Applied Microeconomics
Applied Microeconomics
The Applied Microeconomics research group unites researchers working on a broad array of topics within such areas as labour economics, economics of education, health economics, family economics, urban economics, environmental economics, and the economics of science and innovation. The group operates in close collaboration with the CAGE Research Centre.
The group participates in the CAGE seminar on Applied Economics, which runs weekly on Tuesdays at 2:15pm. Students and faculty members of the group present their ongoing work in two brown bag seminars, held weekly on Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 1pm. Students, in collaboration with faculty members, also organise a bi-weekly reading group in applied econometrics on Thursdays at 1pm. The group organises numerous events throughout the year, including the Research Away Day and several thematic workshops.
Our activities
Work in Progress seminars
Tuesdays and Wednesdays 1-2pm
Students and faculty members of the group present their work in progress in two brown bag seminars. See below for a detailed scheduled of speakers.
Applied Econometrics reading group
Thursdays (bi-weekly) 1-2pm
Organised by students in collaboration with faculty members. See the Events calendar below for further details
People
Academics
Academics associated with the Applied Microeconomics Group are:
Natalia Zinovyeva
Co-ordinator
Jennifer Smith
Deputy Co-ordinator
Research Students
Events
CAGE-AMES Workshop - Ioacopo Monterosa (Turin - visiting research student)
Iacopo Monterosa (University of Turin) is a visiting research student until July 2023.
Iacopo graduated from our department with an MSc in Economics in 2021. Please find the title and abstract of his presentation below.
Title: Environmental Degradation and Social Unrest: an Analysis of Open-Air Waste Burning in Italy
Although environmental activism has been increasing worldwide in recent years, less is known about what drives variation among and within countries in such activism. In this project, I examine the role of exposure to local episodes of pollution as a potential driver. I ask if exposure to environmental degradation fosters pro-environmental protests as well as the intensity of social unrest in general. Using granular data on open-air fires of industrial waste and protests in Italy, I document an increase in environmental protests and violence (i.e. riots) following a fire. To account for the endogeneity of fire location, I rely on the fact that some industrial waste containing copper is burned by copper thieves when trying to get hold of this valuable metal. I thus exploit exogenous variation in the world price of copper to confirm that open-air fires are consequential for both environmental protests and violent events.