312215 Technical Change in Economics (V) (SoSe 2014)

This course gives an overview of the role of technical change in Economics. It is the extension of the earlier course on technical change in Macroeconomics. The lectures consist of the overview of different mathematical models which include technical change both at the macro level (endogenous growth theories) and some models in Industrial Organization, mainly of differential games type. The goal of the course is to give students benchmarks of modelling techniques in the field to stimulate their own research and give an impression of the central role technical change models play in modern day Economics. The course includes both classical models from 1960 and the most recent advances in the field. The interrelationships between technical change, competition, productivity and environment are also discussed throughout the course.

Teilnahmevoraussetzungen, notwendige Vorkenntnisse

There are no special requirements for this course. Some basic knowledge of dynamic optimization techniques and of the growth theories in Economics would be helpful.