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351-0506-00L 3 Credits MSC D-MATH , D-MTEC
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Applied Microeconomics

Lecturers & Examiners: Prof. Dr. Massimo Filippini
VVZ CR n/a

Last Updated: 2026-02-05 15:19:29

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: Review of demand theory Individual Demand Market Demand Estimation of a Demand Function Topic 2: Review of multiple regression models Stochastic processes Least squares approach Multiple regression models Dataset characteristics Functional forms Topic 3: Demand analysis: Empirical studies Case I: Elasticities of Electricity Demand in Urban Indian Households Case II: Swiss residential demand for electricity Hedonic Pricing Method Case III: Hedonic price functions for Zurich and Lugano with special focus on electrosmog Introduction to choice experiments Topic 4: Review of cost theory Economic Cost vs. Accounting Cost Economic Cost Analysis Economies of Scale and Scope Topic 5: Estimation of a cost function Cost function Model specification Functional form Measuring efficiency in practice Topic 6: Regulation of public utilities Need for regulation Regulatory mechanisms Efficiency and productivity Topic 7: Efficiency and Productivity Analysis Benchmarking methods Productivity methods Efficiency concepts Topic 8: Reforms in the electricity sector Elements of a reform The Swiss case Reforms of the electricity power sector Topic 9: Investment Selection Evaluating investment projects Competitiveness of Swiss hydropower sector

Resources

Lecture Notes

There are lecture notes and reference material on the E-learning-platform. Students registered onwww.student.ethz.chby 17 March 2007 will receive an email invitation to register on the E Learning platform for the Applied Microeconomics course. The invitation is in the form of a URL.Please keep the following in mind while you register for the course:There are detailed instructions in the invitation email. Please read them carefully before proceeding with the registration.The invitation URL can be used only once. It can’t be reused. If you fail to register correctly the first time, please [email protected] he will send you another invitation.There are lectures notes and reading material uploaded on the E-Learning platform for you to download and use. These will not be distributed in class.For downloading lectures and other reading material, please allow pop-ups on the course webpage.Students registering later should [email protected].

Literature

Antonioli, B., & Filippini, M., (2002). Optimal size in the waste collection sector. The Review of Industrial Organization. 20. 239-252. Banfi, S., Filippini, M., & Luchsinger, C. (2002). Deregulation of the Swiss Electricity Industry: Short-Run Implications for the Hydropower Sector. The Electricity Journal. 15(6). 69-77. Bye, T., & Hope, E. (2005). Deregulation of electricity markets—The Norwegian experience. Discussion Papers 433. Statistics Norway, September 2005. Coelli, T.J., Estache, A., Perelman, S. & Trujillo, L. (2002). A Primer on Efficiency Measurement for Utilities and Transport Regulators. World Bank Publications. Dobbs I.M. (2000). Managerial Economics: Firms, Markets and Business Decisions, Oxford University Press, Oxford. Farsi, M. & 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., & Filippini, M. (2007): Benchmarking and Regulation in the Electricity Distribution Sector, CEPE Working Paper 54, Centre for Energy Policy and Economics, ETH Zurich, January 2007. Farsi, M., Filippini, M. & Greene, W. (2005). Efficiency Measurement in Network Industries: Application to the Swiss Railway Companies. Journal of Regulatory Economics. 28(1). 65-86. Filippini M., Banfi S., Luchsinger C., & Wild J. (2001). Perspektiven für die Wasserkraftwerke in der Schweiz - Langfristige Wettbewerbsfähigkeit und mögliche Verbesserungspotenziale, BFE, CEPE - ETH Zürich. Filippini M., Banfi, S., & Horehajova, A. (2006). Hedonic price functions for Zurich and Lugano with special focus on electrosmog. Conference on Sustainable Resource Used and Economic Dynamics SURED 2006. June 4 – 9, 2006, Ascona, Switzerland Filippini M., Farsi M., & Greene W., (2005). Application of Panel Data Models in Benchmarking Analysis of the Electricity Distribution Sector, CEPE Working Paper No. 39, Centre for Energy Policy and Economics (CEPE), Zurich. Filippini, M. & Pachauri, S. (2004). Elasticities of electricity demand in urban Indian households. Energy Policy. 32. 429-436. 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. Hunt, S., & Shuttleworth, G. (1996). Competition and Choice in Electricity. John Wiley and Sons, New York. Lave, L.B., Apt, J., & Blumsack, S. (2004). Rethinking Electricity Deregulation. The Electricity Journal. 17(8). 11-26. Mansfield, E. (1999). Managerial economics: theory, applications, and cases. (4th ed.). W. W. Norton & Company, Inc., New York. McGuigan, J.R., Moyer, R.C. & Harris, F.H. (2002). Managerial Economics, South Western, New York. Pindyck, S.R. & Rubinfeld, D.L. (2005). Microeconomics. (6th ed.). Prentice Hall, New Jersey. Stewart, K. (2005) Introduction to Applied Econometrics. 1st Edition. Duxbury Press Viscusi, W. K., Vernon, J. M., & Harrington Jr. J, E. (2000). Economics of Regulation and Antitrust. (3rd ed.). MIT Press, Cambridge.

General Information

Language
English
Levels
MSC
Frequency
Yearly recurring

Examination

Type
end-of-semester examination

Course Components

Type Title Time & Place Hours
lecture with exercise Applied Microeconomics
Voraussetzung: Kenntnisse in Statistik und Mikroökonomie
  • Thu 13:15-15:00 (CLA E 4)
2 h weekly

Offered In