A Brief Description of M.Phil Courses
COMPULSORY COURSES:
EP 601: Methods of Economic Analysis
A systematic development of mathematical methods required for a proper understanding of optimisation techniques of various types.
EP 602: Statistical and Econometric Methods
The course prepares students to do empirical research. Applications of selected econometric models and their estimation will be covered. The course will involve extensive use of computer packages.
OPTIONAL COURSES:
EP 603: Advanced Economic Theory
The aim of the course is to introduce students to at least one area of economic theory at a level which would allow students to undertake a further study of the literature on their own and consider research in that area, if so inclined. The specific content of the course would depend on the research specialization of the faculty member(s) offering the course.
EP 606: International Trade and Finance
This course is designed to equip research scholars with an understanding of the major theoretical approaches to and empirical analyses of international economic relations.
The course introduces students to the problem of planning and various theoretical approaches to the problem with special reference to the evolution of planning in India.
The course deals with some advanced topics of welfare economics not usually covered in an introductory welfare economics or social choice theory course. Some of the topics which are covered in the course are: rationalizability of choice functions, strategic manipulation of social decision rules, the notions of liberty and freedom and their formalizations, the Coasean analysis of the externality problem. Although the course is at an advanced level, it is so structured that it is essentially self-contained.
EP 612: Theory of Economic Growth and Technical Progress
This course discusses alternative perceptions of the dynamics of accumulation, technological change and employment in Ricardo, Marx and Schumpeter and in perspectives influenced by them. The implications of that legacy for analyses of systems and trajectories of innovation in developed and developing countries are examined.
This course looks at the idea of economic development in terms of not only economic principles but also situates it in its specific historical context and as it has evolved historically. The attempt is to equip one with analytical tools that maybe useful in building a wider understanding of the idea.
This is an advanced course in Public Finance. It uses normative Public Finance to study problems like, pricing of public goods, investment criterion and fiscal federalism. It also looks at optimum tax evasion and related problems in taxation reform.
Theories about growth and structural change with special reference to Indian agriculture; Approaches to the study of agrarian institutions.
In this course, long duration economic change is analysed in a historical and interdisciplinary perspective. Selected topics in global history are discussed in detail: New institutionalist economic history, markets and institutions, economy and culture, long term living standards and well-being, economic growth, economic development, money and finance in macroeconomic history. Why some countries are rich while others are poor? Science and technology in India, the institution of caste in India, and major trends in Chinese history.
EP 621: Economics of Education and Development
Broadly the following topics will be covered in the course: concept of human capital, capability and freedom, equity and social justice. investment in education, rate of return in education, education and externalities, concepts of merit good, public good and mixed good, public versus private sector in education, market failure and government intervention, current education scenario and education policy of government.
The course covers the following broad topics: Energy-Economy integration; Energy demand models supply system - optimisation using alternative resources, Problems of rural energy, National energy balance, fuel policy and energy pricing; Energy and environment; Sustainable energy policy.
EP 623: Economics of Environment
The objective of the course is to introduce the students to emerging research issues in the area of environmental economics. It is designed for students who have had an exposure to an introductory course in resource economics/environmental economics.