1. How to write a good paper in economics Qiang Gong qgong@ccer.pku.edu.cn 6275-8907

2. Road map  Motivation!  How to do research  Structure of Economic paper  Presentation requirement

3. Research  Some background reading, think hard, and identify a topic. (Professor) ( 学我者生，似我 者死 )  a clear research question  do real research  make an argument （英雄所见略同）  write well

4. Economic Research  Get started early  Research materials  Use what you have learned in class  Use data whenever possible  Use data in interesting ways  Charts, Figures and Tables

5. Economic Research  Write early and often  What exactly are you trying to say?  Be objective  Do not plagiarize  Style: have some  Spelling: check it

6. Select a topic  Interesting!!!  Proposal first: Summary (abstract) Main structure  think about the theory/models  try to find data  and other relevant literature

7. Format  The header:  Abstract  Introduction.  Review of the literature  The model.  The data.  Results  Summary and conclusions.  References.

8. Style  Language.  Structure.  Figures and tables:  Consistence  Referencing is a discipline on its own.

9. Finishing the paper  finishing a version right away  ‘professional’ advice computing your model, statistical analysis, etc. things you really cannot solve yourself.  start new (sub)-sections at the top of the page

10. Assessment  The description of the goal of the paper (originality, relevance);  The originality of the setup of the project;  The quality of use of theory and methods;  The structure of the paper;  The style;  The degree of independent production of the paper;  The oral presentation and participation during the presentation-seminars.

11. Marginal Contribution of a good paper  Addressing a question fashionable.  Introducing a new dataset  Finding a new approach  Utilizing a new (more advanced) econometric technique  Testing a model that has not been tested  New application  (Exercise)

12. Format  The header.  Abstract.  Introduction.  Review of the literature  The model.  The data.  Results  Summary and conclusions.  References.

13. Presentation requirement  Control time (Practice makes perfect)  Motivation and story  Marginal contribution Why it is important (interesting) How Its position in related field  Main Results and its application  Model

14. Q&A