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Applied Microeconomics
Last Updated: 2026-02-05 15:10:01
Abstract
The objective is to learn how to apply microeconomic analytical tools and econometric methods to the analysis of various issues in industrial organization focussing on estimating demand and cost functions, analyzing efficiency, analyzing applied regulation instruments
Objective
This course is a laboratory of applied economics for research in the field of industrial organization The main objective is to learn how to apply microeconomic analytical tools and econometric methods to the analysis of various issues in industrial organization The course will focus on the following issues: estimating demand and cost functions analyzing efficiency analyzing applied regulation instruments
Content
Topic 1: Introduction: Course objectives, structure, evaluation; The reform of the electric power sector; Competitiveness of the Swiss Hydropower companies Topic 2: Regulation of public utilities: Regulation; Efficiency and productivity Topic 3: Efficiency and Productivity Analysis: Benchmarking methods; Productivity methods; Efficiency concepts Topic 4: Efficiency Analysis: A Parametric Approach: Model specification; Data; Functional form; Econometric approaches Topic 5: Efficiency Analysis: Papers on Scale and Cost Efficiency Topic 6: Estimation of a demand function: Single equation approach; Share equation approach; Forecasting; Discussion of some empirical applications
Resources
Lecture Notes
There are lecture notes and reference material on the E-learning-platform. Students registered onwww.student.ethz.chby 31 March 2006 will receive a user ID and password to access the E-learning platform. Students registering later should [email protected].
Literature
Antonioli, B., and Filippini, M., (2002). Optimal size in the waste collection sector. The Review of Industrial Organization. 20. 239-252. Banfi, S., Filippini, M., and Luchsinger, C. (2002). Deregulation of the Swiss Electricity Industry: Short-Run Implications for the Hydropower Sector. The Electricity Journal. 15(6). 69-77. Bye, Torstein and Hope, Einar. (2005). Deregulation of electricity markets—The Norwegian experience. Discussion Papers 433. Statistics Norway, September 2005. Coelli, T.J., Estache, A., Perelman, S. and Trujillo, L.. (2002). A Primer on Efficiency Measurement for Utilities and Transport Regulators. World Bank Publications. 129 pp. Economist (2004). A Productivity Primer. Nov 4th 2004. The Economist. Farsi, M. and Filippini M. (2004). Regulation and Measuring Cost Efficiency with Panel Data Models: Application to Electricity Distribution Utilities. The Review of Industrial Organization. 25 (1). 1-19. Farsi, M., Fetz, A., and Filippini, M. (2005). Benchmarking analysis in European electricity distribution. CEPE WP 39, Zurich. Farsi, M., Filippini, M. and Greene, W. (2005). Efficiency Measurement in Network Industries: Application to the Swiss Railway Companies. Journal of Regulatory Economics. 28(1). 65-86. Filippini, M. (1995). Electricity demand by Time-of-use: An application of the household AIDS model. Energy Economics. 17(3) 197-204. Filippini, M. (1997), Elements of the Swiss Market for Electricity. Physica-Verlag, Berlin. Filippini, M. (1999). Swiss residential demand for electricity. Applied Economics Letters. 6. 533–538. Filippini, M. and Pachauri, S. (2004). Elasticities of electricity demand in urban Indian households. Energy Policy. 32. 429-436. Filippini, M., and Prioni, P. (2003). The influence of ownership on the cost of bus service provision in Switzerland – an empirical illustration. Applied Economics. 35. 683–690. Hunt, Sally and Shuttleworth, Graham. (1996). Competition and Choice in Electricity. New York: John Wiley and Sons. Lave, Lester. B., Apt, Jay and Blumsack, Seth (2004) Rethinking Electricity Deregulation. The Electricity Journal. 17(8). 11-26. Mansfield, Edwin. (1999). Managerial economics: theory, applications, and cases (4th ed.). New York: W. W. Norton & Company, Inc. McCarthy, Patrick S. (2001), Transportation Economics: Theory and Practice, Blackwell Publishers. Morancho, Aurelia Bengochea. (2003). A hedonic valuation of urban green areas. Landscape and Urban Planning. 66(1). 35-41. Stewart, Kenneth. (2005) Introduction to Applied Econometrics. 1st Edition. Duxbury Press Viscusi, W. Kip, Vernon, John M., Harrington Jr. Joseph E. (2000). Economics of Regulation and Antitrust. 3rd Edition. MIT Press.
General Information
- Language
- English
- Frequency
- Yearly recurring
Examination
- Type
- end-of-semester examination
Course Components
| Type | Title | Time & Place | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| lecture with exercise | Applied Microeconomics |
|
2 h weekly |