experimental Economics

Seminar Economics 6 ECTS

Type of examination: Presentation

and term paper

Christoph Büren Björn Frank

25.04.19, 08:00 – 12:00 h 24.05. – 25.05.19, 08:00 – 18:00 h 05.07. – 06.07.19, 08:00 – 18:00 h

Content:

The unit consists of three parts: I) an introductory lecture on experimental methods and designs in which topics are assigned, II) a block course with own experiments combined with a lecture on data analysis of experiments, III) and a block course with presentations of the own experimental results combined with a lecture on how to write a paper on experimental results. Course assessments are conducting an own experiment (part II), presenting the results (part III), and writing a seminar paper until August 31th.

Recent Developments in Forecasting Methods with Empirical Applications

Seminar Methods 6 ECTS Presentation, term paper

Vahidin Jeleskovic

Tue 16:00 - 20:00 h, weekly 23.04. – 23.07.2019

Recent developments in forecasting methods state that a better forecast can be achieved rather through the combination of different models than by the use of one individual model. Many theoretical and empirical studies have indeed shown that certain application of different combinations so-called ”model-averaging” individual models can dominate forecasts in many areas of economics and finance. In one such model-averaging, each individual forecasting model is represented in the final forecast combination with certain weights which have to be estimated. Consequently, numerous methods have been proposed for the estimation of optimal weights in model-averaging that can be constant or varying with time.

The goal of this course is to introduce students the theory optimal forecast combination and allow become familiar with it. After that, a statistics-software (such as Matlab, R, GAUSS, STATA or EViews) will be introduced through practical application of model-averaging so that students can carry out an empirical project on the basis of certain empirical data.

In the empirical part of the course, the focus is placed on the forecasting variables from the real economy – that is mainly the GDP, financial market data (both monthly and daily data, as well as so-called intraday data) and interbank credit-market. In addition, the subprime crisis has shown that there are certain not-well-working mechanisms between the real economy (GDP) and financial market which both may also be connected over interbank credit-market. Therefore a special focus in the context of optimal forecasts will be

placed on the analysis and forecasts of effects mechanisms that connect real economy financial market via interbank credit-market.

Students have to choose a topic for the application of model-averaging and, most at the end of the first part of the course present their research topic. In this first presentation, students need to explain which is the variable of interest as well as the methods for the optimal forecast combination for this variable. Moreover, it should be clearly presented and show how survey would conducted and how to apply a certain software for these purposes. Last, students shell share their thoughts with others in a sense what may show concrete benefits for theoretical or empirical research to be expected from their project. The end of the semester is then followed by the second part of course to extent two days with presentation in which finale results and outlook will be presented. Until the end of the semester, the final seminar work should be finished and submitted.

Research Seminar on Sustainability and Supply Chain Management

Seminar Business Studies

6 ECTS Type of

examination: t.b.a.

Philipp Sauer

Tue 08:00 - 10:00 h and 14:00 – 16:00 h, weekly 23.04. – 16.07.2019

Research Methods for Business

Lecture Methods 6 ECTS Type of

Examination: presentation

and term paper

Stefan Gold Stefan Seuring

Tue 10:00 - 14:00 h, weekly 23.04. – 16.07.2019

Content: The seminar deals with the basics of (empirical) research in business studies. A wide range of topics such as basic strategies, planning of research projects, and issues in quantitative and qualitative research will be covered. Students will, amongst other things, learn how to distinguish good quality research from mediocre approaches and how to avoid pitfalls.

Registration and examination:

• All participants need to register for the "exam" in the HISPOS/Portal-System.

• Registration deadline for the exam registration is April 29, 2019. • The registration is binding! If you are registered and do not participate

(i.e., hand in an assignment at the end of seminar) you will receive a “fail” grade . More information will be given in the first seminar (April 22, 2019)!

• Preference is given to students that completed the SCM lectures and seminars sustainability management and to those taking the IIM major, ideally all criteria apply!

• Attending the first day is required as we will assign the different presentations. Presentations are compulsory and will be marked! You cannot submit the final assignment without completing all assignments that are required throughout the semester!

• Students will need to do (group) presentations, write a research proposal, provide peer feedback on the research proposals of others, and develop their research proposals in the light of peer feedback.

Literature:

• Brymann, A. & Bell, E. (2011). Business Research Methods (3rd ed.). Oxford: Oxford University Press.

• Saunders, M., Lewis, P. & Thornhill, A. (2009). Research Methods for Business Students (5th ed.). Harlow: Prentice Hall.

Risk Management

Lecture Business Studies

6 ECTS Type of

Examination: t.b.a.

Christian Klein Boris Lehnert

Tue 10:00 - 14:00 h, weekly 23.04. – 16.07.2019

Content: Course aim: The purpose of this course is to acquaint the participants with different dimensions of risk. Moreover, participants will also learn how to assess and minimize the risk in financial institutions using the different tools and rules.

Course Contents: Following is the list of course contents.

1. Introduction of risk and risk management 2. Risk Management processes 3. Structure and classification of risks 4. Quantitative risk measurement 5. Risk Management and Hedging 6. Default risk

Strategic Operations Management

Lecture/Seminar Business Studies

6 ECTS Type of

examination: Presentation

and exam

Erik Siems Axel Zehendner

Thu 08:00 – 12:00 h, 25.04. – 18.07.19 (weekly)

Content: In this course, we would like to provide knowledge on the following core fields in the context of current issues: - Purchasing operations and management - Production operations and management -Logistic operations and management

The core characteristic is a close interaction among students of different nationalities, e.g. represented by ERASMUS- and other international students. Class work is a mixture of presentations, exercises and case discussions. Because of its increasing relevance, the course puts a strong emphasis on sustainability. Therefore, the individual core topics on operations management will not only be related to economic but also to environmental and social aspects.

Why is operations management so important?

At a strategic level, operations management has provided the capability, particularly in the design and manufacturing parts of the organization that allows the company to compete so effectively. At an operational level, one could point out the designs that are cost effective and delivered on time allow the company to be first into the market with new ideas. Products made to high levels of quality, when they are needed, and at reasonable cost will allow the products to be sold effectively and prevent customers’ complaints as well as saving the company money.

Distribution processes that provide good customer service without excessive stock levels will maximize sales while minimizing costs.

Why sustainability? Companies have been increasingly driven by multiple stakeholders (e.g. governmental actors, NGOs, media, customers) to consider sustainability aspects in their strategic and day-to-day operations. In order to be successful in the long term, firms must take into account topics and find responses to issues such as environmental pollution, human rights abuses and modern slavery.

Prerequisite:

BWL 1b (German course name) or similiar course in production management is a requirement. A helpful prerequisite for Germans is "Einführung in das Prozessmanagement," but this can also be taken simultaneously during the summer term.

Stress at Work

Seminar Economics 3 ECTS Presentation Sandra Ohly

Kathrin Reinke

Wed 12:00 – 14:00 h, 17.04. – 17.07.19 (weekly)

Content: Topics:

1. Stressors & Stress Reactions 2. Stress Theories 3. Coping Strategies & Resources 4. Stress Management Interventions & Corporate Health Management 5. Recovery & Recovery Training 6. Positive Psychology 7. New Challenges for Stress Management in Today's Working World

The seminar is primarily for students of the study program Wirtschaft, Psychologie und Management, as well as Psychology. Other study programs will be assigned according to time stamps and capacities.

Sustainability Management II

Seminar Business Studies

6 ECTS Presentations,

term paper Stefan Gold

Mon 10:00 - 14:00 h, weekly 29.04. – 15.07.2019

Content: This seminar investigates current cutting-edge topics in the field of Sustainability Management. A blended learning format featuring a mix of lecturer’s input with large parts of autonomous group work gives the students the opportunity to explore in an in-depth way the subjects of corporate sustainability reporting, modern slavery in business, and stakeholder management. Various group presentations stir discussions and allow for giving and receiving feedback. The seminar deepens existing theoretical knowledge through its application to empirical phenomena and cases.

Goals and objectives:

• Deepen your theoretical knowledge in the field of sustainability management

• Apply theories for exploring empirical phenomena and cases and thus gain new insights

• Prepare group presentations and reflect on different aspects of corporate sustainability reporting, modern slavery in business, and stakeholder management through discussions within the group and with the class

• Gain experience in working in a team, in how to make decisions in a group and how to manage time and resources

Registration:

• All participants need to register for the “exam” in the HISPOS-System

• Registration deadline is April 30, 2019.

• The registration is binding! If you are registered and do not participate (i.e., hand in an assignment at the end of seminar) you will receive a “fail” grade. More information will be given in the first session on April 23, 2019.

Prerequisite:

Sustainability Management I (basic knowledge)

Targeting

Seminar Business Studies

6 ECTS Type of

Examination: t.b.a.

Ralf Wagner

Tue 08:00 - 12:00 h, weekly 23.04. – 16.07.2019

Content:

Marketing communication is likely to become a mutual beneficial interaction, if, and only if, the customers are willing to be engaged in the interaction. Customers’ motivation is varying with the products category’s relevance, their brand attachment, their media preferences, etc. In this seminar, the students learn how to assess and evaluate the customers’ profiles from commonly available databases in distance selling, e-commerce and mobile commerce. For evaluating the data students apply scoring, discriminant analysis (linear, non-linear & fuzzy), discrete choice models (logit & probit), multi-layer perceptrons, association analysis (a-priori algorithm) and rough sets using r packages. Additionally, we discuss finite mixture modeling and hierarchical Bayes modeling with brugs. Privacy considerations and data protection as well as an introduction to the concepts of data mining, big data, and the translation analytical results into marketing communication measures complement the technical content of the seminar.

Tensions in Sustainability Management

Seminar Business Studies

6 ECTS Presentation

and term paper

Annika Mies Stefan Gold

Thu 08:00 - 12:00 h, weekly 18.04. – 18.07.2019

Content:

This course focusses on a critical approach to sustainability management.

Every cause has an effect. Every action can result in unintended consequences. Apparently positive sustainable activities can, for example, have very negative environmental outcomes. It is a matter of considering and anticipating these potential tensions or unintended consequences in order to manage and potentially avert them.

During this seminar, we will go into more detail on sustainability tensions and unintended consequences and apply this knowledge to the two emerging concepts of Circular Economy and Sharing Economy.

Course Objectives:

• raising critical awareness and deepening the students’ understanding of sustainability tensions and unintended consequences.

• gaining a deeper understanding of the emerging concepts of Circular Economy and Sharing Economy

• identifying and evaluating sustainability tensions within the concepts of Circular Economy and Sharing Economy