Econ 602: Course Project
The project is due on December 16th, 2024, by 11:59 pm. The project asks you to set up a PowerPoint (PPT) file and an Excel file: you should upload both files in a .zip folder. .zip is the only compression format allowed: if you submit your assignment using any other compression format your grade on the entire assignment will automatically be zero.
General Instructions:
a) This is an individual assignment. You should not consult others.
b) This is an open book assignment. You are free to consult any source but all sources must be acknowledged. If you cut-and-paste material without mentioning the source, you will lose points.
Project
Pick one of the following countries: Canada, any member country of the euro area, Japan, or the United Kingdom (these are the major trading partners of the US as far as advanced economies go). You should turn in a PPT and EXCEL file following the structure given below. The EXCEL file should have a ‘read me’ sheet explaining how the file is organized and what it contains. Label all charts clearly. Each axis should be clearly labelled mentioning what is showing and what the units are (e.g. percent, percentage change). The “cosmetics” of your PPT presentation are important and will be graded: your presentation should be of professional quality. Similarly, your Excel file should be set up in a way that is straightforward to understand by someone who is interested in reproducing your results and asks you to share your file: you will be graded on this aspect as well (to this end the ‘read me’ file is critical, but also the way in which your calculations are performed).
For your chosen country:
1) Present some facts and pictures about your chosen country on slide 1 of your PPT. (Also, list your name on this slide).
2) Show a chart of real GDP over time. Go as far back in time as you can find data. This should be slide 2 of the PPT and the data should be in the EXCEL file .
3) Show a chart of real GDP per capita over time. Go as far back in time as you can find data. Slide 3 of the PPT and all the data should be in the EXCEL file.
4) How would you describe the trends (or trends) in real income per capita?
Slides 4 and 5. You can use charts and bullet points to describe the trends. Any computations should be given in the EXCEL file. All sources must be listed in the ‘notes’ part of the slide.
5) How would you describe the business cycles or economic fluctuations (deviations from trend) in real income per capita? Deviations from trend (the cyclical component) should be calculated using the HP filter using the natural logarithm of data. Click here for useful tutorial on how to install and use the HP filter in Excel.
Slides 6 and 7. You can use charts and bullet points to describe the cycles. Any computations should be given in the EXCEL file. All sources must be listed in the ‘notes’ part of the slide.
6) Estimate Okun’s Law and Phillips Curve for your chosen country.
Slides 8 and 9. Data and computations must be in the EXCEL file.
7) ‘Wild card’ slides: The content of slides 10-15 is up to you to decide. You can use the slides to present facts or analysis about your chosen country that are related to our course material.