ECO4060: An Introduction Laura Turner With contributions by Joanne - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

ECO4060 – An Introduction Slide 1 of 31

ECO4060: An Introduction Laura Turner

With contributions by Joanne Roberts (2005), Michael Baker (2008), Angelo Melino (2009), Gilles Duranton (2010), and Gustavo Bobonis(2011)

ECO4060 – An Introduction Slide 2 of 31

Introductions

• Laura Turner
• Junichi Suzuki
• The class

ECO4060 – An Introduction Slide 3 of 31

Structure of the talk

• Objectives, organization, and practical matters
• Some thoughts on doing research and writing papers
• Some thoughts on supervision

ECO4060 – An Introduction Slide 4 of 31

ECO4060: The MAIN Objective

To foster the transition from course-work to research

ECO4060 – An Introduction Slide 5 of 31

ECO4060: Specific Objectives

• Help students identify research topics

(in particular for the second-year paper)

• Introduce students to what it means to do research

(including thinking like researchers instead of course-takers, posing and evaluating research questions, etc.)

• Match students with a second-year paper supervisor
• Enhance students’ presentation skills
• Advise students about available writing resources
• Introduce students to the “academic culture”

By the end, students should be ‘matched’ (with dissertation supervisors and a dissertation committee).

ECO4060 – An Introduction Slide 6 of 31

Course Structure: Year A(1) – Fall 2014

• Participate in the 4060 seminar
• Discuss a paper (written by a Year B(2) student)
• Look for a second-year paper topic (and supervisor)

ECO4060 – An Introduction Slide 7 of 31

Course Structure: Year A(1) – Winter/Spring 2015

• Narrow down second year paper research topic
• Present a literature review (on the topic of research)
• Match with a second-year paper supervisor
• Present the second-year paper proposal

ECO4060 – An Introduction Slide 8 of 31

Course Structure: Year B(2) – Fall 2015

• First draft of your paper is due on 1st September
• Present your second-year paper in ECO 4060
• Present in the relevant departmental workshop
• Set up your thesis committee

ECO4060 – An Introduction Slide 9 of 31

Housekeeping and Reminders: Year A(1)

E-mail to both of us with:

• Research interests
• Second-year paper discussion preferences (at least three (3) choices)
• Self-assessment of writing and presentation skills

Forms to sign today:

• Attendance sheet
• Consent forms to have talks recorded

ECO4060 – An Introduction Slide 10 of 31

Housekeeping and Reminders: Year A(1) (cont’d)

• Attendance is mandatory
• Participate actively in the 4060 seminar
• Start thinking about what you would like to work on…

… and with whom you would like to work

• The course webpage is full of resources and tips

ECO4060 – An Introduction Slide 11 of 31

Housekeeping and Reminders: Year B(2)

Papers are in and the talks are scheduled.

• Final copy no later than TWO (2) WEEKS before your talk
• Sign up for (and tell us!) your field workshop talk
• Second-year paper completion form

(to be handed in to Graduate Administrator as per course webpage deadline)

• PhD supervisory committee and annual progress report form

(to be handed in to Graduate Administrator as per course webpage deadline)

ECO4060 – An Introduction Slide 12 of 31

Housekeeping and Reminders: Year B(2) (cont’d)

• Attendance is mandatory in the fall term
• Check your presentation dates with your supervisor
• Set up a webpage, and give us the link to your paper
• Take care of the logistics on the day of your talk

(projector is warmed up and properly connected; slides and discussion uploaded; etc.)

• Start thinking about your thesis committee (if you have not done so!)

(need to set up by the end of the term)

ECO4060 – An Introduction Slide 13 of 31

Research and the Second-Year Paper: Some Thoughts

• Attempt to give a perspective from the other side of the curtain
• You may not fully appreciate everything that comes next
• This is only one, possibly very idiosyncratic, perspective

ECO4060 – An Introduction Slide 14 of 31

The Second-Year Paper

This is real research! As in all real research, there are three (3) objectives:

• Advance “Knowledge”
• Advance your knowledge and skills
• Advance yourself in your area of research (Ph.D. and post Ph.D)

The balance of objectives for SYP may be different than with your future research.

ECO4060 – An Introduction Slide 15 of 31

Inspiration?

ECO4060 – An Introduction Slide 16 of 31

Inspiration

You! What do you want to do?

• What are you interested in? What will you be interested in?
• Get to know yourself

(nurture your strong points; address/eliminate your weak points)

• Keep a weekly log of research ideas
• Read, read, read and look for papers/authors/topics that inspire you.

ECO4060 – An Introduction Slide 17 of 31

Inspiration

The world: What is going on?

• Read the newspaper, books, be in the world
• Read in other disciplines
• Read (selectively) blogs by experts/scholars in your subfield of interest

Your area of research: What is the research frontier?

• What are the field leaders doing now? Why?
• What can (manageably) be done to advance the state of the literature?

ECO4060 – An Introduction Slide 18 of 31

From Idea to Project

(Or, from half formed ideas to a ‘real’ project)

What is the question?

• Make it short and sweet (intelligible in plain English)
• Why should we care?

(real world problem, missing tools, policy, ‘big’ literature) What do you add? Why should we believe you?

• Make it short and sweet (intelligible in plain English)

ECO4060 – An Introduction Slide 19 of 31

What makes a good project?

• Possible trade-off:

Importance of the question vs. importance of the contribution

• Many things can make a project stand out:
• New conjecture
• New data, stronger empirics, new form of empirics
• Explanation/insight on a stylized fact, more general argument,

easier proof, counterexample, etc.

• Communication (oral and written)

(THIS CAN NEVER BE UNDERESTIMATED)

ECO4060 – An Introduction Slide 20 of 31

Beginning of & ‘Doing’ a Project

• Think things through:
• Write down a model, regardless of the topic.
• Empirical work:
• Write down an estimation equation and think about

everything that might be wrong with it.

• Theory:
• Work through (numerical) examples
• `First-order' issues need to be identified and solved. (Can available

data be used to address the question? Have other people attempted a similar approach to yours?)

• Go beyond the current frontier on some dimension(s)

(and be at the frontier everywhere else)

ECO4060 – An Introduction Slide 21 of 31

Beginning of & ‘Doing’ a Project (cont’d)

• Talk to others – supervisor, colleagues, classmates.

Listen to the most critical comments (satisfy the harshest critics)

• Lots of small decisions to be made.

Be able to justify all of them. Make sure you don’t ignore details.

• Find a template to structure your paper.

Follow the ‘recipes’ about introductions, paper structure, etc. (or have a seriously good reason to deviate)

• Remember it’s (nearly) all about communication.

(Make it simple; serious academics are busy)

• Make sure you don’t lose sight of the big picture.
• It’s lots of hard work!

ECO4060 – An Introduction Slide 22 of 31

Supervision: Some Thoughts

• One of your most important professional relationships
• Important to take it seriously
• Something no one ever talks about formally…

ECO4060 – An Introduction Slide 23 of 31

Supervision: Some Thoughts

• One of your most important professional relationships
• Important to take it seriously
• Something no one ever talks about formally…
• Disclaimers:
• Everyone is different (i.e., relationships, personalities)
• Relationships are two-sided (some dimensions not in your control)

ECO4060 – An Introduction Slide 24 of 31

Choosing a Supervisor

Care is needed:

• Look at track records and be aware of the trade-offs
• Talk to other students
• Find someone who will put time and energy

(into your research, but also selling you on the job market)

• Some people might be good to talk to, but not the best fit
• Might want a few different types of people on your committee…

… but also want people who can work well together

ECO4060 – An Introduction Slide 25 of 31

A first model that (usually) does not work

The supervisor referee:

• Working too independently

(not asking for input until there is a finished product, etc.)

• Long absences, loss of contact, loss of connection
• Minimal supervisor input
• Expecting too little out of your supervisor

This can result in:

• Much time wasted and a lower quality thesis
• Your supervisor losing touch with, and interest, in you

ECO4060 – An Introduction Slide 26 of 31

A second model that does not work

The student research assistant:

• Too frequent meetings
• What should I work on?

(I am interested in whatever you are interested in)

• What should I do next?

This can result in:

• Not developing your own problem solving skills, research agenda1
• Not developing your research confidence

1 It is important to have these problem solving skills, in both academia and non-academic work.

ECO4060 – An Introduction Slide 27 of 31

A (Better) Middle Road

(A Useful Laundry List…)

• Have regular meetings, formal and informal

(to keep up connection, and to keep supervisor engaged)

• Schedule appointments

(best way to get someone’s undivided attention)

• Have an informal agenda for meetings

(“this is what I’ve been doing”, “this is where I’m stuck”, “this is what I’m trying”)

• Set personal deadlines and tell your supervisor (and stick to them)
• Be cautious when dealing with conflict (re: availability, turnaround)…

… think of tactics (reminder emails, suggesting bringing someone else, etc.)

ECO4060 – An Introduction Slide 28 of 31

A (Better) Middle Road (cont’d)

• Implement your supervisor’s suggestions2

(or at least take suggestions really, really seriously)

• Be courteous, respectful of their time, show appreciation

(people notice small things – when you thank them for their comments, acknowledgements

• n your paper, etc)
• Give notice if you need a quick turnaround
• Communicate (what kind of job, planning for the market, advice, etc.)
• Signal interest, enthusiasm, and commitment to your work!

2 The following Spanish proverb is useful here: “The devil knows more for being old than for being the devil.” (“Más sabe el diablo por

viejo que por diablo.”)

ECO4060 – An Introduction Slide 29 of 31

READ: Further points about supervision

Some things you can expect from your supervisor

• Availability for meeting to discuss ideas, work, and progress
• Reasonable turnaround
• Career advice
• Reference letters
• Perhaps, funding for data and conferences

Your supervisor… … can be your strongest and most important advocate … has a lot of power in your relationship … can have a big impact upon your career (even after you leave UofT) … will want a good, constructive, professional relationship … will help you with your SYP but not do it … will often be too nice with you (push harder!)

ECO4060 – An Introduction Slide 30 of 31

Conclusions: A Look Ahead

Final destination: the job market. (A long way off, but closer than you think!)

• Attend job market talks, to get a feel for what is expected

(some are good, and some are not so good)

• To go on the market, you need a ‘job market paper’…

(should be ambitious and showcase your talents)

… but a job application is a “package”

(profile, field, set of qualities, JMP, other research)

• Reference letters: The 2nd most important component of the applications

(Quotes: ‘creative’, ‘independent’, ‘energetic’, ‘fun to talk to’, ‘very collegial’, ‘smart’, ‘thoughtful’, ‘well read’, ‘broad interests’, ‘technically strong’, ‘excellent presenter/teacher’, ‘would add to the intellectual life of any department’, ‘more like a colleague than a student’, ‘wish we could hire him/her here’)

ECO4060 – An Introduction Slide 31 of 31

Conclusions: A Look Ahead

• Before going on the market a lot of work is needed, but this is also a time

to be enjoyed.

• Make sure you love what you do (because you'll be doing a lot of it!)
• Enjoy the company of like-minded people. They're all around you!