040789 UK Rethinking Public Economics (MA) (2013W)

Depending on the number of participants, students will present and discuss papers individually or in work groups (max. 3 students). Students working in groups are graded individually insofar as their individual performance can be clearly assessed. Otherwise, all students in a group get the same grade. We determine the “Group in Charge” for each paper/topic in the first session. It is therefore imperative to participate in the first session where I briefly summarize the papers and students pick which ones to present. Students who cannot (for a good reason) participate in the first session should send me an e-mail listing at least three papers from the reading list which they are committed to present on week before the first session.

Each part i) to iv) below is graded on a scale 1 to 5 and the final grade is the weighted average of these grades according to the weights indicated below.

i) Presentation: The Group in Charge presents the paper or topic of the day in about 30’ and answers questions for clarification by the participants and the instructor (about 15’). Send me your slides by e-mail. Deadline: 1 p.m. (40% of final grade). See guidelines on my webpage.
ii) Guiding discussion: The Group in Charge prepares questions for discussion. Send me a sheet (max. 1 page) with questions for discussion on the topic of the day (by e-mail, deadline: 1 hour before presentation) and distribute copies to students in class. The Group in Charge leads/navigates the discussion. Note that we may discuss a (long, interesting or difficult) paper on more than one session. (20% of final grade).
iii) Each student submits questions for discussion to at least one topic we discuss in class (max. 3 questions per topic). Best grade counts. Briefly comment on your question (i.e. provide a short motivation why the question may be relevant or interesting to discuss, max. 1 page per question). Deadline: 24 hours before the day of the respective seminar, by e-mail to me (30% of final grade). I will forward the question to the Group in Charge. See guidelines on my webpage.
iv) Grading is also based on active participation. Students must not miss more than two sessions else they are graded "fail" on this part (10% of final grade).