Mems

Anlage 2: Description of the Modules
Synopsis of the modules in the Master’s Degree Program in Economics and Management Science (MEMS)
Mandatory Modules

Study Points

Advanced Microeconomics or Advanced Microeconomics 1 (PhD-level)
Advanced Macroeconomics
General Management

6

Mandatory Elective Modules in Economics

Study Points

Applied Macroeconomics: Monetary and Fiscal Policy
Labour Markets and Social Policy
Advanced Labour Economics
Current Issues in Macroeconomics
Topics in Macroeconomics
Advanced Macroeconomic Analysis I (PhD-level)
Advanced Macroeconomic Analysis II (PhD-level)
Current Research in Macroeconomics
European Integration
Quantitative Macroeconomics and Numerical Methods
Advanced Monetary Economics
Advanced International Trade
Theory of Incentives
Game Theory
Topics in Microeconomics
Applied Microeconomics: Competition Policy
Selected Topics in Competition Policy
Topics in Industrial Organization
Datengrundlagen der Wirtschaftspolitik (DGWP) (German)
Information Economics
Advanced Microeconomics 1 (PhD-level)
Theory of Market Failure
Advanced Topics in Public Economics
Theory of the State in Economics and in Law
Economic History
Advanced International Trade: Theory and Empirics
Spatial Economics
Variable Module for courses taken in the field of Economics

6
6-12
9-12
6
6
6
6
6
6-9
6
6
6
6
6
6-18
6
6
6-12
6
6
9
6
6-15
6-18
6-18
6
6
3-12

Mandatory Elective Module in Business

Study Points

9
6
12

Administration
Management
Finance
Strategic Management
Financial Contracting
Topics in Energy and Network Economics
Real Estate Economics
Analysis of Competition
Marketing
Entrepreneurship and Innovation
Research-Seminar on Entrepreneurship and Innovation
Topics in the Theory of Markets and Organizations I/II
Accounting Courses
Accounting Research Seminar
Master Tax Seminar
Financial Economics
Thesis Seminar Corporate Finance
Thesis Seminar Financial Economics
Variable Module for courses taken in the field of Business
Administration

7

6-21
6-27
6
6-12
6-15
6
6
6-21
6-18
6
9-18
6-18
6
6-12
6-18
6
6
3-12

Mandatory Elective Module in Quantitative

Study Points

Methodology (QM)
Multivariate Statistical Analysis
Advanced Statistics
Statistics and Finance
Privatissimum Statistik
Econometric Methods
Time Series Analysis
Selected Topics in Econometrics
Econometric Projects
Analysis of Panel data
Multiple Time Series Analysis
Microeconometrics
Financial Econometrics
Advanced Econometrics
Operations Research
Seminar Optimization-Software in Operations Research
Advanced Information Systems I
Advanced Information Systems II
IT Security and Privacy
Business Process Technology
Variable Module for courses taken in the field of Quantitative
Methodology

6-9
6-15
6-15
18
9
6-9
6
6
6
6
6
6-9
6
6-18
6
6-9
6-9
6
6
3-12

Elective Modules

Study Points

Variable Module for courses inside the economic department which students may select on their own initiative
Variable Module for courses outside of the economic department which students may select on their own initiative

3-12

Master Thesis
Students are awarded 18 study points for the Master Thesis.

8

3-24

Competency Targets of the Mandatory Modules of the Master’s Program Economics and
Management Science (MEMS)

Students will acquire specific knowledge in the fields of microeconomics, macroeconomics, the main features of business management and strategic management, which they will be able to apply in concrete situations, as well as a broad understanding of the most recent developments in these economic disciplines.
Students will be able to communicate this knowledge; they will learn to structure it, to classify it, to visualize it, as well as to judge this information with a critical eye, to assess its value.
Students will be motivated (encouraged) to make the effort necessary for a successful course of studies, as well as to create the preconditions, through their dedication and commitment, for a productive intellectual climate through all the various phases and stages of their course of study.
Students will learn to select and apply the appropriate scientific and academic methodologies as well as the specific tools and resources needed to solve a specific problem
Students will improve their ability to accept criticism and to engage with this criticism in a fruitful manner.
They will also improve their ability to contribute intelligently to discussions and to defend their arguments.
Students will also learn to assume various roles, such as participants in discussions, or experts or moderators.
Students will improve their abilities to work in teams and to sustain their own life-long learning.
At the end of their course of studies, students will be able to work independently and to assume responsibility when they undertake demanding and challenging tasks in business and in public administration.
Students will acquire the ability to undertake analytical analysis, within the framework of which economic methodologies are used, to analyze complex economic problems in order to describe these problems clearly and lucidly, and in so doing to assist and prepare the management of firms and corporation in regard to important decisions. Students will be introduced to the most recent research and they will be able and qualified to apply the most recent methodological developments in economics; indeed, students will have reached a level such that they would be qualified to independent academic work or to do a doctorate in these fields.

Kompetenzziele des Pflichtbereiches im Masterstudiengang Economics and Management
Science (MEMS)

Die Studierenden erwerben vertiefendes und anwendungsorientiertes Wissen auf den Fachgebieten
Mikroökonomie, Makroökonomie, Grundsätze der Unternehmensführung und Strategisches Management sowie weiterführendes Wissen über die aktuellsten Entwicklungen in diesen Wissenschaftsdisziplinen.
Die Studierenden sind in der Lage, dieses Wissen wiederzugeben, zu strukturieren, konstruktiv und kritisch einzuordnen, zu gewichten und darzustellen.
Die Studierenden sind motiviert, den für einen positiven Studienerfolg notwendigen persönlichen Einsatz zu leisten und schaffen durch ihr Engagement die Voraussetzungen für ein konstruktives Studienklima in den verschiedenen Formen des Studiums.
Die Studierenden lernen, die für ein erfolgreiches Studium erforderlichen und geeigneten wissenschaftlichen
Arbeitsmethoden und Hilfsmittel zu wählen und gezielt zur Lösungsfindung/Problemlösung einzusetzen.
Die Studierenden können fundierte Kritik akzeptieren und sich damit auseinander setzen. Gleichzeitig sind sie in der Lage, kritische Argumente in Diskussionen einzubringen und zu verteidigen. Sie lernen dabei verschiedene
Rollen als Diskutant/in, Experte/in oder Moderator/in einzunehmen.
Die Studierenden erwerben die Fähigkeit zu Teamarbeit und lebenslangem Lernen.
Die Studierenden sind in der Lage, in der freien Wirtschaft und in der Verwaltung anspruchsvolle und verantwortliche Aufgaben selbstständig zu übernehmen.
Die Studierenden erwerben die Fähigkeit zum Einstieg in analytische Tätigkeiten, im Rahmen derer wirtschaftswissenschaftliche Methoden genutzt werden, um komplexe wirtschaftliche Probleme übersichtlich darzustellen und so wichtige Entscheidungen des Managements von Unternehmen vorzubereiten.
Die Studierenden werden an den aktuellen Stand der Forschung herangeführt und dazu befähigt, wirtschaftswissenschaftliche Methoden auf einem Niveau anzuwenden, das sie für eine selbstständige akademische Tätigkeit oder eine Promotion in diesen Gebieten qualifiziert.

9

Mandatory Module: Advanced Microeconomics

Study Points: 6

Responsible: Strausz, Weizsäcker

Goals:
The lecture plus tutorial listed below are a mandatory course on advanced microeconomics. The course emphasizes a sample of topics ranging from the theory of competitive markets, to industrial organization, welfare economics, information, and incentives. The lectures are supplemented by problem solving exercises and in class presentations by participants.
Prerequisites to participate in the module: none
Course

Periods/
Week

SP; work load

Topics

Lecture

2

3;
Attendance (30 h)
Reading the relevant literature
(60 h)

General Equilibrium; Partial Equilibrium;
Externalities; Imperfect Competition;
Asymmetric Information; Behavioral
Aspects

2

3;
Attendance (30 h)
Solve exercises and preparations for presentations in class (30 h)
Exam preparation (30 h)

Exercises and model application

Introduction to Advanced
Microeconomic
Analysis
Tutorial
Introduction to Advanced
Microeconomic
Analysis
Module examinations
Duration of the module
Module can be started in

Written exam (90 min)
1 Semester
Fall
Semester

2 Semesters
Spring Semester

10

This module is suitable for students who want to qualify for an admission to PhD. This module replaces the module “Advanced Microeconomics”.

Mandatory Module (replacement): Advanced Microeconomics 1

Study Points: 9

(PhD-level)
Responsible: Kamecke

Goals:
This module teaches fundamental microeconomic concepts and tools on a very advanced level. Both lecture and exercises generate a considerable workload during the whole semester. Students are allowed to quit the course until the Christmas holidays if they find out that they overestimated their willingness and/or ability to understand demanding microeconomic analysis.
Prerequisites to participate in the module: none
Course

Periods/
Week

SP; work load

Topics

Lecture and
Exercises

2

4,5;
Attendance (30 h)
Preparation of lecture and exams
(105 h)

Theory of consumer, producer, perfectly competitive equilibrium, monopoly, introduction to game theory

2

4,5;
Attendance (30 h)
Preparation of problem sets and exams (105 h)

Theory of consumer, producer, perfectly competitive equilibrium, monopoly, introduction to game theory

“Advanced
Microecono
mics (PhDlevel)“
Tutorial
„Advanced
Microecono
mics (PhDlevel)“
Module examinations

Duration of the module
Module can be started in

In order to encourage continuous preparation the total examination time of 120 minutes will be split into 3-5 short tests written in selected exercise sessions.
These tests are based on the lecture as well as on the problem sets discussed in class. The results form the basis for the grades of the module. A late registration requirement guarantees that the students are free to skip the course after 50% of the tests.
1 Semester
Fall
Semester

2 Semesters
Spring Semester

11

Mandatory Module: Advanced Macroeconomics

Study Points: 6

Responsible: Burda / Weinke

Goals:
Introduction to Advanced Macroeconomic Analysis (IAMA)
In this class, the students will learn the key tools for analysing a variety of economic models and their policy implications. In particular, the students will learn
- tools of intertemporal optimization: Euler equations, dynamic programming
- econometric tools for analysing economic data and their practical application, using a software such as
EViews These tools will be applied to a variety of specific models and data sets in order to introduce the students into advanced macroeconomic analysis.
Advanced Macroeconomic Analysis I (AMA I – Ph.D.-Level)
This is the first term of a two-term "first-year" sequence in macroeconomics, intended for master and doctoral students with a strong interest in academic research. It requires a solid background in mathematics.
Strong emphasis will be placed on acquiring the key tools for advanced macroeconomic analysis suitable for pursuing PhD-level research. The following topics will be taught:
A1: Tools of intertemporal optimization: Euler equations, dynamic programming and Lagrangian methods, stochastic difference equations, dynamic stochastic general equilibrium models; solution techniques;
B1: macroeconomic applications of welfare theorems, the Ramsey problem, consumption, investment, search, labour markets.
This will be complemented by learning mathematical and econometric tools, such as MATLAB and/or EViews.
Prerequisites to participate in the module: none
(one course is optional)
Course

Periods/
Week

Anzahl der SP/
Arbeitsleistungen

Topics

Lecture

2

3;
Attendance (30 h)
Preparation (30 h)
Exam preparation (30 h)

Key tools for macro- economic analysis and basic applications.

2

3;
Attendance (30 h)
Preparation (30 h)
Exam preparation (30 h)

Exercises and literature review

2

3;
Attendance (30 h)
Preparation (30 h)
Exam preparation (30 h)

Lectures on Advanced Economic Dynamics

2

Exercises

AMA I –
Ph.D.-Level

3;
Attendance (30 h)
Preparation of exercises (30 h)
Exam preparation (30 h)

Module examinations

Written exam (90 min)

IAMA

Tutorial
IAMA

Lecture
AMA I –
Ph.D.-Level

Tutorial

Duration of the module
Module can be started in

1 Semester
Fall
Semester

2 Semesters
Spring Semester

12

Mandatory Module: General Management

Study Points: 12

Goals:
The mandatory module General Management aims at equipping students with necessary backgrounds in all relevant areas of management science, including finance and accounting. Students in the Master of Business
Administration program are required to acquire 15 SP for completing this module, while students in the
Master of Economics and Management Science program can complete this module with 12 SP. Students are suggested to select courses so that they obtain advanced background knowledge in the areas where they did not acquire sufficient skills in their undergraduate studies.
Prerequisites to participate in the module: none
Course

Periods/
Week

SP; work load

Topics

Lecture/
Tutorial

2

3;
Attendance (30 h),
Literature study (30 h),
Exam preparation (30 h).

The goal of the course is to present students the basics of financial accounting.
The course comprises three main parts. The first part deals with the objectives of financial accounting and the question why and how financial accounting is regulated.
The second part provides an introduction to group accounting including details on consolidation methods and cash flow statements. The third part focuses on specific accounting rules under International
Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS).

2

3;
Attendance (30 h),
Literature study (30 h),
Exam preparation (30 h).

The goal of the course is to offer students the foundations of financial statement analysis. It covers theoretical foundations as well as practical aspects. The course introduces corporate reporting as one of the main information sources for financial statement analysis, and covers topics related to strategy analysis, financial analysis, forecasting methods and valuation models. The last part of the course presents equity security analysis and credit analysis.

2

3;
Attendance (30 h)
Preparation (30 h)
Exam preparation (30 h)

The lecture aims at investigating entrepreneurship and innovation from an economic point of view. It covers venture financing, running and terminating a venture, and government policy.

2

3;
Attendance (30 h)
Preparation (30 h)
Exam preparation (30 h)

Institutionelle und theoretische Analyse internationaler Finanzmärkte und ihrer
Bedeutung für Finanzierungsentscheidungen

2

3;
Attendance (30 h)
Required readings (30 h)
Exam preparation (30 h)

Theories and strategies of marketing management and their corresponding instruments 4

6;
Class attendance (60 h)
Literature study (30 h)
Preparation of and participation in

Corporate financing, corporate cash management, capital structure, dividend policy, Company & project valuation

Introduction to Financial
Accounting

Lecture/
Tutorial
Financial
Statement
Analysis

Lecture
Economics
of
Entrepreneu
rship
Lecture
International
Financial
Management
(German)
Lecture
Marketing
Management
Integrated
Lecture
Corporate

13

Finance

Lecture

tutorial sessions (60 h)
Exam preparation (30 h)
2

Grundzüge der Besteuerung
(German)
Module examinations

Duration of the module
Module can be started in

3;
Attendance (30 h)
Preparation (30 h)
Exam preparation (30 h)

Grundprinzipien der Besteuerung;
Grundzüge des deutschen
Unternehmensteuerrechts (Einkommen-,
Körperschaft- und Gewerbesteuer)

Written exam (60 min)
Corporate Finance: Written exam (90 min)
1 Semester
Fall
Semester or

2 Semesters
Spring Semester

14

Competency Targets of the Elective Compulsory Modules as well as the Elective Modules in the Master’s Program Economics and Management Science (MEMS)
Students acquire supplementary and additional basic information and special knowledge from related academic disciplines, which can be used within the field of economics (contextual knowledge).
Students develop a good command of interdisciplinary problem-solving methods.
Students learn to develop and use internal and external resources.
Students will be able to expand and to deepen their individual profiles.
Students learn to be flexible, to be able to respond to quick or sudden changes and differing and varied situations, and indeed, to help shape such developments.
Students learn to perceive their own expectations, values and norms as well as the expectations, values and norms of others, to differentiate among them, and to treat others with respect and tolerance. They will be able to reflect on their own experiences and to create a link between such experiences and their current work as well as to question their own actions.
Students learn strategies to manage their time, to acquire knowledge, to reach decisions, to find solutions to problems and to manage projects.
Students are able to work in teams and to contribute independently and competently to solving problems.

Kompetenzziele des Wahlpflicht bzw. Wahlbereiches im Masterstudiengang Economics and
Management Science (MEMS)
Die Studierenden erwerben ergänzendes und weiterführendes Grundwissen und Spezialwissen aus verwandten
Wissenschaftsdisziplinen, das in Beziehung zum Fachgebiet gesetzt werden kann („Kontextwissen“).
Die Studierenden lernen, fächerübergreifende Problemlösungsmethoden zu beherrschen.
Die Studierenden sind der Lage, interne und externe Ressourcen zu erschließen.
Die Studierenden sind in der Lage, erworbene individuelle Profile zu erweitern und zu vertiefen.
Die Studierenden sind so flexibel, sich auf schnelle oder plötzliche Veränderungen und unterschiedliche
Situationen einstellen zu können und somit in der Lage, diese aktiv mitzugestalten.
Die Studierenden lernen, eigene und fremde Erwartungen, Normen und Werte wahrzunehmen, zu differenzieren und damit umzugehen (Toleranz). Sie können die eigenen Lebenserfahrungen reflektieren und Verbindungen zur aktuellen Arbeit herstellen sowie das eigene Handeln hinterfragen.
Die Studierenden verfügen über effiziente Arbeitstechniken wie Zeitmanagement, Wissenserwerb,
Entscheidungsfindung, Problemlösungstechniken und Projektmanagement.
Die Studierenden besitzen die Fähigkeit, in einem Team zu arbeiten und einen eigenständigen und kompetenten
Beitrag zur Projektlösung zu leisten.

15

Mandatory Elective Module Economics: Applied Macroeconomics:

Study Points: 6

Monetary and Fiscal Policy
Responsible: Weinke

Goals:
In this class, issues relating to monetary and fiscal policy will be analysed. Examples:
What are good models for the role of money in the economy? Are sticky prices or sticky information important for understanding the effects of monetary policy? How can monetary policy be formulated, what are the consequences of alternative monetary policies, and which monetary policy is optimal? What is the interplay between monetary policy and the business cycle? What are the facts and issues regarding stock and bond markets and how do they relate to monetary policy? What are the empirical facts regarding money and monetary policy?
What are the effects of various choices regarding fiscal policy? What are the consequences of changing tax rates on wages, on capital income or what are the consequences of changing government debt or government expenditures for the economy at large? What is the relationships between fiscal policy and the business cycle? What should optimal fiscal policy do?
What is the interrelationship between monetary and fiscal policy? What is the interrelationship between one monetary authority such as the European Central Bank and several fiscal authorities, such as the national fiscal authorities in Europe? How can one think about the reputation (or lack thereof) of policy institutions?
What are the forces of political economy behind government choices?
Prerequisites to participate in the module: none
Course

Periods/
Week

SP; work load

Topics

Lecture

2

3;
Attendance (30 h)
Preparation (30 h)
Exam preparation (30 h)

Lectures on Monetary and Fiscal Policy

Tutorial

2

3;
Attendance (30 h)
Preparation (30 h)
Exam preparation (30 h)

Exercises, Discussions, Literature Review

Module examinations
Duration of the module
Module can be started in

Written exam (90 min)
1 Semester
Fall
Semester or

2 Semesters
Spring Semester

16

Mandatory Elective Module Economics: Labour Markets and

Study Points: 6-12

Social Policy
Responsible: Burda / Spitz-Oener

Goals:
Lecture + Tutorial I
The theoretical functioning of labour markets and labour market interventions are of key concern to practical policymaking. A number of relevant issues will be examined in this class. Examples include: What determines the demand for and supply of different types of labour in modern economies?
How is labour compensated, and which factors determine the level of wages?
How does search and matching in the labour market work, and how can this matching process be influenced by policy e.g. regarding unemployment benefits or certain labour market regulation?
Lecture + Tutorial II
This lecture examines social policies as well as their economic foundations. Examples of topics covered are:
What are the effects of various intergenerational schemes for financing pension systems? Which ones work best and why?
What are the consequences of welfare reform? How can one analyse the macroeconomic consequences of reforms of the health sector, the education sector or other sectors which are largely dominated by public policy?
How can a society provide insurance against labour market risk? Is there an optimal unemployment insurance scheme?
Lecture + Tutorial III
The empirical analysis of labour markets is applied to labour supply and demand, human capital, education and training, changes in the wages structure and inequality, biased technological change and returns to skills, organizational change and skill demand, the closing gender gap. The introduction of topics will be on textbook level, but the main focus will be on the discussion of empirical implementation strategies used in recent publications. Exercises will be held in the computer lab and students will learn to work with Stata.
Lecture IV
Economics is an empirical science. The validity of the competing economic theories and therefore the legitimacy of the application of economic theories to economic policy is an empirical question.
This course has two goals. First, it covers basic methods and techniques of the empirical analysis in economics. Second, the students become familiar with the typical line of argumentation in the empirical analysis of current problems in economics. As an integral part of the course applications are implemented in the PC-Pool based on the software package Stata.
Seminar
The seminar aims at preparing students to present and discuss critically empirical research in all areas of labour economics. It may likewise be viewed as a preparation for an empirical diploma, master or doctoral thesis. Students are free to choose a topic themselves or to work on a topic proposed by the instructor. The topic is expected to be in the field labour economics. Participants are expected to discuss the relevant literature, data sources, methodology, to acquaint themselves with the necessary institutional details and to present and discuss their work.
Prerequisites to participate in the module: none
Course

Periods/
Week

SP; work load

Topics

Lecture I

2

3;
Attendance (30 h)
Preparation (30 h)
Exam preparation (30 h)

Lectures on Labour Markets and Social
Policy

Tutorial I

2

3;
Attendance (30 h)
Preparation (30 h)

Exercises, Discussions, Literature Review

17

Exam preparation (30 h)
Lecture II

2

3;
Attendance (30 h)
Preparation (30 h)
Exam preparation (30 h)

Lectures on Labour Markets and Social
Policy

Tutorial II

2

3;
Attendance (30 h)
Preparation (30 h)
Exam preparation (30 h)

Exercises, Discussions, Literature Review

Lecture III

2

3;
Attendance (30 h)
Preparation (30 h)
Exam preparation (30 h)

Lectures on Labour Markets and Social
Policy

Tutorial III

2

3;
Attendance (30 h)
Preparation (30 h)
Exam preparation (30 h)

Exercises, Discussions, Literature Review

Lecture IV

2

3;
Attendance (30 h)
Preparation (30 h)
Exam preparation (30 h)

Lectures and integrated tutorial using Stata

Seminar

2

6;
Discussions (45h)
Presentation (45h)
Seminar paper (90 h)

Discussions, Presentation,
Writing of seminar paper

Module examinations

Lecture/Tutorial: Written exam (90 min) for each course
Seminar: Seminar paper

Duration of the module
Module can be started in

1 Semester

or

2 Semesters

Fall Semester

Spring Semester

18

Mandatory Elective Module Economics: Advanced Labour

Study Points: 9

Economics
Responsible: Burda

Goals:
To gain a deeper understanding of the functioning of labour markets at the level of a doctoral student aspiring to do research in the area
The lecture aims at broadening the understanding of labour supply by households and labour demand decision making by firms, and the influence of institutions on the labour market outcome. To this end, several fields of labour economics (human capital accumulation, wage determination, imperfect information) will be covered. In this module the student has the option of pursuing a more formal-theoretic approach to the subject. Like the module “Labour Economics” this module requires attendance of the basic lecture course
“Labour Economics”.
Marshallian analysis of the labour market and comparative statics; basic Hicksian concepts
Labour demand and its determinants: Static and dynamic aspects
Labour supply and its determinants: Static and dynamic aspects
Human capital: Theory and empirical aspects
Models of wages and wage determination
Imperfect information in labour markets: Search, implicit contracts, efficiency wages
Equilibrium models of unemployment and search
The economics of labour market institutions
The tutorials will revisit these models, cover their formal analysis in detail, and apply them to exercises.
The advanced mathematical tutorial will help students to work with formal techniques necessary for success in a research career.
Prerequisites to participate in the module: none
Course

Periods/
Week

SP; work load

Topics

Lecture

2

3;
Attendance (30 h)
Preparation (30 h)
Exam preparation (30 h)

Theoretical Models of Labour Economics and their Empirical Application

Tutorial

2

3;
Attendance (30 h)
Preparation (30 h)
Assignments (30 h)

Review of Models and Exercises

Advanced
Tutorial

2

3;
Attendance (30 h)
Preparation (30 h)
Exam preparation (30 h)

More formal treatment of models considered in lectures

Module examinations

Duration of the module
Module can be started in

Written Exam for basic lecture (60 min);
Written Exam for mathematical tutorial (60 min)
1 Semester
Fall
Semester

2 Semesters
Spring Semester

19

Mandatory Elective Module Economics: Current Issues in

Study Points: 6-12

Macroeconomics
Responsible: Burda / Weinke

Goals:
This class provides an in-depth examination of current issues in macroeconomics.
Prerequisites to participate in the module: Module “Introduction to Advanced Macroeconomics” and Module
“Advanced Monetary Economics” or “Labour Markets and Social Policy”
Course

Periods/
Week

SP; work load

Topics

Lecture

2

3;
Attendance (30 h)
Preparation (30 h)
Exam preparation (30 h)

Lectures on current issues in macroeconomics Tutorial

2

3;
Attendance (30 h)
Preparation (30 h)
Exam preparation (30 h)

Exercises, Literature Review, Discussions

Module examinations
Duration of the module
Module can be started in

Written exam (90 min)
1 Semester
Fall
Semester or

2 Semesters
Spring Semester

20

Mandatory Elective Module Economics: Topics in Macroeconomics

Study Points: 6

Responsible: Burda / Weinke

Goals:
This seminar aims to carry out projects on selected topics in macroeconomics.
Prerequisites to participate in the module: Module “Introduction to Advanced Macroeconomics” or “Monetary and Fiscal Policy” or “Labour Markets and Social Policy”
Course

Periods/
Week

SP; work load

Topics

Seminar

2

6;
Attendance (30 h)
Preparation for seminar and presentation (60 h)
Seminar Project (90 h)

Topics in macroeconomics

Module examinations
Duration of the module
Module can be started in

Seminar Paper
1 Semester
Fall
Semester or

2 Semesters
Spring Semester

21

Mandatory Elective Module Economics: Advanced Macroeconomic

Study Points: 6

Analysis I (PhD-level)
Responsible: Burda / Weinke

Goals:
In this current research on dynamic economic models will be examined in detail to prepare students for doing research in macroeconomics and related fields. Depending on the approach examined, particular emphasis may be given to the theoretical or to the empirical aspects of the analysis. Examples are
Modern variants of the neoclassical growth model
Modern dynamic business cycle theories. dynamic models of matching on labor markets models of intergenerational trade (overlapping generations models) models of intertemporal choice facts and models of long run growth dynamic models of international trade econometric dynamic multivariate models regarding the interaction of major economic time series. The empirics of shocks driving the economy. econometric panel approaches regarding the functioning and the dynamics of labor markets numerical solution methods for linearized and non-linearized models.
Models pertaining to asset markets and to the role of money. models of asset markets resulting from the intertemporal portfolio allocation problem models of money.
The econometric evidence regarding the role of money and the role of monetary policy shocks.
Models of the interplay between monetary and fiscal policy.
Models of international exchange on goods and asset markets.
Prerequisites to participate in the module: none
Course

Periods/
Week

SP; work load

Topics

Lecture

2

3;
Attendance (30 h),
Preparation (30 h),
Exam preparation (30 h)

Lectures on Advanced Economic Dynamics

Tutorial

2

3;
Attendance (30 h),
Preparation of exercises (30 h),
Exam preparation (30 h)

Module examinations
Duration of the module
Module can be started in

Exercises

Written exam (90 min)
1 Semester
Fall
Semester or

2 Semesters
Spring Semester

22

Mandatory Elective Module Economics: Advanced Macroeconomic

Study Points: 6

Analysis II (PhD-level)
Responsible: Burda / Weinke

Goals:
This is the second term of a two-term "first-year" sequence in macroeconomics, intended for master and doctoral students with a strong interest in academic research. It requires a solid background in mathematics.
Strong emphasis will be placed on acquiring the key tools for advanced macroeconomic analysis suitable for pursuing PhD-level research. The following topics will be taught:
A2: Asset pricing; advanced preference theory such as Epstein-Zin; dynamic contracts and applications; growth models, OLG models;
B2: Money and models of price and wage rigidities; economic policy and time consistency, applied VAR analysis. This will be complemented by deepening the knowledge regarding mathematical and econometric tools, such as MATLAB and/or EViews.
Prerequisites to participate in the module: “Advanced Macroeconomic Analysis (Ph.D.)”. Also may be accepted if approved by the lecturer: “Introduction to Advanced Macroeconomic Analysis”
Course

Periods/
Week

SP; work load

Topics

Lecture

2

3;
Attendance (30 h)
Preparation (30 h)
Exam preparation (30 h)

Key tools for macroeconomic analysis, advanced study of topics A2 and B2.

Tutorial

2

3;
Attendance (30 h)
Preparation (30 h)
Exam preparation (30 h)

In-depth review, literature review and exercises Module examinations
Duration of the module
Module can be started in

Written exam (90 min)
1 Semester
Fall
Semester

2 Semesters
Spring Semester

23

Mandatory Elective Module Economics: Current Research in

Study Points: 6

Macroeconomics
Responsible: Burda / Weinke

Goals:
This seminar aims to teach students to carry out projects at the current research frontier in macroeconomics.
Prerequisites to participate in the module: none
Course

Periods/
Week

SP; work load

Topics

Seminar

2

6;
Attendance (60 h)
Preparation (60 h)
Seminar Research Project (60 h)

Carrying out research projects in macroeconomics Module examinations
Duration of the module
Module can be started in

Research paper
1 Semester
Fall
Semester or

2 Semesters
Spring Semester

24

Mandatory Elective Module Economics: European Integration

Study Points: 6-9

Responsible: Burda

Goals:
To gain a deeper understanding of the real and monetary aspects of European economic integration by applying theoretical concepts and using basic tools of empirical analysis.
The lecture course (Lecture 1) designed to introduce the student to both theoretical and applied issues involving the economic integration process in Europe. The convergence of standards of living, mobility of factors, the role of trade and technology, as well as the regulation of individual national economies will be discussed. In addition the growing constraints on European economic policy via monetary and fiscal integration of Europe will be examined.
The second lecture course (Lecture 2) gives an introduction into growth theory and its association with the income inequality. Based on the well-known neoclassical model of economic growth, the lectures present the main ideas and formal framework of the new growth paradigm. Links between economic growth and income inequality will be discussed. Some emphasis is placed on the direction of technical change, that is, on the question whether technological change in inherently skill-biased.
Prerequisites to participate in the module: Basic knowledge in Microeconomics and Macroeconomics
Course

Periods/
Week

SP; work load

Topics

Lecture I

2

3;
Attendance (30 h)
Preparation (30 h)
Exam preparation (30 h)

Lectures on European Integration

Tutorial I

2

3;
Attendance (30 h)
Preparation (30 h)
Exam preparation (30 h)

Lecture II

2

3;
Attendance (30 h)
Preparation (30 h)
Exam preparation (30 h)

Module examinations

Duration of the module
Module can be started in

European Integration

Lectures on the theory of economic growth

Lecture I: Written exam (90 min)
Lecture II: Written exam (60 or 90 min)
1 Semester
Fall
Semester or

2 Semesters
Spring Semester

25

Mandatory Elective Module Economics: Quantitative

Study Points: 6

Macroeconomics and Numerical Methods
Responsible: Ebell

Goals:
To learn a variety of solution methods for non-linear dynamic stochastic general equilibrium (DSGE) models, which are prominent in modern quantitative macroeconomics.
These solution methods may include, but are not necessarily limited to:
Log linearization
Higher order approximations
Policy function iteration
Value function iteration
In addition, students will learn calibration methods, that is, methods for choosing parameters for the DSGE models. In the practical part of the course (Tutorial), students will implement the solution methods taught in the course using Matlab. A brief introduction to Matlab will also be offered.
Prerequisites to participate in the module: none
Course

Periods/
Week

SP; work load

Topics

Lecture

2

3;
Attendance (30 h)
Preparation (30 h)
Homework (30 h)

Solution methods for DSGE models in theory Tutorial

2

3;
Attendance (30 h)
Preparation (30 h)
Homework (30 h)

Implementing solution methods for DSGE models in practice

Module examinations
Duration of the module
Module can be started in

3 homework assignments (take-home exams)
1 Semester
Fall
Semester or

2 Semesters
Spring Semester

26

Mandatory Elective Module Economics: Advanced Monetary

Study Points: 6

Economics
Responsible: Weinke

Goals:
How to use dynamic stochastic general equilibrium models for positive and normative analysis.

Prerequisites to participate in the module: IAMA
Course

Periods/
Week

SP; work load

Topics

Lecture

2

3;
Attendance (30 h)
Preparation (30 h)
Exam preparation (30 h)

The lecture develops a stochastic dynamic general equilibrium model featuring monopolistic competition and sticky prices.
Compared with the exposition in the course
“Monetary Economics” more emphasis will be put on the technical aspects that one needs to understand in order to use this framework. We will also analyze some recent extensions of the baseline model that is at center stage in the course “Monetary
Economics”.

Tutorial

2

3;
Attendance (30 h)
Preparation (30 h)
Exam preparation (30 h)

The tutorial helps understand the material of the lecture in different ways. First, some additional derivations of theoretical and empirical results are provided. Second, applications of the theory are illustrated.
Third, some aspects of the practical implementation of monetary policy are discussed. Module examinations
Duration of the module
Module can be started in

Written exam (90 min)
1 Semester
Fall
Semester or

2 Semesters
Spring Semester

27

Mandatory Elective Module Economics: Advanced International

Study Points: 6

Trade
Responsible: Strausz

Goals:
This course presents international trade theory at the advanced level. The course focuses on general equilibrium approaches to modeling trading relations. Topics covered include models of trade with constant returns and perfect competition, models of trade with variable returns and imperfect competition, positive and normative analyses of commercial policy, the political economy of trade policy, and topics related to offshoring/outsourcing. Prerequisites to participate in the module: Basics in Microeconomics (general equilibrium, imperfect competition) Course

Periods/
Week

SP; work load

Topics

Lecture/
Tutorial

2

6;
Attendance (60 h)
Preparation (90 h)
Exam preparation (30 h)

comparative advantage, outsourcing, patterns of international trade, instruments of trade policy, monopolistic competition, strategic trade policy, economic geography, political economy

Advanced
International
Trade
Module examinations

Lecture/Tutorial: Written exam (90 min)

Duration of the module

1 Semester

2 Semesters

Module can be started in

Fall Semester or

Spring Semester

28

Mandatory Elective Module Economics: Theory of Incentives

Study Points: 6

Responsible: Strausz
Goals:
The course reviews the main topics and models of the incentive theory. It focuses on the principal-agent paradigm where the principal delegates an action to a single agent through the take-it-or-leave-it offer of a contract. Major topics are represented by the problem of adverse selection, which occurs when the agent learns some piece of information relevant to the contractual relationship, and the problem of moral hazard, which appears as soon as the agent’s actions are not observable. First, the trade-offs that emerge in these contexts are characterized: the rent extraction-efficiency trade-off under adverse selection and the trade-offs between the extraction of limited liability rent and efficiency and also between insurance and efficiency under moral hazard. Then, extensions of the basic framework to more complex environments are discussed. Mixed models with adverse selection, moral hazard and nonverifiability of the state of the world are also treated.
Principal-agent models with adverse selection and moral hazard are finally considered in a dynamic context.
Prerequisites to participate in the module:
Basics in microeconomics “Introduction to Advanced Microeconomic Analysis” and “Game Theory”
Course

Periods/
Week

SP; work load

Topics

Lecture +
Tutorial
Theory of
Incentives

4

3;
Attendance (60 h)
Preparation (90 h)
Exam preparation (30 h)

The Problem of Adverse Selection,
Revelation Principle, Solution Techniques,
Ex-Post vs. Ex-Ante Contracting, Limited
Liability, The Problem of Moral Hazard,
First-Order-Approach

Module examinations

Written exam (90 min)

Duration of the module

1 Semester

2 Semesters

Module can be started in

Fall Semester

Spring Semester

29

Mandatory Elective Module Economics: Game Theory

Study Points: 6

Responsible: Strausz

Goals:
The purpose of this course is to familiarize students with game-theoretic methods that are used in various fields of economics.
Prerequisites to participate in the module: Module „Advanced Microeconomics”.
Course

Periods/
Week

SP; work load

Topics

Lecture

2

3;
Attendance (30 h)
Preparation (30 h)
Exam preparation (30 h)

Normal-form games, extensive-form games, games with incomplete information, standard solution concepts and refinements

Tutorial

2

3;
Attendance (30 h)
Preparation (30 h)
Exam preparation (30 h)

Exercises

Module examinations
Duration of the module
Module can be started in

Written exam (90 min)
1 Semester
Fall
Semester

2 Semesters
Spring Semester

30

Mandatory Elective Module Economics: Topics in Microeconomics

Study Points: 6-18

Responsible: Strausz, Weizsäcker

Goals:
This module gathers several seminars/lectures on selected topics in microeconomics. Lectures and seminars may be in English or German. Based on the basic knowledge acquired in “Advanced Microeconomics”, this module shall enable students to study applications of microeconomic techniques and to analyze microeconomic problems in different fields of economics.
Prerequisites to participate in the module: Module „Advanced Microecomomics“
Course

Periods/
Week

SP; work load

Topics

Lecture

4

6;
Attendance (60 h) reading (60 h) homework assignments and exam preparation (60 h)

Preferences, decision under certainty, theory of household and firm, general equilibrium. 4

6;
Attendance (60 h) reading (60 h) homework assignments and exam preparation (60 h)

Decision under uncertainty, market power, strategic interaction, game theory, asymmetric information, incentives, mechanism design, contract theory.

2

3;
Attendance (30 h) reading (30 h) homework assignments and exam preparation (30 h)

Antitrust and Merger Regulation;
Price and Monopoly Regulation;
Environmental Regulation;
Regulation in Vertical Markets

4

6;
Attendance (60 h)
Reading literature and solving exercises (90 h)
Exam preparation (30 h)

Preferences over uncertain prospects;
Expected utility under risk;
Probability weighting;
Expected utility without known probabilities;
Ambiguity attitudes;
Standard financial investment problems;
Dynamic investments

2

6;
Attendance (60 h) reading literature (60 h) writing and presenting a seminar paper (60 h)

Decision-making under risk and uncertainty, anticipatory utility and other variants of utility, biased expectations, experimental methods, empirical evidence

2

6;
Attendance (30 h)
Group assignment (120 h)
Presentation (30 h)

Microcredit, Microfinance, Microinsurance,
Financial Repression, Credit Rationing,
Transaction Costs

2

6;
Attendance (30 h) reading literature, giving a presentation (75 h) writing a seminar paper (75 h)

Regulation, asymmetric information, monopoly, principal-agent problem.

Advanced
Microecono
mic Analysis
I (PhD)
Lecture
Advanced
Microecono
mic Analysis
II (PhD)
Lecture
Regulation in Product
Markets
Lecture and
Tutorial
DecisionMaking under Uncertainty
Seminar
Behavioral
Economics

Seminar
Microfinance

Seminar
The Theory of Regulation under Asymmetric
Information

31

Seminar

2

6;
Discussions (30 h)
Presentation preparation (30 h)
Seminar paper preparation (120
h)

Microeconometrics;
Applied Microeconomics;
Public Policy

2

6;
Attendance (30 h)
Reading literature (60 h)
Writing and presenting a seminar paper (90 h)

Institutions;
Rational Expectations;
Equilibrium;
Financial Market

2

6;
Attendance (30 h)
Reading literature (25 h)
Writing a seminar paper (90 h)
Preparing a presentation (35 h)

Theory: Introduction to market design and mechanism design, auctions, two-sided matching; Applications: cap-and-trade, electricity markets, school choice, position auctions, kidney exchange

3

6;
Attendance (45 h)
Reading literature (60 h)
Writing a seminar paper and preparing a presentation (75 h)

Economic experiments, social preferences, non-equilibrium beliefs, quantal response equilibrium, econometric estimation

Empirical
Methods in
Applied
Microeconomics
Seminar
Theory of
Market
Structure
Seminar
Market
Design

Seminar
Advanced
Experimenta l Economics

Module examinations

Duration of the module
Module can be started in

Advanced Microeconomic Analysis I and Advanced Microeconomic Analysis II:
Written exam (90 min) after each course
Regulation in Product Markets: written exam (90 min)
Decision-Making under Uncertainty: written exam (90 min)
Seminar Microfinance: Group assignment paper (70 %), presentation (30 %)
Seminar Behavioral Economics: Seminar paper (70 %), presentation (30 %)
Seminar The Theory of Regulation under Asymmetric Information: Seminar paper, presentation
Seminar Empirical Methods in Applied Microeconomics: Seminar paper (80 %), presentation (20 %)
Seminar Theory of Market Structure: Seminar paper (80 %), presentation (20
%)
Seminar Market Design: Seminar paper (70 %), presentation (30 %)
Seminar Advanced Experimental Economics: Seminar paper (80 %), presentation (20 %)
1 Semester
Fall
Semester

2 Semesters
Spring Semester

32

Mandatory Elective Module Economics: Applied Microeconomics

Study Points: 6

Responsible: Kamecke

Goals:
The participants in this module understand the structure of elementary models in industrial organization and learn how to discuss issues in competition policy with the help of such models. For this purpose the model structure, results and policy implications are presented in the lecture. The exercises concentrate on a thorough discussion of the theoretical models used in the lecture and on their modification for a policy analysis. The students learn to develop simple models to address selected questions of competition policy.
Prerequisites to participate in the module: none
Course

Periods/
Week

SP; work load

Topics

Lecture

2

3;
Attendance (30 h)
Preparation of lecture (40 h) preparation of exam (20 h)

Neoclassical welfare theorems; normative results of static (SCP, dynamic price competition, vertical restraints) and dynamic (patent races, endogenous growth theory) industrial organization theory.

2

3;
Attendance (30 h)
Preparation of exercises (60 h)

Practice of the theoretic analysis of policy question with the help of simple examples.

Competition
Policy

Tutorial

Module examinations
Duration of the module
Module can be started in

Written exam (90 min)
1 Semester
Fall
Semester

2 Semesters
Spring Semester

33

Mandatory Elective Module Economics: Selected Topics in

Study Points: 6

Competition Policy
Responsible: Kamecke

Goals:
The participants get to know selected parts of the theory of industrial organization with a special emphasis on their implications for the European competition law. They learn to use formal results in a discussion of controversial political issues. To prepare for this the lecture introduces fundamental theoretical concepts and their application as well as the relevant parts of the competition law. This lecture is concentrated on the first part of the term. In the second part of the term the students demonstrate in their seminar presentations that they understand this method of economic analysis.
Prerequisites to participate in the module: Module „Applied Microeconomics“
Course

Periods/
Week

SP; work load

Topics

Lecture

1

1,5;
Attendance (15 h)
Preparation (10 h) exam preparation (20 h)

One of the topics: cartel prohibition, abuse control, and merger control in the European or German Competition law

Seminar

2

4,5;
Attendance (30 h)
Seminar paper and presentation
(105 h)

Discussion of selected problems of competition policy, case studies, modelling issues and/or changes of the law

Module examinations

Duration of the module
Module can be started in

Lecture: Written exam (60 min)
Seminar: Seminar paper (80 %), presentation (20 % of final mark)
1 Semester
Fall
Semester

2 Semester
Spring Semester

34

Mandatory Elective Module Economics: Topics in Industrial

Study Points: 6-12

Organization
Responsible: Kamecke

Goals:
In each lecture or seminar the participants study one aspect of industrial organization. In empirical industrial organization they are introduced to theory-based empirical model building in core areas of industrial economics and learn how to implement empirical studies using micro-econometric methods and real-market data. In “Cartel law” they are introduced to the European and German antitrust legislation from an economic point of view. In the seminar “actual problems of economic policy” the participants analyze selected topics discussed in the popular press which are related to the insights from one of these lectures, while the seminar
“Applied Industrial Organization” discusses various issues in the field of industrial organization. In this module it is also possible to get credit for courses from the module “topics in microeconomics” or from further courses in the field of industrial organisation which the candidate passed in other universities.
Prerequisites to participate in the module: Module „Applied Microeconomics“
Course

Periods/
Week

SP; work load

Topics

Lecture

2

3;
Attendance (30 h)
Preparation (20 h)
Exam preparation (40 h)

Structural approach in industrial economics; analyses of firm behaviour in dynamic markets. 2

3;
Attendance (30 h)
Preparation (20 h)
Exam preparation (40 h)

Empirical model building and microeconometric methods; computer implementation using real-market data.

2

3;
Attendance (30 h)
Preparation (20 h)
Exam preparation (40 h)

European and German cartel law from an economic perspective. (So far this lecture has always been taught in German.)

2+ field trip

6;
Attendance (30 h)
Seminar paper and presentation (60 h)
Field trip (60 h + 30 h preparation) Diskussion von ausgewählten Themen aus dem Bereich Umweltökonomik und –politik.

2

3;
Attendance of seminar (30 h)
Seminar paper and presentation (60 h)

Discussion of selected problems of industrial organisation, case studies, experimental evidence, modelling issues and/or changes of the institutional environment.

Empirical
Industrial
Organization
Tutorial
Empirical
Industrial
Organization
Lecture
Cartel Law for
Economists
Seminar
„Aktuelle
Probleme der
Wirtschaftspolitik
– Thema
Umwelt“
(German)
Seminar
Applied
Industrial
Organization
Module examinations

Lectures: Written exam (60 min, 90 min if exercises and lecture are examined) Seminar: Seminar paper and presentation

Duration of the module

1 Semester

2 Semesters

Module can be started in

Fall Semester or

Spring Semester

35

Mandatory Elective Module Economics: Datengrundlagen der

Study Points: 6

Wirtschaftspolitik (DGWP)
Responsible: Schmerbach

Goals:
Im Vordergrund des Gesamtkonzeptes stehen das Wecken des Interesses der Studierenden für statistische Fragestellungen und Probleme in Politik und
Wirtschaft,
die Vermittlung der Arbeitsweise der amtlichen und nichtamtlichen Datenproduzenten auf nationaler, europäischer und internationaler Ebene, die Qualität und Aussagefähigkeit ökonomischer Daten, der kompetente und verantwortungsvolle Umgang mit verfügbarem Datenmaterial aus amtlichen, nichtamtlichen und medialen Datenquellen eigenständige Datenrecherchen, selbständige wissenschaftliche Arbeit mit amtlichen und nichtamtlichen Originaldaten unter Einbeziehung statistischer Methoden zur Bereitstellung von Informations- und Entscheidungsgrundlagen,
Hinweise zum Einsatz moderner Computerprogramme.

Prerequisites to participate in the module: Module „Statistics“
Course

Periods/
Week

SP; work load

Topics

Seminar

3

DGWP

6;
Attendance (45h)
Preparation and presentation
(65h)
Seminar paper (70h)

Bevölkerungsstatistik, Arbeitsmarktstatistik,
Produktionsstatistik, Konjunkturtests,
Verbraucherpreisstatistik (Messung der
Teuerung), Expertenvorträge und KoReferate zu Themen des Seminars,
Problemdiskussionen

Module examinations

Seminar paper (70 %), presentation (30 % of final mark)

Duration of the module

1 Semester

2 Semesters

Module can be started in

Fall Semester or

Spring Semester

36

Mandatory Elective Module Economics: Information Economics

Study Points: 6

Responsible: Strausz

Goals:
The goal of this course is to familiarize students with the analysis of asymmetric information and with its economic effects. The course studies the role of asymmetric information in specific economic markets, such as labour and insurance markets. It shows how and why outcomes in these markets crucially depend on the underlying information structure between market participants. The course discusses the appropriate equilibrium concepts (rational equilibrium, perfect Bayesian equilibrium), the different type of market outcome (separation, pooling, hybrid), the Pareto inefficiencies that are due to asymmetric information, and the analytical complications of multiple equilibria.
Prerequisites to participate in the module:
Basic knowledge in microeconimics “Introduction to Advanced Microeconomic Analysis” and “Game Theory”
Course

Periods/
Week

SP; work load

Topics

Lecture/
Tutorial

4

6;
Participate in class (60 h)
Home study/work (90 h)
Exam preparation (30 h)

Incomplete quality information (Lemons problem), Labour markets with asymmetric information (signalling, efficiency wages, equilibrium unemployment), Insurance markets with asymmetric information
(screening), Credit markets with asymmetric information (rationing),
Principal-Agent Problems

Information
Economics

Module examinations

Written exam (90 min)

Duration of the module

1 Semester

2 Semesters

Module can be started in

Fall Semester

Spring Semester

37

Mandatory Elective Module Economics: Advanced Microeconomics

Study Points: 9

1 (PhD-level)
Responsible: Kamecke

Goals:
This module teaches fundamental microeconomic concepts and tools on a very advanced level. Both lecture and exercises generate a considerable workload during the whole semester. Students are allowed to quit the course until the Christmas holidays if they find out that they overestimated their willingness and/or ability to understand demanding microeconomic analysis.
Prerequisites to participate in the module: none
Course

Periods/
Week

SP; work load

Topics

Lecture

2

4,5;
Attendance (30 h)
Preparation of lecture, exercises and exams (105 h)

Theory of consumer, producer, perfectly competitive equilibrium, monopoly, introduction to game theory

2

4,5;
Attendance (30 h)
Preparation of problem sets and exams (105 h)

Theory of consumer, producer, perfectly competitive equilibrium, monopoly, introduction to game theory

Advanced
Microecono
mics (PhDlevel)
Tutorial
Advanced
Microecono
mics (PhDlevel)
Module examinations

In order to encourage continuous preparation the total examination time of 120 min will be split into 3-5 short tests written in selected exercise sessions. These tests are based on the lecture as well as on the problem sets discussed in class.
The results form the basis for the grades of the module. A late registration requirement guarantees that the students are free to skip the course after 50% of the tests.

Duration of the module

1 Semester

2 Semesters

Module can be started in

Fall Semester

Spring Semester

38

Mandatory Elective Module Economics: Theory of the State in

Study Points: 6-18

Economics and in Law
Responsible: Blankart / Kirchner

Goals:
To understand the economic theory of law as a two stage process of collective decisions on law and the applications of law in markets as well as in governments.
Seminar:
The seminar is aimed at analysing the institutional rules governing private markets and the state. A distinction is made between decisions on rules and decisions within rules.
The seminar is interdisciplinary held jointly by a professor of economics and a professor of law.
Students should write essays applying theoretical economic thought to practical problems of legislation.
Special attention should be given to an economic analysis of agents in government.
Prerequisites to participate in the module: Module „Public Finance and Public Choice I“
Course

Periods/
Week

SP; work load

Topics

Seminar

3

6;
Attendance (45 h)
Preparation and presentation
(60 h)
Writing essays (75 h)

Case Studies in the Economic analysis of
Law and State

Module examinations

Essays (80%), presentation (20%)

Duration of the module

1 Semester

2 Semesters

Module can be started in

Fall Semester

Spring Semester

39

Mandatory Elective Module Economics: Theory of Market Failure

Study Points: 6

Responsible: Wickström

Goals:
Gives a basic overview of the theory behind market failure. The aim of the lecture is to analyse market failure and basic principles of governmental interventions in microeconomic models. Examples are: public goods externalities natural monopoly asymmetric information
The tutorials will revisit these models and apply them.
Prerequisites to participate in the module: none
Course

Periods/
Week

SP; work load

Topics

Lecture

2

3;
Attendance (30 h)
Preparation (30 h)
Exam preparation (30 h)

Theories of market failure

Tutorial

2

3;
Attendance (30 h)
Preparation and Assignments
(60 h)

Exercises and model application

Module examinations

Written exam (90 min, 67% of final mark)
Assignments (33% of final mark)

Duration of the module

1 Semester

2 Semesters

Module can be started in

Fall Semester

Spring Semester

40

Mandatory Elective Module Economics: Advanced Topics in Public

Study Points: 6-15

Economics
Responsible: Wickström

Goals:
To learn about advanced topics of Public Economics in the cutting point of government and markets
Prerequisites to participate in the module: none
Course

Periods/
Week

SP; work load

Topics

Lecture/
Seminar

2

3;
Attendance (30 h)
Preparation (30 h)
Exam preparation (30 h) or Attendance (30 h)
Exam paper (30 h)
Preparation of presentation (60h)

Various aspects of Public Economics

4

6;
Attendance (60 h)
Preparation (60 h)
Exam preparation (60 h) or Attendance (60 h)
Exam paper (60 h)
Preparation of presentation (60h)

Various aspects of Public Economics

2

3;
Attendance (30 h)
Preparation (30 h)
Exam preparation (30 h)

Tax incidence
Tax shift
Optimal taxation
Public Enterprise Pricing

2

3;
Attendance (30 h)
Preparation (30 h)
Exam preparation (30 h)

Collective decisions, Impossibility theorems,
Distributive justice, Bargaining

2

3;
Attendance (30 h)
Preparation (30 h)
Exam preparation (30 h)

Welfare Theory, Foundations of Cost Benefit
Analysis

2

3;
Attendance (30 h)
Preparation (30 h)
Exam preparation (30 h)

Public expenditures, justice and efficiency, public insurance (e.g. health and unemployment insurance) and redistribution.

2

3;
Attendance (30 h)
Preparation (30 h)
Exam preparation (30 h)

Pollution, Renewable Resources, Exhaustible
Resources, Environmental Policy

2

3;
Attendance (30 h)
Preparation (30 h)
Exam preparation (30 h)

Environmental Economic Policy

Elemente der Finanzwissenschaft
I
(German)
Lecture/
Seminar
Elemente
der Finanzwissenschaft
II
(German)
Lecture
Theory of
Taxation
Lecture
Theory of
Social
Choice
Lecture
Welfare
Theory
Lecture
Theory of
Social Policy
Lecture
Environment al and
Resource
Economics
Lecture
Environment al Economic

41

Policy
Lecture

2

3;
Attendance (30 h)
Preparation (30 h)
Exam preparation (30 h)

The course is an introduction to the theory of the optimal extraction of natural resources.

2

3;
Attendance (30 h)
Preparation (30 h)
Exam preparation (30 h)

The course is an introduction to the principles of Development Economics

2

6;
Attendance (30 h)
Exam paper and presentation
(90 h)
Exam preparation (60 h)

Schnittstelle zwischen Ökonomie und
Sprache, Soziolinguistik, Ökonomie der
Sprache

2

3;
Attendance(30 h)
Seminar paper (30 h)
Preparation of presentation (30h)

Pollution, Renewable Resources, Exhaustible
Resources, Environmental Policy

4

6;
Attendance (60 h)
Seminar paper (60 h)
Preparation of presentation (60h)

This course aims at introducing empirical methods of distributional analysis.

4

6;
Attendance(60 h)
Preparation of presentation (30h)
Case Study (90 h)

Development Economics; influence of trade, distribution, institutions, factor mobility on development; policy analysis

2

3;
Attendance (30 h)
Preparation of presentation I (10 h)
Seminar paper (30 h)
Preparation of presentation II (20 h)

Individual research papers based on background knowledge in development economics The theory of optimal extraction of natural resources

Lecture
Developmen
t Economics
Seminar
Ökonomie und Sprache
(German)
Seminar
Environment
al and
Resource
Economics
Seminar
Empirical
Distribution
Analysis
Seminar
Developmen t Economics
Seminar
Selected
Topics in
Developmen
t Economics

Module examinations

Lecture: Written exam (90 min, 67%) homework (if requested 33%)
Seminar: Seminar paper (33-67%), presentation (33%), written exam/case study (if requested 33%))
Seminar Development Economics: Presentation (if requested, 25%), case study
(75-100%)

Duration of the module

1 Semester

2 Semesters

Module can be started in

Fall Semester or

Spring Semester

42

Mandatory Elective Module Economics: Economic History

Study Points: 6-18

Responsible: Wolf

Goals:
Economic history stresses the long-term perspective and the role of historical case studies for economic decision making. It offers new insights and allows the students to apply their knowledge of economic theory and empirical methods. The aim of the lectures is to give an overview over the economic history of the world, in particular of Europe and Germany. The seminars introduce the students to modern research in economic history. The discussion of recent publications enables students to devise own research questions and research designs for their master's thesis.
Prerequisites to participate in the module: none
Course

Periods/
Week

SP; work load

Topics

Lecture/
Tutorial

4

6;
Attendance (60 h)
Preparation (60 h)
Exam preparation (60 h)

European Economic History 1800 - 1914

4

6;
Attendance (60 h)
Preparation (60 h)
Exam preparation (60 h)

European Economic History 1914 – up to now Seminar

2

6;
Attendance (30 h)
Preparation (60 h)
Presentation (30 h)
Seminar paper (60 h)

The seminars cover key topics in European economic history, ranging from methods of modern research in economic history, over economic crises to long-run economic developments, and specific historical casestudies.

Seminar
Data
Management and Empirical
Economics

2

6;
Attendance (30 h)
Preparation (60 h)
Presentation (30 h)
Seminar Paper (60 h)

This research seminar deals with information systems used in Economic history, such as statistical software, database management systems and geographical information systems.

European
Economic
History I
Lecture/
Tutorial
European
Economic
History II

Module examinations

Duration of the module
Module can be started in

Lectures: Written exam (90 min)
Seminars: Seminar paper (70%), presentation (30%) of final mark
1 Semester
Fall
Semester or

2 Semesters
Spring Semester

43

Mandatory Elective Module Economics: Advanced International

Study Points: 6

Trade: Theory and Empirics
Responsible: Wolf

Goals:
The course deals with patterns of international trade, both in theory and empirics. Starting with the classic
Ricardian and Heckscher-Ohlin trade models, students will be introduced to modern models, such as Eaton and Kortum (2002), Melitz (2003) and Melitz & Ottaviano (2008).
Prerequisites to participate in the module: Basics in both micro and macro economics
Course

Periods/
Week

SP; work load

Topics

Lecture/
Tutorial

2

6;
Attendance (60 h)
Preparation (60 h)
Exam preparation (60 h)

Ricardian trade model, Heckscher-Ohlin trade model, Eaton-Kortum trade model,
Melitz-Ottaviano trade model, economic policy, economic history, economic geography Advanced
International
Trade:
Theory and
Empirics
Module examinations

Lecture/Tutorial: Written exam (90 min, 70%), Presentation (30%)

Duration of the module

1 Semester

2 Semesters

Module can be started in

Fall Semester or

Spring Semester

44

Mandatory Elective Module Economics: Spatial Economics

Study Points: 6

Responsible: Wolf

Goals:
The students will be introduced to the vast literature on Spatial Economics. The course starts with ideas developed by Von Thünen and Krugman leading to modern theories on the interaction between economics and geography. We will introduce models and empirics for topics such as international specialization, the clustering of industries, the spatial pattern of economic growth, and the relationship between core and periphery within economic regions.

Prerequisites to participate in the module: Basics in both micro and macro economics
Course

Periods/
Week

SP; work load

Topics

Seminar

2

Spatial
Economics

6;
Attendance (60 h)
Presentation (30 h)
Seminar paper (90 h)

Core and Periphery, Increasing returns to scale, Transport costs, Law of one price,
Clustering, Specialization

Module examinations

Seminar: Seminar paper (70%), Presentation (30%)

Duration of the module

1 Semester

Module can be started in

Fall Semester or

2 Semesters
Spring Semester

45

Mandatory Elective Module Economics: Variable Module for

Study Points: 3-12

courses taken in the field of Economics
Responsible: Examinations Commission

Goals:
This is a module for the approval of exams successfully taken in the field of Economics. Courses may be from the Curriculum of other university-based Master’s programs or from other faculties of the HumboldtUniversity Berlin. The approval of the exam is granted by the Examinations Commission of the School of
Business and Economics at the Humboldt-University Berlin after consulting the representative in charge.
Prerequisites to participate in the module: none
Course

Periods/
Week

SP; work load

Topics

Lecture or
Tutorial or
Seminar

2-8

1 Period/Week generally relates to 1,5 SP or 1,5 ECTS.
The work load is partitioned, 1 SP matches 30h.

Selected Topics in Economics

Module examinations

Written exam, seminar paper and presentation, oral exam, homework assignments Duration of the module

1 Semester

Module can be started in

2 Semesters

Fall Semester and/or

Spring Semester

46

Wahlpflichtmodul VWL: Ausgewählte Themen der

Studienpunkte: 3-12

Volkswirtschaftslehre
Verantwortlich: Prüfungsausschuss

Lern- und Qualifikationsziele:
Modul zur Anerkennung von Prüfungsleistungen im Bereich der Volkswirtschaftslehre, welche in anderen universitären Masterstudiengängen innerhalb oder außerhalb des Geltungsbereiches des Grundgesetzes bzw. an anderen Fakultäten der Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin erfolgreich erbracht wurden. Über die
Anerkennung der Prüfungsleistungen entscheidet der Prüfungsausschuss der Wirtschaftswissenschaftlichen
Fakultät der Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin nach Anhörung des jeweiligen Fachvertreters.
Voraussetzungen für die Teilnahme am Modul: keine
Lehr- und
Lernformen

PräsenzSWS

Anzahl der SP/
Arbeitsleistungen

Lernziele, Themen, Inhalte

Vorlesung,
Übung,
Seminar

2-8

1 SWS entspricht in der Regel 1,5
SP sowie 1,5 ECTS. Die
Arbeitsleistung ist differenziert und wird mit 30 h je SP angesetzt. Ausgewählte Themen der
Volkswirtschaftslehre

Modulprüfungen

Klausur, Seminararbeit und Präsentation, mündliche Prüfung, schriftliche
Hausarbeit

Dauer des Moduls

1 Semester

2 Semester

Beginn des Moduls

WS und/oder

SS

47

Mandatory Elective Module Business Administration: Management

Study Points: 6-21

Responsible: Prof. Dr. Beham

Lecture International Management (Dr. Anna-Maria Schneider)
Das Ziel der Lehrveranstaltung ist das Themenfeld des Internationalen Managements vertiefend zu betrachten. Neben der kritischen Reflexion von Theorien und empirischen Studienergebnisse wird durch
Fallstudien der Praxisbezug hergestellt. Die Komplexität und Unterschiedlichkeit der
Internationalisierungsprozesse soll aufgezeigt werden. Verschiedene alternative
Internationalisierungsmodelle und Markteintrittsformen werden behandelt und kritisch hinterfragt. Ferner thematisiert die Lehrveranstaltung den internationalen Wettbewerb und mögliche Kooperationsformen zwischen den Unternehmen. Des Weiteren werden unternehmensinterne Handlungsfelder wie die das
Wissens- & Innovationsmanagement und der Zuliefererauswahlprozess im Rahmen der Lehrveranstaltung näher beleuchtet. Sprache: deutsch
Seminar Supply Chain Management (Dr. Anna-Maria Schneider)
Das Ziel der Lehrveranstaltung ist sich spezifisch mit relevanten Themen des Supply Chain Managements zur beschäftigen. Anderseits sollen die Fähigkeiten der Studierenden in Bezug auf das wissenschaftliche
Arbeiten, das Diskutieren theoretischer Ansätze und praxisbezogener Problemfelder sowie die Präsentation der eigenen Forschungsergebnisse gefestigt werden. Themenfelder wie die Globalisierung von
Zuliefernetzwerken, Beschaffungsstrategien von Unternehmen, Supplier Relationship Management und
Sustainable Supply Chain Management werden im Rahmen des Seminars analysiert und diskutiert.
Sprache: deutsch
Seminar Management (Dr. Sarah Jastram)
Das Seminar behandelt aktuelle Themen in der Managment-Lehre. Die Studierenden werden vornehmlich englische wissenschaftliche Fachpublikationen auswerten und die erlernte Theorie anhand von praktischen
Fallstudien anwenden und vertiefen.
Research seminar Leadership (Prof. Dr. Barbara Beham)
Students develop and conduct their own research project on an actual topic in leadership research. Sprache: englisch/deutsch Prerequisites to participate in the module: none
Course

Periods/
Week

SP; work load

Topics

Lecture
International
Management

2

3;
Attendance (30 h)
Required readings (30 h)
Exam preparation (30 h)

Vertiefung von Themenfeldern des internationalen Managements (Theorien und
Fallbeispiele)

Seminar

2

6;
Attendance (30 h) preparation and follow-up (30 h) preparation of presentation (30h) seminar paper (90 h)

Seminar zu spezifischen Forschungsgebieten des Supply Chain Managements

Seminar
Management

2

6;
Attendance (30 h)
(written) preparation and followup (30 h) preparation of presentation (30h) seminar paper (90 h)

Seminar zu spezifischen Forschungsgebieten der Management-Lehre

Reseach
Seminar
Leadership

2

6;
Attendance (30 h) preparation and follow-up (30 h) preparation of presentation (30h) seminar paper (90 h)

Research methods in contemporary leadership research

Supply
Chain
Management

48

Module examinations

Lecture International Management: Written exam (60 min)
Seminar Supply Chain Management: seminar paper (60%), presentation (40%)
Seminar Management: seminar paper (50%), presentation (50%)
Research Seminar Leadership: Project report (75%), presentation (25%)

Duration of the module

1 Semester

2 Semesters

Module can be started in

Fall

Spring Semester

49

Mandatory Elective Module Business Administration: Finance

Study Points: 6-27

Responsible: Müller

Goals:
To gain a deep understanding of advanced issues in financial decision making.
The lecture “International Financial Management” will focus on how to model financial problems and solve them using both national and international financial markets.
The lecture “Finanzierungstheorie” aims at broadening the understanding of financial decision making through the application of normative and descriptive decision and game theoretic models. The tutorials will revisit these models and apply them to problems and discuss them in the financial context.
The seminar “Market Microstructure” covers recent developments in trading rules at organized exchanges and trading platforms, both theoretically und experimentally.
During the seminar “Finance” students will do some research on their own by applying these methods of lectures and tutorials to complex cases.
During the seminar “Topics in Finance: Leasing” students will do some research on their own by applying these methods of lectures and tutorials to problems of Leasing.
In the lecture “Börsen und ausserbörsliche Handelsplattformen” students will learn about the latest and relevant developments in trading at exchanges and other trading platforms.
Prerequisites to participate in the module: none
Course

Periods/
Week

SP; work load

Topics

Lecture

2

3;
Attendance (30 h)
Preparation (30 h)
Exam preparation (30 h)

National and International Financial
Markets, the International Corporation,
Valuations of Securities, Decision, Problems of International Corporations

2

3;
Attendance (30 h)
Preparation (30 h)
Exam preparation (30 h)

Valuation of Investments under Uncertainty,
Capital Budgeting with Taxes and Inflation,
Modigliani/Miller Model with Taxes, Optimal
Dividend Policy, Agency Models Dealing with
Separation of Ownership and Management,
Leasing

2

3;
Attendance (30 h)
Preparation (15 h)
Assignments (45 h)

Exercises and Model Application

2

6;
Attendance of seminar sessions
(30h),
Seminar paper (60 h)
Preparation (courses, exam) (90
h),
Exam preparation (30h)

Market Microstructure

4

6;
Attendance (60 h)
Seminar paper and presentation
(120 h)

Topics in Finance

International
Financial
Management
Lecture
Finanzierung stheorie (German)

Tutorial
Finanzierung
stheorie
(German)
Seminar
Market
Microstructure

Seminar
Finance

50

Seminar

2

3;
Attendance (30 h)
Seminar paper and presentation
(60 h)

Topics in Finance: Leasing

2

3;
Visiting the lecture (30h),
Preparation for courses (30h)
Exam preparations (30h)

Exchanges and Trading Platforms

Topics in
Finance:
Leasing
Lecture
Börsen und ausserbörsliche Handelsplattformen
(German)
Module examinations

Duration of the module
Module can be started in

International Financial Management: Written exam (60 minutes)
Finanzierungstheorie: Written exam (90 minutes)
Seminar Market Microstructure: seminar paper and written exam (60 minutes)
Seminar Finance: seminar paper (50 %) and presentation (50 %)
Seminar Topics in Finance: Leasing: seminar paper and presentation
Börsen und ausserbörsliche Handelsplattformen: Written exam (60 minutes)
1 Semester
Fall
Semester or

2 Semesters
Spring Semester

51

Mandatory Elective Module Business Administration: Strategic

Study Points: 6

Management
Responsible: Hubert

Goals:
The course gives an introduction into the analytical tools of strategic analysis and applies these to decisions like boundaries of the firm, strategic interaction with competitors, market entry etc.
In the tutorials students solve exercises and discuss examples.

Prerequisites to participate in the module: none
Course

Periods/
Week

SP; work load

Topics

Lecture +
Tutorial

4

6;
Attendance (60 h)
Reading (30 h)
Assignments (45 h)
Preparation for tutorial sessions
(15 h)
Exam preparation (30 h)

Basic notions of game theory, boundaries of the firm, strategic interaction with competitors and complementors, market entry, tools for analyzing strategic situations. Strategic
Management

Module examinations

Written exam (90 min)

Duration of the module

1 Semester

2 Semester

Module can be started in

WS

SS

52

Mandatory Elective Module Business Administration: Financial

Study Points: 6-12

Contracting
Responsible: Hubert

Goals:
Derive fundamental relations between incentives, cash-flow rights and control rights from first assumptions
(security design). Apply the insights from optimal contracts to more complex situations.
The lecture provides an introduction into the main theoretical tools and some basic models of financial contracting. In class students solve exercises and discuss examples. In the seminar students apply the tools to selected problems and deepen their understanding by analyzing more complex situations.
Prerequisites to participate in the module: A good background in microeconomics and game theory
Course

Periods/
Week

SP; work load

Topics

Lecture

2

3;
Attendance (30 h)
Reading paper (30 h)
Exam preparation (30 h)

Effort and risk incentives, security design, screening, optimality of debt and equity, moral hazard, signalling through capital structure, re-contracting, control rights, number of creditors, voting rights.

2

3;
Attendance (30 h)
Preparation for Tutorial Sessions
(15 h)
Assignments (45 h)

2

6;
Attendance (30h)
Preparation and Presentation of
Seminar paper (150 h)

Financial
Contracting
Tutorial
Financial
Contracting

Seminar

Module examinations

Duration of the module
Module can be started in

Lecture and Tutorials: Written Exam (60 min)
Seminar: Seminar Paper (60%), Presentation (30%), active Participation (10% of final mark)
1 Semester
Fall
Semester

2 Semesters
Spring Semester

53

Mandatory Elective Module Business Administration: Topics in

Study Points: 6 - 15

Energy and Network Economics
Responsible: Hubert

Goals:
In many countries network based supply systems (electric power and gas) have seen a major structural change from heavily regulated, vertically integrated monopolies towards systems in which coordination over markets and competition play a larger role. We take these industries as an example to analyze market design and strategic behavior.
Students should first take the lecture “network based energy systems”. As an option they may complement the lecture with the seminar “energy systems” (presentations only) which is offered in parallel. In the following term, they can choose between one of the main seminars.
Prerequisites to participate in the module: The module is for students who have a (MA-level) background in microeconomics, industrial organization, and game theory. The courses “analysis of competition” in combination with “microeconomics” provide the necessary background.
Course

Periods/
Week

SP; work load

Topics

Lecture and
Tutorial

4

6
Attendance (60 h),
Preparation (120 h)

Energy an overview, network based energy systems: gas & power, reform of the industry, restructuring and access rights, market design, gaming power markets, nodal pricing, zonal pricing, market coupling, strategic investment in international energy transport systems, energy security, investment and third party access, contracts and competition

2

3;
Attendance (30h),
Preparation (60h)

Each student makes several presentations on on different aspects of energy systems.
The focus is on presentation skills.

2

6;
Attendance (30h),
Preparation (150 h)

Students make presentations and write a thesis paper either on a theoretical topic or on an empirical assessment related to strategic behaviour in energy markets, usually starting from one academic paper.

2

6;
Attendance (30h),
Preparation (150 h)

Students make presentations and write a thesis paper on a broader topic in energy policy. Network based energy systems Seminar A
Energy
Systems
Seminar B
‘Gaming’
and designing energy markets Seminar B
Energy
Policy

Module examinations

Duration of the module
Module can be started in

Lecture: Written examination, 90 minutes
Seminar A: Presentation (70%), Discussion (30%)
Seminar B: Seminar Paper (60%), Presentation (30%), Discussion (10%)
1 Semester
Fall
Semester or

2 Semesters
Spring Semester

54

Mandatory Elective Module Business Administration: Real Estate

Study Points: 6

Economics
Responsible: Hubert

Goals:
For most people buying or not buying a house is the single most important investment decision in their life.
It is taken in an environment which is quite different from the “perfect market set up” which is often investigated in finance. Students shall learn how to address the particularities of real estate investments working with selected contributions from the theoretical and/or empirical literature.
Students are expected to write a seminar paper, make a presentation, and participate in the discussion.
Prerequisites to participate in the module: This seminar is for students who have a solid background in finance and econometrics and some basic knowledge in real estate economics. It covers a wide range of theoretical and empirical issues in real estate valuation, dynamics of real estate markets and institutional features. Course

Periods/
Week

SP; work load

Topics

Seminar

2

“Real Estate
Economics”

6;
Attendance (30h)
Preparation and Presentation of
Seminar paper (150 h)

Selected topics e.g.: Real estate prices and price risk, transaction behaviour, real estate in portfolio, renting versus owning, mobility, real estate and the aggregate economy

Module examinations

Seminar Paper (70%), presentation (30% of final mark)

Duration of the module
Module can be started in

1 Semester
Fall
Semester or

2 Semesters
Spring Semester

55

Mandatory Elective Module Business Administration: Analysis of

Study Points: 6

Competition
Responsible: Hubert

Goals:
The course covers models and tools for the analysis of strategic interaction with competitors and
`complementors’. It is similar to a course in industrial economics, but topics are selected according to their relevance for the study of network based energy-systems (electric power and gas-industry).
The course is designed for students in their first semester master studies. It prepares students for the modul: “Topics in Energy and Network Economics”.
Prerequisites to participate in the module: Previous exposure microeconomics and game theory is useful but not indispensable, as the basic notions of non-cooperative and cooperative game theory will be explained when needed.
You should not take the course if you already have taken (master level) courses in microeconomics, game theory and industrial organization.
Course

Periods/
Week

SP; work load

Topics

Lecture and
Tutorial

4

6
Attendance (60 h),
Preparation (120 h)

`Co-opetition’ & PARTS, using market power, strategic interaction with competitors & complementors, market entry, commitment, vertical chains & networks, boundaries of the firm.

Analysis of
Competition
Module examinations
Duration of the module
Module can be started in

Lecture: Written examination, 60 minutes
1 Semester
Fall
Semester or

2 Semesters
Spring Semester

56

Mandatory Elective Module Business Administration: Marketing

Study Points: 6-21

Responsible: Klapper

Goals:
Advanced Marketing Modeling:
Teaching and in depth discussion of advanced methods to empirically determine the causal relationship between marketing activities and firms’ objectives. Special attention is given to modeling the effects of marketing on sales and market share data with discrete choice models for individual purchase data and aggregate sales data. In exercise courses students learn how to apply these methods to real data. Successful participation in this class will enable students to quantify the impact of marketing on key performance measures and to evaluate the success of marketing activities.
Customer Analytics and Customer Insights:
Teaching and in depth discussion of the basic concepts and methods to gain detailed understanding about firms’ (potential) customers and their preferences. These insights will provide the basis for brand management and for strategic marketing decisions, especially the design of new products and the management of products over their life cycle. Students will also learn how to measure costumer needs, understand how customers perceive the product and service offerings of a firm and its competitors. We particular focus on estimating consumer preferences for product characteristics and brands within the framework of discrete choice models and conjoint analysis.
Marketing Management (if not selected in the General Management):
Teaching and in depth discussion of the marketing management process. Special attention is given to strategic marketing and the management of the marketing instruments. Successful participation in this class will enable students to evaluate marketing activities and to understand how marketing affects firms competitive position in the market.
Prerequisites to participate in the module: none
Course

Periods/
Week

SP; work load

Topics

Lecture/
Tutorial

4

6;
Attendance (30h + 30h)
Preparation & homework (30h +
60h)
Assignment Preparation (30h)

Lecture: quantitative models of consumer behavior, modeling the effects of marketing on market outcomes and firms’ profitability
Tutorial: Pc-based exercises

4

6;
Attendance (60h)
Preparation & homework (90h)
Exam Preparation (30h)

Lecture: Concepts and methods for understanding customers need and preferences as the basis for strategic marketing. Special emphasis new product design, measuring customers preferences and conjoint analysis
Tutorial: PC-based exercises

2

3;
Attendance (30 h)
Required readings (30 h)
Exam preparation (30 h)

Theories and strategies of marketing management and their corresponding instruments 4

6;
Project seminar: project work and documentation (180h)

Project work

or

or

or

Seminar
Marketing

Seminar paper and presentation
(180 h)

Recent topics in marketing management

Advanced
Marketing
Modeling
Lecture/
Tutorial
Customer
Analytics and Customer
Insights
Lecture
Marketing
Management

Project
Seminar

57

Module examinations

Duration of the module
Module can be started in

Advanced Marketing Modeling: 100% Assignments
Customer Analytics and Customer Insights: 100% Assignments
Marketing Management: Written exam (60 min)
Project Seminar: Project work and documentation (80%) and presentation and in-class discussion (20%)
Seminars: Seminar paper (70%) and presentation (30%)
1 Semester
Fall
Semester or

2 Semesters
Spring Semester

58

Mandatory Elective Module Business Administration:

Study Points: 6- 18

Entrepreneurship and Innovation
Responsible: Schade

Goals:
Lecture and Tutorial 1:
Students learn what the psychological characteristics of entrepreneurs are, and how entrepreneurial decisions are made. Theories span optimization, decision making under risk and uncertainty, and game theoretic approaches.
Normative perspectives and descriptive findings are confronted. Decision anomalies in entrepreneurial behavior are covered. The lecture covers empirical findings on the entrepreneurial personality and basic models of
(descriptive) game and decision theory.
The tutorials re-examine theories, models and methods introduced during lectures and make intensive use of assignments (e.g. questionnaire experiments) to empirically analyse the issues covered by this course. The tutorials provide an introduction into analysis of data on entrepreneurial decisions with SPSS.
Lecture 2:
Entrepreneurs as well as established companies may want to forecast innovation spread and effectively manage the marketing of an innovation. The lecture aims at introducing students to basic theories of and statistical approaches to the marketing of innovations.
Lecture and Tutorial 3:
The lecture covers the scientific basics of experimentation and experimental design with a special emphasis on experimental economics. Examples analyzed are predominately from the area of entrepreneurship and innovation. The course will also cover an introduction into programming of experiments and statistic / econometric analysis of experimental data. A second focus will be on modelling scenarios relevant to entrepreneurship and innovation as predictions for experiments.
The tutorials provide exercises on the basis of the underlying experimental designs and models as well as discuss statistical methods to evaluate experimental data. The tutorials introduce and practice the experimental data analysis techniques with SPSS software during computer sessions.
Lecture 4 covers application of advanced economic and management research to entrepreneurship and innovation. Prerequisites to participate in the module: none
In order to successfully complete this module, you have to accomplish 6 SP (180h).
Course

Periods/
Week

SP; work load

Topics

Lecture /
Tutorial 1

4

6;
Lecture:
Visiting the lecture (30 h),
Preparation for courses (30 h),
Exam preparation (30 h)

Lecture:
Differential psychology of entrepreneurs, decision and game theoretic models of entrepreneurship Entrepreneurial
Decision Making

Tutorial:
Attendance of sessions (30 h),
Preparation for tutorial sessions
(15 h), Assignments (45 h)
Lecture 2

2

3;
Visiting the lecture (30 h),
Preparation for courses (30 h),
Exam preparation (30 h)

Theories of innovation diffusion, innovation adoption and innovation marketing

4

6;
Lecture:
Visiting the lecture (30 h),
Preparation for the courses (30
h), Exam preparation (30 h)

Lecture:
Theory and modern research on design of decision experiments, using models to derive predictions, statistical analysis of experimental data
Tutorial:

Marketing of
Innovations
Lecture /
Tutorial 3
Design of
Decision
Experiments

Tutorial:
Exercise questions, empirical studies, analysis of data on entrepreneurial decisions with SPSS

59

Exercises applying the knowledge of the lecture, analysis of experimental data with
SPSS
Lecture 4

2-4

Advanced
Research on
Entrepreneurship
and Innovation
(irregular
schedule, depending on the availability of guest professors; see the precise name of the lecture in schedule) Module examinations

Duration of the module
Module can be started in

3 - 6;
Lecture:
Visiting the lecture (30 h),
Preparation for courses (30 h),
Exam preparation (30 h)
Depending on the instructor the lecture might be accompanied by a tutorial, in this case:
Attendance of sessions (30 h),
Preparation for tutorial sessions
(15 h), Assignments (45 h)

Lecture:
Application of economic and management research to entrepreneurship.

Tutorial:
Exercises and model application; small empirical studies

Lecture and Tutorial 1: Written exam (90 min, 70%), assignments (30% of final mark) Lecture 2: Written exam (60 min)
Lecture and Tutorial 3: Written exam (90 min)
Lecture 4: depending on the lecturer: Written exam (60 minutes if 3 SP, 90 minutes if 6 SP) or Assignment and Presentation of results or Assignment and
Written Examination (60 minutes if 3 SP, 90 minutes if 6 SP)
1 Semester
Fall
Semester or

2 Semesters
Spring Semester

60

Mandatory Elective Module Business Administration: Research-

Study Points: 6

Seminar on Entrepreneurship and Innovation
Responsible: Schade

Goals:
In the seminar, students will either design and conduct an experiment or work extensively on an economic or econometric model. Results are presented at a joint retreat out of Berlin.
Prerequisites to participate in the module: none
Course

Periods/
Week

SP; work load

Topics

ResearchSeminar

2

6;
Seminar attendance (30 h),
Study of the relevant literature
(30 h)
Preparation, presentation and discussion of the seminar paper
(120 h)

Conducting a small research project

Module examinations
Duration of the module
Module can be started in

Seminar paper, presentation and discussion
1 Semester
Fall
Semester or

2 Semesters
Spring Semester

61

Mandatory Elective Module Business Administration: Topics in

Study Points: 9-18

Theory of Markets and Organizations I/II
Responsible: Hubert

Goals:
The courses cover recent developments in the theory of coordination within organizations and markets. The focus is on research methodology.
Prerequisites to participate in the module: Solid background in microeconomics
Course

Periods/
Week

SP; work load

Topics

Lecture 1

4

9;
Attendance (60 h)
Reading paper(120 h)
Preparation of presentations and examination (90 h)

Agency problems, incentive contracts, performance measurement, multitask agency relationship, asset ownership and job design, executive compensation, contests, bargaining theory and coalition formation, merger analysis

Lecture 2

4

9;
Attendance (60 h)
Reading paper(120 h)
Preparation of presentations and examination (90 h)

Vertical structures, hierarchies und decision making in committees, bounded rationality, economic psychology and experiments.

Module examinations

Duration of the module
Module can be started in

Lecture 1: Written exam (90 min, 50 %), Presentation (50 % of final mark)
Lecture 2: Written exam (90 min, 50 %), Presentation (50 % of final mark)
1 Semester
Fall
Semester or

2 Semesters
Spring Semester

62

Mandatory Elective Module Business Administration: Accounting

Study Points: 6-18

Courses
Responsible: Gassen/Maiterth

Goals:
This module contains elective classes for master students. Students do not have to be enrolled into the accounting specialization in order to enroll into these classes.
Prerequisites to participate in the module: Students need a thorough understanding of financial accounting, both based on HGB and on IFRS, of financial statement analysis and of group accounting.
Course

Periods/
Week

SP; work load

Topics

Lecture/
Tutorial

2

3;
Attendance (30 h),
Literature study (30 h),
Exam preparation (30 h).

The goal of the course is to present students the basics of financial accounting.
The course comprises three main parts. The first part deals with the objectives of financial accounting and the question why and how financial accounting is regulated.
The second part provides an introduction to group accounting including details on consolidation methods and cash flow statements. The third part focuses on specific accounting rules under International
Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS).

2

3;
Attendance (30 h),
Literature study (30 h),
Exam preparation (30 h).

The goal of the course is to offer students the foundations of financial statement analysis. It covers theoretical foundations as well as practical aspects. The course introduces corporate reporting as one of the main information sources for financial statement analysis, and covers topics related to strategy analysis, financial analysis, forecasting methods and valuation models. The last part of the course presents equity security analysis and credit analysis.

3

6;
Attendance (30 h)
Literature study (30 h)
Preparation of and participation in
Tutorial sessions (45 h)
Homework (45 h)
Exam preparation (30 h)

Institutions of accounting; the role of accounting based information from a valuation and from a contracting perspective; accounting and capital market based asset pricing, incentives and earnings management 2

3;
Attendance (30 h),
Literature study (30 h),
Exam preparation (30 h)

Topics include but are not limited to: accounting for lease transactions, accounting for financial instruments, hedge accounting, accounting for stock based compensation, accounting for special purpose entities, special industry accounting, recent regulative changes in standard setting, auditing and corporate governance, valuation based on accounting information, earnings management.

2

6;
Seminar attendance (30h),
Literature study (30 h)
Preparation, presentation and discussion of the team case-study

The cases discussed in this seminar encompass a wide variety of subject, ranging from specific problems in accounting measurement over valuation related problems in IPO or merger and

Introduction to Financial
Accounting

Lecture/
Tutorial
Financial
Statement
Analysis

Lecture/
Tutorial
Accounting
Theory and
Earnings
Management
Lecture/
Tutorial
Advanced
Topics in
Accounting

Applied
Seminar
Advanced
Cases in

63

Accounting and Auditing

(60 h),
Preparation of other cases and participation in the course (60 h).

acquisitions settings to problems related to the identification of fraudulent earnings management Research
Seminar
Empirical
Methods in
Accounting
and Finance

2

6;
Seminar attendance (30h), study of the relevant literature
(30 h), preparation, presentation and discussion of the group assignments (90 h), exam preparation (30 h).

This course aims at equipping students with the skill-set to design and conduct empirical studies based on observational (archival) data in the fields of accounting and finance.
After successful completion of the course students should understand the fundamentals and common pitfalls of quasiexperimental research design, be familiar with matching mechanisms, instrumental variable and panel data approaches which help with causal inference, be aware of limitations of these research designs, and, using the statistical software packages
STATA and/or SAS, have gathered experiences in designing and conducting large-scale research projects.

Research
Seminar
Financial
Accounting
Research
Group

2

6;
Seminar attendance (30 h), study of the relevant literature
(30 h), preparation and discussion of the assignments
(120 h).

This seminar is targeted at interested students which have an active interest in current financial accounting topics and in cutting-edge financial accounting research.
The main objective of this seminar is to introduce eligible students to current research in the area of financial accounting and auditing.
In this context, we will provide participants with the necessary skills to comprehend common research design choices and to identify shortcomings of these choices. To achieve this, participants of the seminar will be invited to several lectures, tutorials and talks of international guests, which will take place at the institute. Since it is common to discuss the content of these talks beforehand, participants will also be invited to the corresponding discussion meetings at the institute. In addition, we will invite leading industry experts to discuss current financial accounting topics with us in a small colloquial atmosphere. Each seminar period will last for one academic year and we expect participating students to commit to the full year.

Lecture/
Tutorial

3

4,5;
Attendance (30 h),
Literature study (30 h),
Preparation and participation in tutorial sessions (45 h);
Exam preparation (30 h)

Taxation of restructuring of enterprises according to the German Reorganisation
Tax Law; tax-optimal design of reorganisation processes, effects of taxation on the company purchase.
The classes are held in German.

2

3;
Attendance (30 h),
Literature study (30 h),
Exam preparation (30 h)

Integration of the German profit taxes
(income tax, corporation tax and trade tax) in common management decision models to analyse the effects of taxation on business decisions; the focus is on the impact of taxation on corporate investment and financing decisions in a national and international context.
The classes are held in German.

Umwandlung von Unternehmen und
Besteuerung
(German)
Lecture
Steuerwirkungslehre
(German)

64

Lecture/Tuto rial 3

4,5;
Attendance (30 h), literature study (30 h), preparation and participation in tutorial sessions (45 h); exam preparation (30 h)

Taxation of inbound and outbound investments, double taxation agreements, controlled foreign corporation rules, optimal policy of investment and financing decisions taking into account taxation.
The classes are held in German.

2

4,5;
Attendance (30 h),
Literature study (30 h),
Exam preparation (30 h)

The effects of German profit taxes (income tax, corporation tax and trade tax) are analysed applying complex practice-oriented case studies.
The classes are held in German.

3

4,5;
Attendance (30 h), literature study (30 h), preparation and participation in tutorial sessions (45 h); exam preparation (30 h)

Tax accounting regulations, relation between tax and financial accounting, taxation of formation and liquidation of an enterprise and tax specifics of partnerships.
The classes are held in German.

2

3;
Participation in Course (30 h),
Self-study (30 h),
Exam preparation (30 h)

Tax Due Diligence, Assed Deal or Share
Deal, acquisition structures of due diligence procedures, expiring of tax loss carry forwards, basics of real estate tax and avoidance strategies of real estate tax.
The classes are held in German.

2

3;
Participation in Course (30 h),
Self-study (30 h),
Exam preparation (30 h)

Variable topics
The classes are held in German.

Internationale Unternehmensbesteuerung
(German)
Seminar
Fallstudien
zur Steuerwirkungslehre
(German)
Lecture/
Tutorial
Steuerliche
Gewinnermittlung
(German)
Guest
lecture
Besteuerung
von Transaktionen und Restrukturierungen
(German)
Guest lecture Internationale Steuerplanung in der Praxis
(German)
Module examinations

Duration of the module
Module can be started in

Lecture/Tutorial: Written or oral exam (60 min),
Applied Seminar Advanced Cases in Accounting and Auditing: Preparation, presentation and discussion of the team case-study, participation in the seminar
Research Seminar Empirical Methods in Accounting and Finance: Assignments
(40 %) and written exam (60 %)
Research Seminar Financial Accounting Research Group: Written Reviews
Case study seminar: Written or oral exam (60 min)
1 Semester
Fall
Semester or

2 Semesters
Spring Semester

65

Mandatory Elective Module Business Administration: Accounting

Study Points: 6

Research Seminar (Master thesis Seminar Accounting)
Responsible: Gassen

Goals:
This seminar aims at developing the research skills which Master students need to develop and write a master thesis in the area of accounting. Students, who wish to write a master thesis at the Institute of
Accounting and Auditing, have to enrol in and successfully complete this seminar.
Prerequisites to participate in the module: Students need a thorough understanding of the underpinnings of accounting, and have to complete the Master module Accounting as a field of specialization.
Course

SWS

SP; work load

Topics

Accounting
Research
Seminar

2

6;
Attendance (30 h) preparation of a replication study with given data (90 h) presentation of influential articles of the field (30 h) preparation of a reviewer report for a working paper (30 h)

Students have to identify their own research question and develop a research exposé which provides the motivation for the research question and also explains the methodology the student will be using to address the research question.
Based on this research exposé students can apply for a slot in the Seminar (acceptance to the seminar is limited).
In the seminar, students will be presented with a methodological walk-through of different areas of accounting research. Also, students will be required to present and summarize influential papers in their respective research areas.

Module examinations

Duration of the module
Module can be started in

Exposé development (40 %), paper presentation (20 %), homework (20 %), class discussion (20 % of final mark)
1 Semester
Fall
Semester or

2 Semesters
Spring Semester

66

Mandatory Elective Module Business Administration: Master Tax

Study Points: 6-12

Seminar (Master thesis seminar Tax)
Responsible: Maiterth

Goals:
The seminar aims at developing the research skills which Master students need to write a master thesis in the area of business taxation. Students, who intend to write their master thesis at the Institute of Business
Taxation, are required to complete this seminar successfully.
Requirements for participation: Students need a profound knowledge of institutional details and economic effects of business taxation, and have to complete the Master module Accounting as a field of specialization.
Course

Periods/
Week

SP; work load

Topics

Master Tax
Seminar
(German)

2

6;
Seminar attendance (30h), preparation of the seminar paper
(90h),
presentation of the seminar paper, preparation and discussion of other seminar papers (60h)

During the seminar students deal with current tax issues and tax reforms respectively tax reform proposals in a national and international context.

6;
Seminar attendance (30h),
Preparation of the seminar paper
(90h),
Presentation of the seminar paper, preparation and discussion of other seminar papers (60h)

Ín this seminar we discuss varying issues in taxation. Current
Issues in
Tax
Accounting
(German)

2

Module examinations

Duration of the module
Module can be started in

The classes are held in German.

The classes are held in German.

Seminar paper (50 %), presentation of the seminar paper and discussion of other seminar papers (50 %)
1 Semester
Fall
Semester or

2 Semesters
Spring Semester

67

Mandatory Elective Module Business Administration: Financial

Studienpunkte: 6-18

Economics
Responsible: Adam, Stomper

Goals:
This module contains elective classes for master students interested in finance.
All courses are taught in English.
Prerequisites: Knowledge of the principals of finance theory: capital asset pricing model (CAPM), efficient market hypothesis, Markowitz portfolio selection, Modigliani-Miller theorem, DCF valuation. The last two concepts are covered in the IV Corporate Finance.
Course

Periods/
Week

SP; work load

Topics

Integrated
Lecture

4

6;
Class attendance (60 h)
Literature study (30 h)
Preparation of and participation in tutorial sessions (60 h)
Exam preparation (30 h)

Corporate financing, corporate cash management, capital structure, dividend policy, Company & project valuation

4

6;
Class attendance (60 h)
Literature study (30 h)
Preparation of tutorial sessions
(60 h)
Exam preparation (30 h)

Forwards and futures, option pricing in the binomial model and the Black Scholes model, estimation of risk-neutral densities, and applications 4

6;
Class attendance (60 h)
Literature study (30 h)
Preparation for tutorial sessions
(60 h)
Exam preparation (30 h)

Portfolio theory, the Capital Asset Pricing
Model, Arbitrage Pricing Theory, Stock
Valuation

Lecture/
Seminar
Real Effects of Finance

4

6;
Class attendance (60 h)
Literature study (60 h)
Preparation of the presentations
(60 h)

Lecture/
Tutorial

4

6;
Class attendance (60 h)
Literature study (30 h)
Preparation for tutorial sessions
(60 h)
Exam preparation (30 h)

Impact of agency costs and information asymmetries on optimal capital structure, bankruptcy, project finance, payout policy, corporate governance, executive compensation 2

3;

Mergers & acquisitions, private equity, venture capital

Corporate
Finance

Lecture/
Tutorial
Financial
Engineering

Lecture/
Tutorial
Asset
Management

Advanced
Corporate
Finance
Lecture
Private
Equity

Case
Seminar
Corporate
Finance

Class attendance (30 h)
Literature study (30 h)
Exam preparation (30 h)

3

6;
Class attendance (45 h)
Preparation, presentation and discussion of the team case-study
(135 h)

68

Effects of financial market development(s) on non-financial markets such as product and labor markets

This seminar discusses case studies that relate to the materials covered in Corporate
Finance and Advanced Corporate Finance

Seminar

2

6;
Class attendance (60 h)
Literature study (60 h)
Preparation of the seminar paper
(60 h)

The seminar discusses papers on asset pricing and market microstructure at an introductory PhD level

3

6;
Class attendance (45 h)
Literature study (90 h)
Exam preparation (45 h)

The seminar discusses papers on corporate finance at an introductory PhD level

2

6;
Class attendance (30 h)
Preparation for Courses (30 h)
Literature Study (90 h)
Exam preparation (30 h)

This course introduces students to the regulation of financial markets and the participants in these markets at the PhD level. Topics: Impact of financial disclosure requirements on corporate policies, financial market frictions, economics of financial crises Advanced
Financial
Economics
III
Lecture/
Tutorial
Advanced
Financial
Economics II
Lecture
Financial
Markets
Regulation
(PhD
Course)
Module examinations

Lectures: Written exams (60 or 90 min)
Lecture Financial Markets Regulation (Ph.D. Course): Written exam (120 min)
Case Seminar: Case reports (80 %), presentations (20 %)
Seminars Advanced Financial Economics II and III: Seminar paper (100 %)
Other seminars: Seminar paper (80 %), presentations (20 %)

Duration of the module

1 Semester

2 Semester

Module can be started in

WS or

SS

69

Mandatory Elective Module Business Administration:

Study Points: 6

Thesis Seminar Corporate Finance
Responsible: Adam

Goals:
This seminar is designed for students who wish to write a master thesis at the institute of corporate finance.
Most theses will be of an empirical nature. Therefore, sound econometrical and programming skills are essential. Before selecting this modul , students should have successfully completed the mandatory courses of the Mandatory Elective Modul: Financial Economics

Course

Periods/
Week

SP; work load

Topics

Seminar

4

6;
Seminar attendance (60 h)
Literature study (30 h)
Preparation, presentation and discussion of the seminar paper
(90 h)

This course covers advanced topics in corporate finance, as well as major econometric techniques used in empirical corporate finance research. The goal is to prepare students for writing a master thesis at the Institute of Corporate Finance.

Hauptsemin ar/Thesis Seminar
Corporate
Finance
Module examinations

Duration of the module
Module can be started in

Seminar paper (50 %), presentations (50 %)

1 Semester
Fall
Semester or

2 Semesters
Spring Semester

70

Mandatory Elective Module Business Administration:

Study Points: 6

Thesis Seminar Financial Economics
Responsible: Stomper

Goals:
This seminar is designed for students who wish to write a master thesis in financial economics at the institute of financial economics. Most theses will be of an empirical nature. Therefore, sound econometrical and programming skills are essential. Before selecting this modul , students should have successfully completed the mandatory courses of the Mandatory Elective Modul: Financial Economics
Course

Periods/
Week

SP; work load

Topics

Seminar

4

6;
Seminar attendance (60 h)
Literature study (30 h)
Preparation, presentation and discussion of the seminar paper
(90 h)

Preparation for writing a master thesis. The seminar will discuss papers on financial economics. Hauptsemin ar/Thesis Seminar
Financial
Economics
Module examinations

Duration of the module
Module can be started in

Seminar paper (50 %), presentations (50 %)

1 Semester
Fall
Semester or

2 Semesters
Spring Semester

71

Mandatory Elective Module Economics: Variable Module for

Study Points: 3-12

courses taken in the field of Business Administration
Responsible: Examinations Commission

Goals:
This is a module for the approval of exams successfully taken in the field of Business Administration. Courses may be from the Curriculum of other university-based Master’s programs or from other faculties of the
Humboldt-University Berlin. The approval of the exam is granted by the Examinations Commission of the
School of Business and Economics at the Humboldt-University Berlin after consulting the representative in charge. Prerequisites to participate in the module: none
Course

Periods/
Week

SP; work load

Topics

Lecture or
Tutorial or
Seminar

2-8

1 Period/Week generally relates to 1,5 SP or 1,5 ECTS.
The work load is partitioned, 1 SP matches 30h.

Selected Topics in Business Administration

Module examinations

Duration of the module
Module can be started in

Written exam, seminar paper and presentation, oral exam, homework assignments 1 Semester

2 Semesters

Fall
Semester
and/or

Spring Semester

72

Wahlpflichtmodul BWL: Ausgewählte Themen der

Studienpunkte: 3-12

Betriebswirtschaftslehre
Verantwortlich: Prüfungsausschuss

Lern- und Qualifikationsziele:
Modul zur Anerkennung von Prüfungsleistungen im Bereich der Betriebswirtschaftslehre, welche in anderen universitären Masterstudiengängen innerhalb oder außerhalb des Geltungsbereiches des Grundgesetzes bzw. an anderen Fakultäten der Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin erfolgreich erbracht wurden. Über die
Anerkennung der Prüfungsleistungen entscheidet der Prüfungsausschuss der Wirtschaftswissenschaftlichen
Fakultät der Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin nach Anhörung des jeweiligen Fachvertreters.
Voraussetzungen für die Teilnahme am Modul: keine
Lehr- und
Lernformen

PräsenzSWS

Anzahl der SP/
Arbeitsleistungen

Lernziele, Themen, Inhalte

Vorlesung,
Übung,
Seminar

2-8

1 SWS entspricht in der Regel 1,5
SP sowie 1,5 ECTS. Die
Arbeitsleistung ist differenziert und wird mit 30 h je SP angesetzt. Ausgewählte Themen der
Betriebswirtschaftslehre

Modulprüfungen

Klausur, Seminararbeit und Präsentation, mündliche Prüfung, schriftliche
Hausarbeit

Dauer des Moduls

1 Semester

2 Semester

Beginn des Moduls

WS und/oder

SS

73

Mandatory Elective Module QM: Multivariate Statistical Analysis

Study Points: 6-9

Responsible: Härdle

Goals:
Data records which are to be analysed by means of statistics often consist of many variables. While the connections between two variables are easily accessible, a group of several variables is not easily examinable in its structure. "Multivariate statistics" imparts procedures which allow an analysis of highdimensional data records. The course aims to introduce the basic concepts of statistical programming languages as R or Matlab and its application.
Prerequisites to participate in the module: Knowledge of basis statistical concepts and an understanding of a broad spectrum of statistical methods for data analysis.
Course

Periods/
Week

SP; work load

Topics

Lecture

4

6;
Attendance (60 h)
Self-study (60 h)
Exam preparation (60 h)

MVA1: Graphical display of multidimensional data, Repetition: matrix algebra, linear model, correlation, Multivariate random variables, Multinormal distribution,
Maximum likelihood theory, Principal components, Discriminant Analysis, Cluster
Analysis.

2

3;
Attendance (30 h)
Self-study (30 h)
Exam preparation (30 h)

Data Analysis and programming statistical algorithms in the programming languages R or Matlab

Multivariate
Statistical
Analysis I
(MVA1)

Lecture
Statistical
programmin g languages
(XIC)

Module examinations

Duration of the module
Module can be started in

MVA1: written exam (120 min) or working paper and eventually presentation or homework XIC: oral exam (30 min) or written exam (90 min) or working paper and eventually presentation or homework
1 Semester
Fall
Semester

2 Semesters
Spring Semester

74

Mandatory Elective Module QM: Advanced Statistics

Study Points: 6-15

Responsible: Härdle

Goals:
The courses and lectures will give the students a thorough insight into theoretical aspects as well as practical aspects of advanced statistical methods (R, Matlab and/or SPSS). The lectures cover different aspects in statistics: - The course Non- and Semiparametric Modelling gives an overview over the flexible regression methods.
- The lecture Multivariate Statistical Analysis 2 further develops methods presented in the first part of the lecture and deals with problems which arise in the analysis of real world data as well as some advanced methods. In the tutorial the students apply the methods to multivariate data with statistical software.
- The lecture Selected Topics in Banking and Insurance deals with specific topics connected either with
Banking (e.g. the issues of assessment of the quality of a credit to its risk of defaults) or Insurance (e.g. with claim size distributions, ruin problems, heavy tailed risks, premium, principles and risk measures and loss reserving in insurance).
- The seminar Numerical Introductory Course treats problems which arise in the implementation of statistical methods, e.g. Optimization.
- In the seminar What is statistics? – From the historical perspective historical aspects of the development of statistics will be treated.
- The lectures Data analysis I and II focus on practical steps in data analysis with SPSS and R. We cover various topics in uni-, bi- and multivariate descriptive statistics, tests and regression methods.
- The lecture Statistics of High-Dimensional Time Series provides an overview of statistical methods used for the analysis of high-dimensional time series.
Prerequisites to participate in the module: Knowledge of basis statistical concepts and an understanding of a broad spectrum of statistical methods for data analysis and the module „Multivariate Statistical Analysis"
Course

Periods/
Week

SP; work load

Topics

Lecture

2

3;
Attendance (30 h)
Self-study (30 h)
Exam preparation (30 h)

NPM: Histogram, Nonparametric Density
Estimation, Nonparametric Regression,
Additive Models, Linear Models, Generalized
Linear Models, Additive Models, Single-Index
Models, Generalized Partial Linear Models,
Generalized Additive Models

2

3;
Attendance (30 h)
Self-study (30 h)
Exam preparation (30 h)

MVA2: decomposition of data matrices by factors, Factor analysis, Multidimensional scaling, Canonical correlations,
Correspondence analysis, Projection pursuit,
Conjoint measurement analysis, SIR

Tutorial
Multivariate
Statistical
Analysis II
(UE MVA2)

2

3;
Attendance (30 h),
Preparation for tutorial sessions
(30 h),
Solving problem sets (30 h)

UE MVA2: The tutorial aims at practical exercises done withstatistical software packages (R, SPSS, Matlab).

Lecture

2

3;
Attendance (30 h)
Self-study (30 h)
Exam preparation (30 h)

SCR: Selected Topics either in Banking, e.g.
Credit rating, or Insurance. For details see the commented schedule of lectures.

2

3;
Attendance (30 h)
Self-study (30 h)

NIC: Numerical Linear Algebra, Curve
Fitting, Optimization, Random Number
Generation, Numerical Solutions of

Non- and
Semiparame
tric
Modelling
(NPM)
Lecture
Multivariate
Statistical
Analysis II
(MVA2)

Selected
Topics in
Banking and
Insurance
(SCR)
Seminar
Numerical

75

Introductory
Course
(NIC)

Exam preparation (30 h)

Stochastic Differential Equations

2

3;
Attendance (30 h)
Self-study (30 h)
Exam preparation (30 h)

HIST: In the seminar we will investigate elements of the history of statistics, mathematical statistics as well as economical statistics, from the 17th/18th century until the present time.

2

3;
Attendance (30 h)
Preparation of presentation
(10 h)
Seminar paper (50 h)

PRI: The seminar is a preparation for master thesis. Vorlesung
Datenanalys
eI

2

3;
Präsenzzeit (30 h)
Selbststudium (30 h)
Prüfungsvorbereitung (30 h)

DAT1: Wdh. Statistik I&II, Fragebogenkonstruktion, Datenbereinigung, Ausreißer,
Fehlende Werte, Univariate und Bivariate
Statistik (Grafiken, Kennzahlen und Tests)

Übung
Datenanalys
e I (UE
DAT1)

2

3;
Präsenzzeit (30 h)
Selbststudium (30 h)
Prüfungsvorbereitung (30 h)

UE DAT1: In der Übung werden praktische
Aufgaben zum Vorlesungsstoff mit SPSS und/oder R gelöst.

Vorlesung
Datenanalys
e II

2

3;
Präsenzzeit (30 h)
Selbststudium (30 h)
Prüfungsvorbereitung (30 h)

DAT2: Multivariate Statistik, Lineare
Regression, Nicht- und semiparametrische
Regression, Item-Response-Modelle,
Strukturgleichungsmodelle.

Übung
Datenanalys
e II (UE
DAT2)

2

3;
Präsenzzeit (30 h)
Selbststudium (30 h)
Prüfungsvorbereitung (30 h)

UE DAT2: In der Übung werden praktische
Aufgaben zum Vorlesungsstoff mit SPSS und/oder R gelöst.

Seminar

2

3;
Attendance (30 h)
Preparation of presentation
(10 h)
Seminar paper (50 h)

DAT: Das Seminar richtet sich an
Studierende, die einen konkreten Datensatz mittels statistischer Methoden (z.B. im
Rahmen von Projekt- oder Abschlußarbeiten) analysieren wollen.

2

3;
Attendance (30 h)
Self-study (30 h)
Exam preparation (30 h)

Topics include: the dynamic semiparametric factor model, statistics of multivariate time series models, non-parametric and flexible time series estimation, variable selection and empirical pricing kernel estimation.

Seminar
What is statistics? –
From the historical perspective
(HIST)

Seminar
Privatissimu
m Statistik
(PRI)

Datenanalys e (DAT)
(German)
Lecture
Statistics of
HighDimensional
Time Series
(STS)

Module examinations

Duration of the module
Module can be started in

NPM, MVA2/UE MVA2, SCR, DAT1, DAT2, STS: Oral exam (30 min) or written exam (90 min) working paper and eventually presentation or homework
NIC, HIST, PRI, DAT: Working paper (80%) and presentation (20%)
1 Semester
Fall
Semester or

2 Semesters
Spring Semester

76

Mandatory Elective Module QM: Statistics and Finance

Study Points: 6-15

Responsible: Härdle

Goals:
The course “Statistics of Financial Markets 1” starts with an introduction into the basic concepts of option pricing and its probabilistic foundations. Next, stochastic processes in discrete time are presented and the
Wiener process is introduced. Ito’s Lemma is derived and the Black-Scholes (BS) Option model is presented leading to the analytic solution for the BS Option price. Numerical solutions via binomial or trinomial tree constructions are discussed in detail.
The course “Statistics of Financial Markets 2” starts with an introduction into the basic concepts of time series and its application. The course gives an overview over risk management models and reviews the current value at Risk (VaR) methodology.
The course “Selected topics of mathematical statistics” covers a part of mathematical statistics which deals with the limiting behavior of different sample statistics, U-statistics, M-, L- and R-Estimates. It is laying a bridge between the probability theory and the mathematical statistics by manipulating with “probability” theorems to obtain “statistical” theorems.
The Seminar “Mathematical Statistics” allows for the presentation of research results from the discipline of mathematical statistics. The Seminar “Economic Risk” allows for the presentation of research results from the discipline of Quantitative Finance.
The lecture “Statistical Tools for Finance and Insurance” introduces modern statistical tools as applied to finance and insurance. Each part of the lecture contains content with a high focus on practical applications.
The course entitled “Advanced Methods in Quantitative Finance” covers material that is beyond the scope of the course “Statistics of Financial Markets”.
Prerequisites to participate in the module: Knowledge of basis statistical concepts and an understanding of a broad spectrum of statistical methods for data analysis.
Course

Periods/
Week

SP; work load

Topics

Lecture

4

6;
Attendance (60 h)
Self-study (60 h)
Exam preparation (60 h)

SFM1: Financial derivative, Option management, Basic concepts of probability theory, Stochastic processes in discrete time, Stochastic Integrals and differential equations, Black-Scholes option pricing model, Binomial model for European options and American options, Exotic options and interest rate derivatives

2

3;
Attendance (30 h)
Self-study (30 h)
Exam preparation (30 h)

SFM2: Basic concepts of statistical models,
ARIMA model, Time series of stochastic
Volatility, Nonparametric model on financial time series, Value at risk and back testing,
Copulas, Extreme value, Neuronal network

Lecture
Selected
topics of mathematica l statistics
(SMS)

2

3;
Attendance (30 h)
Self-study (30 h)
Exam preparation (30 h)

Limiting behavior of different sample statistics U-statistics, M-, L- and REstimates. This course gives better understanding for the basic tools learned in the elementary Statistics I and II, like Law of Large Numbers, Central Limit Theorem,
Kolmogorov-Smirnov and Cramer-von-Mises tests, sample mean and sample variance behavior, etc.

Lecture

2

3;
Attendance (30 h)
Self-study (30 h)
Exam preparation (30 h)

Energy options and knowledge of econometric tools and stochastic finance, robust techniques for financial time series

Statistics of
Financial
Markets I
(SFM1)

Lecture
Statistics of
Financial
Markets II
(SFM2)

Advanced
Methods in
Quantitative

77

Finance
(AMF)
Lecture
Statistical
Tools for
Finance and
Insurande
(STF)

2

3
Attendance (30 h)
Self-study (30 h)
Exam preparation (30 h)

Modern statistical tools applied in finance and insurance

Seminar

2

3;
Attendance (30 h)
Self-study (30 h)
Exam preparation (30 h)

Presentation of research results in topics in mathematical statistics

2

3;
Attendance (30 h)
Self-study (30 h)
Exam preparation (30 h)

Selected Topics of Economic Risk

Mathematica l Statistics
(MSS)
Seminar
Economic
Risk (QFS)
Module examinations

Duration of the module
Module can be started in

SFM1: oral exam (30 min) or written exam (90 min) or working paper and eventually presentation or homework
SFM2: oral exam (30 min) or written exam (90 min) or working paper and eventually presentation or homework
SMS: oral exam (30 min) or written exam (90 min) or working paper and eventually presentation or homework
STF: oral exam (30 min) or written exam (90 min) or working paper and eventually presentation or homework
AMF: oral exam (30 min) or written exam (90 min) or working paper and eventually presentation or homework
MSS: presentation (30 min) or working paper
QFS: presentation (30 min) or working paper
1 Semester
Fall
Semester or

2 Semesters
Spring Semester

78

Mandatory Elective Module QM: Privatissimum Statistik

Study Points: 18

Responsible: Härdle

Goals:
The seminar “Privatissimum” is designed to help students in the preparation and completion of their Masters thesis. The thesis must be dedicated to a chosen statistical subject. At the seminar any technical problems or drawbacks are presented and the relevant statistical procedures and results collectively discussed.
Prerequisites to participate in the module: Knowledge of basis statistical concepts and an understanding of a broad spectrum of statistical methods for data analysis.
Course

Periods/
Week

SP; work load

Topics

Seminar

2

PRI: Master Thesis

Privatissimu m Statistik
(PRI)

30;
Attendance (30 h)
Preparation of presentation
(60 h)
Master thesis (450 h)

Module examinations

PRI: Master thesis (75%) and presentation (25% of final mark)

Duration of the module
Module can be started in

1 Semester
Fall
Semester or

1 Semester
Spring Semester

79

Mandatory Elective Module QM: Econometric Methods

Study Points: 9

Responsible: Hautsch
Goals:
To gain a deep understanding of advanced econometric methods
The lecture aims at providing students with methods to perform own econometric analysis. Topics like the generalized linear regression model, dummy variables, the consideration of stochastic regressors, nonlinear regression models, SUR models and the specification and estimation (2SLS, 3SLS) of simultaneous equation models are covered. Furthermore, asymptotic and test theory is treated.
In the tutorial theoretical exercise questions and empirical applications of the advanced methods will be discussed. Prerequisites to participate in the module: Module „Introduction to Econometrics“ (or equivalent)
Course

Periods/
Week

SP; work load

Topics

Lecture

4

6;
Visiting the lecture (60 h),
Preparation for courses (60 h),
Exam preparations (60 h)

Generalized linear model, stochastic regressors, nonlinear regression models,
Specification, and simultaneous equation models Tutorials

2

3;
Attendance of sessions (30 h),
Preparation for and review of tutorial sessions (60 h)

Theoretical exercise questions, empirical examples. Module examinations

Duration of the module
Module can be started in

Written exam (180 min)

1 Semester
Fall
Semester

2 Semesters
Spring Semester

80

Mandatory Elective Module QM: Time Series Analysis

Study Points: 6-9

Responsible: Hautsch

Goals:
To gain an understanding of econometric time-series methodology
The lecture gives an introduction to time series analysis. The focus is on univariate modelling tools. We cover different types of stochastic processes like ARIMA and GARCH models, deal with the unit- root methodology and forecasting procedures. Multivariate extensions are demonstrated, with emphasis on vector autoregressive (VAR) processes and its application in causality and impulse response analyses.
Nonstationary systems with integrated and cointegrated variables will also be treated.
In the tutorials the time series methods are applied to empirical data. We will intensively make use of econometric software packages.
Seminar Economic Risk: Presentation of research results in the field of Quantitative Finance
Prerequisites to participate in the module: Module „Introduction to Econometrics“ (or equivalent)
Course

Periods/
Week

SP; work load

Topics

Lecture

3

4,5;
Attendance (45 h)
Preparation for courses (45 h)
Exam preparation (30 h)

Stochastic processes, ARIMA and GARCH models, unit-root methodology, forecasting,
VAR processes, Cointegration,
Causality and impulse-response analysis

Tutorial

1

1,5;
Attendance (15 h)
Preparation (15 h)
Assignments (30 h)

Use of econometrics software and application of time series methods

Seminar

2

3;
Attendance (30 h)
Self-study (30 h)
Exam preparation (30 h)

Selected Topics of Economic Risk

Economic
Risk
Module examinations

Duration of the module
Module can be started in

Lecture: Written exam (90 min, 75%), assignments (25% of final mark)
Seminar Economic Risk: Presentation (30 min) or working paper
1 Semester
Fall
Semester

2 Semesters
Spring Semester

81

Mandatory Elective Module QM: Selected Topics in Econometrics

Study Points: 6

Responsible: Hautsch

Goals:
To understand and to learn how to apply advanced methods in certain special fields of econometrics.
The lecture(s) and/or seminar deal with specific topics in Econometrics. Topics may cover nonlinear and nonparametric time series analysis, econometric forecasting, resampling methods or Bayesian econometrics.
The students will learn, for example also in tutorials, how to apply the advanced methods to empirical data.
To this end we will rely on the use of econometric software.
To complete the module students may choose courses of 6 SP.
Prerequisites to participate in the module: Module „Econometric Methods“
Course

Periods/
Week

SP; work load

Topics

Seminar/
Lecture/
Tutorial

4

6;
Attendance (60 h)
Preparation for courses (60 h)
Exam preparation (60 h)

Presentation of advanced methods in special fields of econometrics;
Use of econometric software and application of econometric methods

Module examinations

Duration of the module
Module can be started in

Seminar: Seminar paper and/or oral presentation
Lecture: Written exam (90 min if 4 periods/week or 60 min if 2 periods/week) or oral exam
1Semester or
Fall
Semester or

2 Semesters
Spring Semester

82

Mandatory Elective Module QM: Econometric Projects

Study Points: 6

Responsible: Hautsch

Goals:
To learn how to apply econometric methods for empirical analysis. During the seminar the students will conduct an own empirical study. The students learn how to apply different econometric methods to real data.
This includes empirical data-handling and the ability to translate an economic model framework into an econometric model that can be estimated. Furthermore, the students learn how to present their study in written and oral form.
Prerequisites to participate in the module: Module “Econometric Methods“ and one other complementary or compulsory course in econometrics
Course

Periods/
Week

SP; work load

Topics

Seminar

2

6;
Attendance (30 h)
Seminar paper (90 h)
Presentation (45 h)
Assignments (15 h)

Conduct own empirical analysis

Module examinations
Duration of the module
Module can be started in

Seminar paper and oral presentation
1 Semester
Fall
Semester or

2 Semesters
Spring Semester

83

Mandatory Elective Module QM: Analysis of Panel Data

Study Points: 6

Responsible: Hautsch

Goals:
The course aims at providing the basic concepts and methods for analysing panel data.
The lecture introduces different error component regression models with fixed and random effects. It covers tests of hypotheses with panel data as well as techniques for serial correlation, heteroscedasticity, simultaneous equations, dynamic models and models for qualitative dependent variables.
In the tutorials the methods are revisited and applied to empirical data.
Prerequisites to participate in the module: Module „Econometric Methods“
Course

Periods/
Week

SP; work load

Topics

Lecture

3

4,5;
Attendance (45 h)
Preparation (45 h)
Exam preparation (45 h)

Basic concepts, error component regression models with fixed and random effects, tests of hypotheses with panel data, serial correlation and heteroscedasticity, simultaneous equations, dynamic models, models for qualitative dependent variables.

Tutorial

1

1,5;
Attendance (15 h)
Preparation (15 h)
Exam preparation (15 h)

Theoretical exercise questions, application of methods to empirical data.

Module examinations
Duration of the module
Module can be started in

Written exam (90 min)
1 Semester
Fall
Semester

2 Semesters
Spring Semester

84

Mandatory Elective Module QM: Multiple Time Series Analysis

Study Points: 6

Responsible: Hautsch

Goals:
To gain a deep understanding of advanced multiple time series methods and their applications.
The lecture gives an introduction to multiple time series techniques and will cover vector autoregressive
(VAR) processes, VAR estimation, VAR order selection and model checking. Nonstationary systems with integrated and cointegrated variables will also be treated. The use of VAR models in forecasting, causality and impulse response analysis will be explained and illustrated using empirical examples.
Prerequisites to participate in the module: Module „Econometric Methods“
Course

Periods/
Week

SP; work load

Topics

Lecture

4

6;
Attendance (60 h)
Preparation (30 h)
Exam preparation (45 h)
Assignments (45 h)

Vector autoregressive (VAR) processes, co integrated VAR models, forecasting, causality and impulse-response analysis

Module examinations
Duration of the module
Module can be started in

Written exam (90 min)
1 Semester
Fall
Semester or

2 Semesters
Spring Semester

85

Mandatory Elective Module QM: Microeconometrics

Study Points: 6

Responsible: Hautsch

Goals:
To gain a deep understanding of models and methods for qualitative and limited dependent variables and their applications.
The lecture gives an introduction to models for qualitative and limited dependent variables and will cover logit and probit models for binary dependent variables, multinomial logit and probit models for unordered and ordered categories. In addition, models for censored and truncated data and models with sample selection problems as well as models for duration and count data will be discussed. The use of these models will be explained and illustrated using empirical examples.
Prerequisites to participate in the module: Module „Introduction to Econometrics“ (or equivalent)
Course

Periods/
Week

SP; work load

Topics

Lecture

3

4,5;
Attendance (45 h)
Preparation (45 h)
Exam preparation (45 h)

Models for limited dependent variables including logit and probit models, models for censored and truncated data, sample selection problems and models for duration and count data

Tutorial

1

1,5;
Attendance (15 h)
Preparation (30 h)

Solving problems and computer tutorials

Module examinations
Duration of the module
Module can be started in

Written exam (90 min)
1 Semester
Fall
Semester or

2 Semesters
Spring Semester

86

Mandatory Elective Module QM: Financial Econometrics

Study Points: 6-9

Responsible: Hautsch

Goals:
To gain an understanding of econometrics methods for the analysis of financial market data
The lecture deals with the statistical properties of financial market data and econometric methods that can be used to analyse these data. We will study procedures to test for the efficient market hypothesis and become familiar with methods to model the mean and the volatility of financial data series. Besides the application of nonparametric and classical test procedures, the focus will be on time series methods and models. In particular, ARMA and GARCH models will be covered.
Empirical illustrations and exercises are incorporated into the lecture.
Seminar Economic Risk: Presentation of research results in the field of Quantitative Finance
Prerequisites to participate in the module: Module „Econometric Methods“
Course

Periods/
Week

SP; work load

Topics

Lecture

4

6; Visiting the lecture (60 h),
Preparation for courses (45 h),
Exam preparations (45 h)
Assignments (30 h)

Basic concepts and properties of financial returns, Foundations in time series analysis,
Modelling time‐varying volatility, Estimating and testing asset pricing models, Modelling high-frequency financial data

Seminar

2

3;
Attendance(30 h)
Preparation (30 h)
Exam preparation (30 h)

Presentation of research results in Economic
Risk

Economic
Risk (QFS)
(German)
Module examinations

Duration of the module
Module can be started in

Lecture: Written exam (90 min)
Seminar Economic Risk: Presentation (30 min) or working paper
1 Semester
Fall
Semester or

2 Semesters
Spring Semester

87

Mandatory Elective Module QM: Advanced Econometrics

Study Points: 6

Responsible: Hautsch

Goals:
This course deals with advanced estimation techniques in modern econometrics. Main topics include generalized methods of moments (GMM) estimation for single-equation models and multiple-equation models, information theoretic approaches, pseudo-maximum likelihood methods as well as empirical likelihood techniques. Furthermore, an introduction to Bayesian econometric methods will be given. Here the focus is on fundamental principles of Bayesian inference, Markov chain Monte-Carlo (MCMC) methods as well as different applications of Bayesian inference. Finally, non- and semiparametric methods in econometrics are covered. We will study basic Kernel density estimation, nonparametric regression techniques and estimation of partially linear and additive models. A deep knowledge of the techniques conveyed in this course is extremely useful since they are applied in various areas in modern econometrics, including time series econometrics, micro econometrics, panel econometrics as well as financial econometrics.
Prerequisites to participate in the module: Module „Econometric Methods“
Course

Periods/
Week

SP; work load

Topics

Lecture

4

6;
Attendance (60 h)
Preparation (60 h)
Exam preparation (60 h)

GMM estimation, multiple-equation models, pseudo-maximum likelihood and empirical likelihood methods, Bayesian inference,
MCMC techniques, nonparametric regression, partially linear and additive models Module examinations
Duration of the module
Module can be started in

Written exam (90 min)
1 Semester
Fall
Semester or

2 Semesters
Spring Semester

88

Mandatory Elective Module QM: Operations Research

Study Points: 6-18

Responsible: Helmes / Brandt

Goals:
The „Elective Module Operations Research“ (for master students) is composed of fundamental and advanced courses as well as special topic courses and seminars. It offers the opportunity to become a specialist in
Operations Research applications. The basic courses (OR I and OR II) cover classical material on linear and nonlinear programming. The advanced courses (OR III and OR IV) are devoted to dynamic programming and applied project work. They aim to provide students with the opportunity to gain enhanced theoretical knowledge and theory oriented as well as applied project experience. As part of the module special topic courses on a variety of business management specializations are offered, e. g. Revenue Management,
Operational Risk Management, Operations Management, Financial Engineering, Queueing theory, inventory theory, logistic and supply chain management, simulation studies, stochastic modelling and optimization algorithms, etc. Within special seminars students will learn to use and to apply OR-software packages.
Prerequisites to participate in the module: none
Course

Periods/
Week

SP; work load

Topics

3

4,5;
Attendance (45 h)
Preparation and homework assignments (60 h)
Exam preparation (30 h)

Simplex algorithms, theory on duality and sensitivity analysis, production-, cuttingstock and blending problems, staffing and scheduling problems, quadratic optimization

3

4,5;
Attendance (45 h)
Preparation and homework assignments (60 h)
Exam preparation (30 h)

Integer programming with the view towards applications, knapsack problem, transportation and assignment problems, network flow optimization and project planning 3

4,5;
Attendance (45 h)
Preparation and homework assignments (60 h)
Exam preparation (30 h)

Deterministic and stochastic dynamic programming; solution algorithms, business and economic applications

3

4,5;
Attendance (45 h)
Preparation, presentation and homework assignments (30 h)
Project work (60 h)

Lectures based on research articles, presentation of thesis and project work

3

4,5;
Attendance (45 h)
Preparation and homework assignments (60 h)
Exam preparation (30 h)

There will be special lectures on OR topics every semester.

Basic Lectures
Lecture/
Tutorial
OR I

Lecture/
Tutorial
OR II

Advanced Lectures
Lecture/
Tutorial
OR III

Lecture/
Seminar
OR IV

Special lectures
Every
lecture marked as
Special OR lecture in the university calendar Seminars

89

Software in
Operations
Research

2

6;
Attendance (30 h)
Preparation (30 h)
Seminar paper and presentation
(90 h + 30 h)

Introduction into the usage of, e. g. AMPL,
OPL, AIMMS, NEOS, etc.; syntactic elements of model languages; linear, piecewise linear, quadratic and integer valued optimization problems Software project 2

3;
Implementation, documentation und presentation (90 h)

Developing software packages; long term projects Research
Seminar

2

3;
Attendance (30 h)
Reports and presentation (60 h)

Lectures on research projects

Module examinations

Duration of the module
Module can be started in

Lecture/Tutorial OR I: Written exam (120 min, 100 %) or written exam (120min,
80 %) + homework assignments (20 %)
Lecture/Tutorial OR II: Written exam (120 min, 100 %) or written exam
(120min, 80%) + homework assignments (20 %)
Lecture/Tutorial OR III: Written exam (120 min, 100 %) or written exam
(120min, 80 %) + homework assignments (20 %)
Lecture/Seminar OR IV: Homework assignments (20 %), presentation (40 %) and project work (40 %) or presentation (30 %) and seminar paper (70 %)
Seminar Software in OR: work reports (50 %), presentation (40 %), exercises
(10 %)
Seminar Softwareproject: reports (30 %) and software with software documentation (70 %)
Lecture/Tutorial OR Special: Written exam (120 min, 80 %) and homework assignments (20 %) or written exam (100 %) or oral exam (100 %)
1 Semester
Fall
Semester or

2 Semesters
Spring Semester

90

Mandatory Elective Module QM: Advanced Information Systems I

Study Points: 6-9

Responsible: N.N.

Goals:
The goal is to gain an understanding of information systems in the enterprise. Today’s relevant IT topics related to system design and introduction of systems in companies are presented. Technologies are discussed with regard to their value propositions to customers and their business case.
Information Management and IT Strategy (3 SP) will give students an understanding of managerial and strategic aspects of information systems. The lecture covers: IT architecture; IT management and IT governance; application software (choice, sourcing and management: in-house vs. COTS, F/OSS vs. proprietary); organizational aspects of IT management; IT investment decisions.
Advanced BPM and Enterprise Systems (3 SP) will give students an understanding of major entrepreneurship issues surrounding the modelling and implementation of process-aware information systems. The lecture covers: workflow modelling, formal analysis of process models, workflow systems, process simulation, ERP system integration, inter-organizational process implementation. In the tutorial sessions, students will practice methods and the use of instruments for systems analysis and design (especially workflow modelling and ERP systems).
Seminar AIS I: In these seminars (3 SP) students will be working either theoretically or in the form of practical research on diverse subjects related to E-Business. Typical subjects students may work on include:
Service_oriented architectures, IT productivity, ERP, EAI, DRM, RFID, security & privacy, customer relationship management (CRM), mobile business, or e-auctions. The focus here is one the discussion of technologies and their current value proposition/benefit to customers. State of the art offers are analysed and business cases are deducted.
Students are free to choose the seminar. The module AIS I is already completed by passing the exam of both lectures.
Prerequisites to participate in the module: none
Course

Periods/
Week

SP; work load

Topics

Lecture

2

3;
Visiting the lecture (30 h),
Preparation for Courses (30 h),
Exam preparations (30h)

Information management, IT strategy

2

3;
Visiting the lecture (30 h),
Preparation for Courses (30 h),
Exam preparations (30h)

Business process management, ARIS and
ERP modelling

2

3;
Attending classes (30 h), preparation of cases (30 h), reading papers (30 h)

Information
Management
and IT
Strategy
Lecture
Advanced
BPM and
Enterprise
Systems
Seminar
AIS I

Module examinations

Duration of the module
Module can be started in

Lectures: Information Management and IT Strategy and Advanced BPM and
Enterprise Systems: Written exam (120 min)
Seminar AIS I: Seminar paper and presentation
1 Semester
Fall
Semester or

2 Semesters
Spring Semester

91

Mandatory Elective Module QM: Advanced Information Systems II

Study Points: 6-9

Responsible: N.N.

Goals:
Seminar “Data Management/Business Intelligence”: The goal of the seminar is to give students an insight into the theory and practice of data management and business intelligence in the enterprise. Subjects include: data warehouse modelling, data extraction and transformation, metadata, user profiles and access, data quality, project management, foundations of data mining.
Seminar “Business Process Modelling/Enterprise Systems”: The goal of this seminar is to teach students the relevance of business process modelling in the enterprise. The seminar will cover process and system modelling (possibly in cooperation with partners from industry) and the development of strategic IT recommendations. Seminar “AIS II”: The goal of this seminar is to give students a deeper understanding of IT management in the enterprise. Subjects include: ERP and EAI issues, selected enterprise applications, information management and business intelligence in the enterprise, new technologies (e.g. web services or RFID) and their impact.
Prerequisites to participate in the module: Knowledge of the module „Business Informatics II“ (BA)
Course

Periods/
Week

SP; work load

Topics

Seminar

2

3;
Seminar participation (30 h)
Project and presentation (60 h)

Understanding data warehouse methods, data modelling and data quality

2

3;
Seminar participation (30 h)
Project and presentation (60 h)

Understanding trends and challenges for IT management in the enterprise

2

AIS II

3;
Seminar participation (30 h)
Project and presentation (60 h)

Understanding the implementation of advanced information systems in the enterprise Module examinations

Seminar paper (2/3) and presentation (1/3)

Data
Management
/Business
Intelligence
Seminar
Business
Process
Modelling/
Enterprise
Systems
Seminar

Duration of the module

1 Semester

2 Semesters

Module can be started in

Fall Semester

Spring Semester

92

Mandatory Elective Module QM: IT Security and Privacy

Study Points: 6

Responsible: N.N.

Goals:
Lectures and Tutorial:
The lecture, to be taught in English, presents an introduction to security engineering, security management, and privacy engineering. The integrated exercises will provide a deeper and practical understanding of the topics discussed in the lecture. The main topics are Security Engineering (Cryptographic Building Blocks,
Cryptoanalysis, Network Security (e.g. Security Protocols, VPN, Firewalls, Intrusion Detection), Host-based
Security (e.g. Malware, Trusted Computing), Case Studies in Securities Engineering), Security Management
(Security Management Standards (e.g. ISO, Cobit), Risk Analysis), Privacy (Economics of Security, Legal
Aspects of Privacy: Terror, Justice, and Freedom, Privacy-Enhancing Technologies, Privacy on the Web).
Seminar “Security and Privacy”: The seminar offers students the possibility to work on interesting topics in the area of “Security and Privacy”. Students are required to use at least one research method in their seminar work and present their progress at a mid term and final presentations.
Prerequisites to participate in the module: Knowledge of the module „Business Informatics II“ (BA)
Course

Periods/
Week

SP; work load

Topics

Lecture/
Tutorial

2

3;
Attendance (30 h),
Preparation (30 h),
Exam preparation (30 h)

IT security and privacy, data protection

2

3;
Participation in the presentations
(30h),
Preparation and development of one’s own topic as a presentation and seminar paper (60h)

IT security and privacy, data protection

Security
Engineering
and
Management
and Privacy
Seminar
Security and
Privacy

Module examinations

Lecture: Written exam (60 min)
Seminar: Seminar paper and presentation

Duration of the module

1 Semester

2 Semesters

Module can be started in

Fall Semester

Spring Semester

93

Mandatory Elective Module QM: Business Process Technology

Study Points: 6

Responsible: N.N.

Goals:
The goal is to gain an understanding of current workflow technology, process-aware information systems and process mining. Foundational concepts of workflow management systems are introduced and practical applications are studied.
Workflow Management will give students an understanding of managerial and strategic aspects of workflow management systems, and their formal and theoretical foundations. The lecture covers: workflow management, workflow design, workflow verification, workflow optimization, workflow execution, workflow monitoring, and process mining.
In the seminar Business Process Technology students will be working theoretically and practically on recent research topics in the area of process-aware information systems. The focus of this seminar is to work on specific workflow-related projects. The goal of this seminar is to apply theoretical concepts of business process technology in a practical project with a strong emphasis on engineering and implementation.
Prerequisites to participate in the module: Module „Advanced Information Systems I“ and Module „Methoden und Modelle des Systementwurfs”
Course

Periods/
Week

SP; work load

Topics

Lecture

2

3;
Visiting the lecture (30h);
Preparation for Courses (30h);
Exam preparations (30h)

Workflow Management Systems, Process
Mining

2

3;
Attending classes (30 h);
Preparation of cases (30h);
Reading papers (30 h)

The seminar covers key topics of business process technology. Students implement business process related software in project groups. Workflow
Management
Seminar
Business
Process
Technology
Module examinations

Lecture: Written exam (60 min)
Seminar: Seminar paper (70%), Presentation (30%)

Duration of the Module

1 Semester

Module can be started in: Fall Semester

2 Semesters
Spring Semester

94

Mandatory Elective Module QM: Variable Module for courses taken

Study Points: 3-12

in the field of Quantitative Methodology
Responsible: Examinations Commission

Goals:
This is a module for the approval of exams successfully taken in the field of Quantitative Methodology.
Courses may be from the Curriculum of other university-based Master’s programs or from other faculties of the Humboldt-University Berlin. The approval of the exam is granted by the Examinations Commission of the
School of Business and Economics at the Humboldt-University Berlin after consulting the representative in charge. Prerequisites to participate in the module: none
Course

Periods/
Week

SP; work load

Topics

Lecture or
Tutorial or
Seminar

2-8

1 Period/Week generally relates to 1,5 SP or 1,5 ECTS.
The work load is partitioned, 1 SP matches 30h.

Selected Topics in Quantitative Methodology

Module examinations

Duration of the module
Module can be started in

Written exam, seminar paper and presentation, oral exam, homework assignments 1 Semester

2 Semesters

Fall
Semester
and/or

Spring Semester

95

Wahlpflichtmodul QM: Ausgewählte Themen der Quantitativen

Studienpunkte: 3-12

Methoden
Verantwortlich: Prüfungsausschuss

Lern- und Qualifikationsziele:
Modul zur Anerkennung von Prüfungsleistungen im Bereich der Quantitativen Methoden, welche in anderen universitären Masterstudiengängen innerhalb oder außerhalb des Geltungsbereiches des Grundgesetzes bzw. an anderen Fakultäten der Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin erfolgreich erbracht wurden. Über die
Anerkennung der Prüfungsleistungen entscheidet der Prüfungsausschuss der Wirtschaftswissenschaftlichen
Fakultät der Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin nach Anhörung des jeweiligen Fachvertreters.
Voraussetzungen für die Teilnahme am Modul: keine
Lehr- und
Lernformen

PräsenzSWS

Anzahl der SP/
Arbeitsleistungen

Lernziele, Themen, Inhalte

Vorlesung,
Übung,
Seminar

2-8

1 SWS entspricht in der Regel 1,5
SP sowie 1,5 ECTS. Die
Arbeitsleistung ist differenziert und wird mit 30 h je SP angesetzt. Ausgewählte Themen der Quantitativen
Methoden

Modulprüfungen

Klausur, Seminararbeit und Präsentation, mündliche Prüfung, schriftliche
Hausarbeit

Dauer des Moduls

1 Semester

2 Semester

Beginn des Moduls

WS und/oder

SS

96

Elective Module: Variable Module for courses inside of the

Study Points: 3-12

economic department which students may select on their own initiative Responsible: Examinations Commission

Goals:
Acquirement of knowledge in the fields of business administration and/or economics and/or quantitative methods. Students may fill the difference between the points acquired in the mandatory, mandatory elective and elective modules and the total amount of 120 SP with this module. The maximum admissible amount is 12
SP.
The approvable courses for this module are courses within the Economics Department which are not part of a mandatory module and are rewarded with less than 6 SP.
Prerequisites to participate in the module: none
Course

Periods/
Week

SP; work load

Topics

Lecture or
Tutorial or
Seminar

2-8

1 Period/Week generally relates to 1,5 SP or 1,5 ECTS.
The work load is partitioned, 1 SP matches 30h.

Various
(Courses at large, from other courses of studies as well)

Module examinations

Duration of the module
Module can be started in

Written exam, seminar paper and presentation, oral exam
The required examinations will be announced at the beginning of the semester.
1 Semester
Fall
Semester or

2 Semesters
Spring Semester

97

Wahlmodul: Variables Modul zur Ergänzung des Wahlbereiches

Studienpunkte: 3-12

Verantwortlich: Prüfungsausschuss

Goals:
Erwerb von Kenntnissen in Betriebs- und/oder Volkswirtschaftslehre und/oder in quantitativen Methoden.
Durch dieses Modul können Studienpunkte im Umfang der Differenz der in Pflicht-, Wahlpflicht-, bzw.
Wahlmodulen erworbenen Studienpunkte zu dem Gesamtumfang von 120 Studienpunkten erworben werden.
In diesem Modul sind maximal 12 SP zulässig.
In diesem Modul sind ausschließlich Lehrveranstaltungen der Wirtschaftswissenschaftlichen Fakultät enthalten, für die weniger als 6 SP vergeben werden und die nicht Bestandteil eines Pflichtmoduls sind.
Voraussetzungen für die Teilnahme am Modul: keine
Lehr- und
Lernformen

PräsenzSWS

Anzahl der SP/
Arbeitsleistungen

Lernziele, Themen, Inhalte

Vorlesung oder Übung oder Seminar

2-8

1 SWS entspricht in der Regel 1,5
SP sowie 1,5 ECTS.
Die Arbeitsleistung ist differenziert und wird mit 30 h je
SP angesetzt.

Differenziert
(Lehrveranstaltungen, auch fachfremder
Studiengänge)

Modulprüfungen

Klausur, Seminararbeit und Präsentation, mündliche Prüfung
Die relevanten Prüfungsleistungen werden spätestens zu Semesterbeginn bekannt gegeben.

Dauer des Moduls

1 Semester

2 Semester

Beginn des Moduls

WS und/oder

SS

98

Elective Module: Variable Module for courses outside of the economic department which students may select on their own initiative

Study Points: 3 - 24

Responsible: Examinations Commission
Goals:
According to § 6 Abs. 2 of the study regulations students may take courses, up to a total of 24 SP, outside of the Economic Department. The goal of this is to enable students to acquire further qualifications which are either subject-specific, or are foreign to the field of economics, or are interdisciplinary, so that they may further their professional orientation.
The prerequisites for attendance and participation are to be found in the regulations of the respective departments When considering the examinations, tests and study points, the examinations commission for the Master
Program in Economics and Management Science will decide on the basis of the following criteria:
1.

Only examinations, tests and study points can be taken into consideration which were acquired in the course of academic studies. Both completed modules or individual courses from modules may be taken, in as much as the regulations of the respective course of studies allow this. In particular, academic achievements, examinations and study points for language courses, sports courses and courses taken at the Career Centre, as well as study points for courses which were not acquired within a degree programme cannot be taken into account.

2.

Only those study points from courses which were successfully completed with coursework or an examination can be taken into consideration. Those courses for which the student received study points only on the basis of attendance cannot be taken into consideration.

3.

Only examinations, tests and study points, can be taken into consideration, which are documented by a Transcript of Records or by a certificate of achievement. The certificate verifying this must contain the following information:
•
•
•
•
•

Title and form of the course or courses
Level of these courses (Master, diploma - main studies, Ph.D. program)
Form of the coursework done in the course and/or of the examinations
Grade
SP or ECTS-points (if in the regulations or stipulations of the respective course of studies nothing is said regarding SP or ECTS-points, then alternately proof of the semester week hours will suffice).

4.

Those study points which were acquired in one and the same course, cannot be divided among different modules.

5.

Examinations, tests and study points which were acquired outside of the Humboldt University, will be accredited according to the stipulations of the ASSP. In addition, numbers 1 – 4 (see above) still apply. Those examinations, tests and study points which were acquired in courses, the basic and essential content of which were already successfully completed in courses taken at the Economics
Department cannot be taken into consideration.

Module examinations

The examination regulations of the other departments apply in regard to the examinations. 99

Außerhalb der Wirtschaftswissenschaftlichen Fakultät frei wählbare
Lehrveranstaltungen

Studienpunkte: 3 - 24

Lern- und Qualifikationsziele:
Gemäß § 6 Abs. 2 Studienordnung können im Umfang bis zu 24 SP auch außerhalb der
Wirtschaftswissenschaftlichen Fakultät Lehrveranstaltungen frei gewählt werden. Ziel ist es, fachspezifische, fachfremde oder fächerübergreifende Qualifikationen im Hinblick auf die weitere berufliche Orientierung zu erwerben. Voraussetzungen für die Teilnahme: gemäß Bestimmungen der jeweiligen Fächer
Über die Berücksichtigung der Studienleistungen, Prüfungen und SP entscheidet der Prüfungsausschuss
Economics and Management Science nach folgenden Maßgaben:
Berücksichtigt werden Studienleistungen, Prüfungen und SP, die in Studiengängen erworben wurden. Es können ganze Module oder einzelne Lehrveranstaltungen aus Modulen belegt werden, sofern die
Bestimmungen des jeweiligen Studienganges dies zulassen. Nicht berücksichtigungsfähig sind insbesondere
Studienleistungen, Prüfungen und SP aus Sprachkursen, Sportkursen und Kursen des Career Centers sowie aus Kursen, die nicht in Studiengängen erworben wurden.
Berücksichtigt werden nur SP aus Lehrveranstaltungen, die mit einer Arbeitsleistung oder Prüfung abgeschlossen wurden. Nicht berücksichtigt werden SP, die ausschließlich für die Anwesenheit in
Lehrveranstaltungen erworben wurden.
Berücksichtigt werden nur Studienleistungen, Prüfungen und SP, die in einem Transcript of Records bzw.
Leistungsnachweis dokumentiert wurden. Der Nachweis muss folgende Angaben enthalten:
Titel und Art der Lehrveranstaltung(en)
Studienniveau (Master, Diplom Hauptstudium, Doktorandenprogramme)
Form der Arbeits- und/oder Prüfungsleistung(en)
Note
SP bzw. ECTS-Punkte (falls in den Bestimmungen des jeweiligen Studienganges keine SP oder ECTS-Punkte ausgewiesen sind, alternativ Nachweis der Semesterwochenstunden).
4.

Bei der Berücksichtigung sind SP, die in ein und derselben Lehrveranstaltung erworben wurden, nicht auf mehrere Module aufteilbar.

5.

Studienleistungen, Prüfungen und SP, die außerhalb der Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin erworben wurden, werden nach Maßgabe der ASSP anerkannt. Ergänzend gelten die Ziffern 1 bis 4. Nicht berücksichtigt werden Studienleistungen, Prüfungsleistungen und SP aus Lehrveranstaltungen, deren Inhalte im Wesentlichen bereits erfolgreich an der Wirtschaftswissenschaftlichen Fakultät absolviert wurden.

Modulprüfungen

Für die Prüfungen gelten die Prüfungsbestimmungen der anderen Fächer.

100

Master’s Thesis

Study Points: 18

Competency targets:
At the end of their studies, students will be able, as a result of their coursework, both basic and advanced, to plan and conduct research, and to write up this research in an academic text. In their thesis students will demonstrate that they are aware of and able to use the most important theories and methods within their chosen field, and to apply them to the topic being investigated.
In the course of conducting their research and in writing their Master’s thesis, students will demonstrate that they are able to think both subject-specific and interdisciplinary and that they are able to find, to apply and to use the appropriate scientific methods for solving problems.
Students will make use of internal and external resources.
In the course of writing the thesis, students will expand and deepen their individually acquired profiles.
Students will demonstrate their ability to apply various perspectives and techniques of analysis to a concrete problem or question and to implement these in a sustained academic text.
Students prove with the completion of the Master’s Thesis that they have successfully completed the Master program Economics and Management Science (MEMS). They demonstrate that they have a solid command of the content, the self-understanding and the methodology of their chosen subjects.
Prerequisite to qualify to write the Master’s Thesis: Successful completion of two mandatory modules
Master’s thesis

A written paper of approximately 200,000 characters, that is approximately
80 pages

Length of time

3 Months

Beginning of the module

WS

after the topic is approved
SS

101