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X-WR-CALDESC:Events for Economics Research
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20210318T134500
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20210318T140500
DTSTAMP:20260501T000152
CREATED:20210315T151723Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20210315T151723Z
UID:2250-1616075100-1616076300@research.reading.ac.uk
SUMMARY:Constance Liu (RHUL) "Explore the Decoy effect in Social Interacting games" - PhD Seminar (Short)
DESCRIPTION:
URL:https://research.reading.ac.uk/economics/event/constance-liu-rhul-explore-the-decoy-effect-in-social-interacting-games-phd-seminar-short/
LOCATION:Microsoft Teams
CATEGORIES:PhD Seminars
ORGANIZER;CN="Carl%20Singleton":MAILTO:c.a.singleton@reading.ac.uk
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20210311T134500
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20210311T143000
DTSTAMP:20260501T000152
CREATED:20210228T105837Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20210228T105919Z
UID:2229-1615470300-1615473000@research.reading.ac.uk
SUMMARY:Jingqi Pan (ICMA) "On the estimation of Value-at-risk and Expected Shortfall at extreme levels" - PhD Seminar
DESCRIPTION:Abstract \nThe estimation of risk at extreme levels of significance (such as alpha = 0.01%) can be crucial considering events such as those related to the recent COVID-19 crisis. We extend two popular dynamic semi-parametric models of Patton (2019) that jointly estimate Value-at-Risk (VaR) and Expected Shortfall (ES)\, specifically the one-factor GAS model and the Hybrid GAS/GARCH model. The main idea of our approach is to estimate VaR and ES for two levels of alpha simultaneously\, namely for an extreme level and for a more common level (such as 10%). Our simulation results indicate that the proposed models outperform the benchmarks in terms of in-sample loss values\, out-of-sample loss and backtest rejections for extreme values of alpha. In an empirical study\, we apply the proposed augmented GAS model and the augmented Hybrid GAS/GARCH model to energy futures prices (WTI\, Brent\, Gas oil and Heating oil) and compare them with a range of parametric\, nonparametric and semiparametric models. Our results show that both augmented GAS models generally outperform the benchmark models\, and the outperformance is even more prominent during the COVID-19 crisis.
URL:https://research.reading.ac.uk/economics/event/jingqi-pan-icma-on-the-estimation-of-value-at-risk-and-expected-shortfall-at-extreme-levelsl-phd-seminar/
LOCATION:Microsoft Teams
CATEGORIES:PhD Seminars
ORGANIZER;CN="Carl%20Singleton":MAILTO:c.a.singleton@reading.ac.uk
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20210311T130000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20210311T134500
DTSTAMP:20260501T000152
CREATED:20210303T210051Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20210303T210051Z
UID:2232-1615467600-1615470300@research.reading.ac.uk
SUMMARY:Anna Zabrodzka "Convergence Across EU Regions and the Role of the EU Cohesion Policy" - PhD Seminar
DESCRIPTION:Abstract \nWhile there is evidence that the poorest regions in the European Union experienced the fastest economic growth\, the gap between the richest and the poorest has not diminished. Additionally\, after more than 30 years of intervention\, there is no clear and conclusive evidence that the EU Cohesion Policy has effectively contributed to economic development across the disadvantaged Europe and ensured rising equality across the continent. The inconclusive or often contradictory results of the existing studies warrant further investigation. The aim of this study is to contribute to the discussion and evaluate the macroeconomic impact of the EU Cohesion Policy on the growth of European regions and the process of economic convergence. The study attempts to answer the following question – Is there evidence that the EU structural funds supported economic growth and in turn convergence process among European subnational regions? – by using cross-section\, panel and dynamic panel analysis and the newly available dataset on annual payments provided by the European Commission. The main contribution of this paper is the expansion of the data sample by the 2007-2014 programming period and inclusion of the regions in the Central and Eastern Europe\, which joined the EU in 2004 and 2007\, in the investigation.
URL:https://research.reading.ac.uk/economics/event/anna-zabrodzka-convergence-across-eu-regions-and-the-role-of-the-eu-cohesion-policy-phd-seminar/
LOCATION:Microsoft Teams
CATEGORIES:PhD Seminars
ORGANIZER;CN="Carl%20Singleton":MAILTO:c.a.singleton@reading.ac.uk
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20210304T130000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20210304T134500
DTSTAMP:20260501T000152
CREATED:20210220T072351Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20210220T072351Z
UID:2213-1614862800-1614865500@research.reading.ac.uk
SUMMARY:Evripidis Bantis (ICMA) "Forecasting GDP Growth Rates Using Google Trends in the United States and Brazil" - PhD Seminar
DESCRIPTION:Abstract \nThere are many studies that explore the usefulness of “Big Data” in forecasting specific economic variables such as unemployment or inflation\, but only a few focus on the overall economic activity. Thus\, the purpose of this paper is to nowcast GDP growth rates by using a dynamic factor model based on traditional economic indicators as well as on Google search data. Our analysis covers Brazil and the United States over the period of 2005-2019. Moreover\, we employ several variable selection methods to investigate whether factor models with targeted predictors provide forecast gains when utilizing high dimensional datasets. Empirical results show that factor models with targeted predictors based on both economic indicators and Google search data provide forecast gains compared to factor models that are based only on economic indicators. When we isolate the source of forecast improvements\, we find that pre-selecting predictors indeed matters\, but gains appear mostly in forecast horizons and tend to vanish as we move to nowcasting and backcasting horizons. Finally\, only the main Google Trends categories provide forecast benefits\, while they appear to perform better for the United States rather than in Brazil.
URL:https://research.reading.ac.uk/economics/event/evripidis-bantis-icma-forecasting-gdp-growth-rates-using-google-trends-in-the-united-states-and-brazil-phd-seminar/
LOCATION:Microsoft Teams
CATEGORIES:PhD Seminars
ORGANIZER;CN="Carl%20Singleton":MAILTO:c.a.singleton@reading.ac.uk
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20210225T134500
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20210225T143000
DTSTAMP:20260501T000152
CREATED:20210222T203036Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20210222T203036Z
UID:2220-1614260700-1614263400@research.reading.ac.uk
SUMMARY:Shahabeddin Gharaati (RHUL) "The welfare effects of introducing a tax on a collateralized loan" - PhD Seminar
DESCRIPTION:Abstract\n\nIn this paper\, I examine the effects of introducing a tax on social welfare in models with collateral and default. Two models are considered. The first model incorporates default and collateral in a standard two-period general equilibrium with incomplete markets; the second is a model with a continuum of investors in the binomial economy who have different beliefs about the asset’s price. The individual that issues the security pays tax in the first period\, then all agents receive a transfer in the second period. In both models\, the borrower demand for the collateralizable durable good decreases. The borrower is worse off due to an increase in the interest rate and a negative income effect.  On the other hand\, a taxation policy benefits the lender through the effect of the tax on the equilibrium interest rate and the equilibrium price of the durable good. In the model with different beliefs\, the utilitarian welfare function always increases; however\, in the standard model\, the social welfare function increase depends on the distribution of endowments of the perishable good in the first period.
URL:https://research.reading.ac.uk/economics/event/shahabeddin-gharaati-rhul-the-welfare-effects-of-introducing-a-tax-on-a-collateralized-loan-phd-seminar/
LOCATION:Microsoft Teams
CATEGORIES:PhD Seminars
ORGANIZER;CN="Carl%20Singleton":MAILTO:c.a.singleton@reading.ac.uk
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20210222T130000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20210225T134500
DTSTAMP:20260501T000152
CREATED:20210222T135444Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20210222T152307Z
UID:2216-1613998800-1614260700@research.reading.ac.uk
SUMMARY:Meshael Batarfi "What differences are there between male and female managers? Evidence from elite women’s soccer" - PhD Seminar
DESCRIPTION:Abstract \nWe investigate male and female managers in a highly competitive and data-rich setting: association football. While in men’s football there is minimal gender variation in the high-profile roles\, in women’s football men often take up top management positions; indeed in our dataset 75.18 % of the 14\,000 national and international matches between 1983 and 2020 involved at least one team coached by a male manager. We find significant differences between male and female coaches in a number of the measured characteristics indicating differences in risk preferences. 
URL:https://research.reading.ac.uk/economics/event/meshael-batarfi-tbc-phd-seminar/
LOCATION:Microsoft Teams
CATEGORIES:PhD Seminars
ORGANIZER;CN="Carl%20Singleton":MAILTO:c.a.singleton@reading.ac.uk
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20210211T130000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20210211T134500
DTSTAMP:20260501T000152
CREATED:20210201T190908Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20210201T190951Z
UID:2209-1613048400-1613051100@research.reading.ac.uk
SUMMARY:Luqman Saeed (RHUL) "Political and Economic Consequences of Humanitarian Military Interventions Abstract" - PhD Seminar
DESCRIPTION:Abstract \nThis study investigates the impact of humanitarian military interventions (HMIs) on conflict termination\, conflict escalation\, economic output and democratic performance using panel data on 144 countries covering time-period of 1960-2018. Scholars are divided over whether HMIs are an effective means of enforcing peace and establishing economic and political stabilities. This contribution is empirical\, and it exploits a new database on HMIs in post second world war period developed by the Peace Research Institute Frankfurt. The results from multivariate analyses suggest that biased HMIs have deteriorating impact on conflict whereas neutral interventions have positive impact on conflict termination. In particular\, interventions which are biased against rebels\, tend to escalate conflict. Neutral interventions have no significant negative impact on output whereas HMIs biased against governments and rebels lead to around 9 -8 percent decrease in per capita output. Finally\, neutral and against governments HMIs lead to increase in democracy score. These results are consistent in both contemporaneous and long-run decaying modes and also in IV regressions.
URL:https://research.reading.ac.uk/economics/event/luqman-saeed-rhul-political-and-economic-consequences-of-humanitarian-military-interventions-abstract-phd-seminar/
LOCATION:Microsoft Teams
CATEGORIES:PhD Seminars
ORGANIZER;CN="Carl%20Singleton":MAILTO:c.a.singleton@reading.ac.uk
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20210204T134500
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20210204T143000
DTSTAMP:20260501T000152
CREATED:20210201T191139Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20210201T191139Z
UID:2211-1612446300-1612449000@research.reading.ac.uk
SUMMARY:Konstantina Boutsioukou (RHUL) "Parental background and access to tertiary education in Greece: Changes in times of crisis" - PhD seminar
DESCRIPTION:Abstract\nIn this study I explore how university entry patterns in Greece were affected by the debt crisis over the period 2008-2016. In particular\, I study the distribution of educational participation in elite university programmes in Greece and examine whether the link between parental background and admission to elite university programmes has changed as a result of the economic recession that hit Greece in 2009. I use individual-level data for admissions to every undergraduate university program in Greece for nine rounds of admission cohorts (2008-2016) and data on the university admission thresholds (2008-2016) for every undergraduate university programme\, recording the minimum score required for entry. I find that students from higher educational backgrounds are more likely to be admitted to elite departments such as medicine\, law and engineering compared to students from poorer educational backgrounds. However\, the results indicate that the socioeconomic gradient of entry into the elite programmes has become flatter over the years of the crisis.
URL:https://research.reading.ac.uk/economics/event/konstantina-boutsioukou-rhul-parental-background-and-access-to-tertiary-education-in-greece-changes-in-times-of-crisis-phd-seminar/
LOCATION:Microsoft Teams
CATEGORIES:PhD Seminars
ORGANIZER;CN="Carl%20Singleton":MAILTO:c.a.singleton@reading.ac.uk
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20210204T130000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20210204T134500
DTSTAMP:20260501T000152
CREATED:20210111T164140Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20210111T164512Z
UID:2175-1612443600-1612446300@research.reading.ac.uk
SUMMARY:Ran Tao (ICMA) "News-Based Links and Cross-firm Return Predictability" - PhD Seminar
DESCRIPTION:Abstract \nApplying a “co-coverage” concept to the Dow Jones Newswire articles\, we propose to identify each firm’s news-based links (NBLs) and thereby construct a newsworthiness economic grouping scheme. The advantage of NBLs is to capture the up-to-date relative importance of different economic links between a base firm and its peers. We show that a base firm’s share price responses persistently to the shock transmitted from its industry peers reweighted by the NBLs. Additional empirical tests show that the relative importance of those NBLs is not immediately clear to the investors and therefore is reflected sluggishly in the return shock from NBL peers to the base firms. Taken together\, our results suggest that monitoring news co-coverage plays an important role in understanding the cross-firm return predictability documented in the literature
URL:https://research.reading.ac.uk/economics/event/ran-tao-icma-news-based-links-and-cross-firm-return-predictability-phd-seminar/
LOCATION:Microsoft Teams
CATEGORIES:PhD Seminars
ORGANIZER;CN="Carl%20Singleton":MAILTO:c.a.singleton@reading.ac.uk
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20210128T134500
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20210128T143000
DTSTAMP:20260501T000152
CREATED:20210111T164307Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20210113T081422Z
UID:2177-1611841500-1611844200@research.reading.ac.uk
SUMMARY:Yongda Liu (ICMA) "Internal Information Quality and Financial Policy Peer Effects" - PhD Seminar
DESCRIPTION:Abstract \nThis paper investigates how firms’ internal information quality influences the peer effects in its financial policy. By employing earning announcement speed and insider trading profitability difference as measurements\, we find that firms with low internal information quality have a high propensity of mimicking the capital structure decision of its product market peers and\, by doing so\, firms’ operating performance suffers. Our further analysis shows that poor information quality could amplify the agency problem\, therefore inducing more peer mimicking.
URL:https://research.reading.ac.uk/economics/event/yongda-liu-icma-tbc-phd-seminar/
LOCATION:Microsoft Teams
CATEGORIES:PhD Seminars
ORGANIZER;CN="Carl%20Singleton":MAILTO:c.a.singleton@reading.ac.uk
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20210128T130000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20210128T134500
DTSTAMP:20260501T000152
CREATED:20210111T162517Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20210121T124809Z
UID:2172-1611838800-1611841500@research.reading.ac.uk
SUMMARY:Alex Vickery (RHUL) "Reaching for the SKY: Parental Investments in Academic Skills and Competition for University Places" - PhD Seminar
DESCRIPTION:See Alex’s personal website here \nAbstract \nI study the development of child academic skills through adolescence in anticipation of entry to university. I look at how heterogeneity in initial household income and child skills affects parents’ decisions to invest in private education for their child\, and how the resulting choices contribute to inequality in university admissions in the first instance\, and also to lower social mobility in terms of lifetime earnings. I use a non-linear factor approach to estimate human capital production functions that are placed within an equilibrium framework to account for the fact that places at top universities are highly attractive but also limited. I find that there are strong complementarities between different academic skills and that private education in one subject can have strong spillover effects on the accumulation of skills in cognate subjects. The implied equilibrium competition for limited places at top universities strongly contributes to low inter-generational social mobility\, and\, conversely\, policies that would limit competition could improve equality and the allocation of talent.
URL:https://research.reading.ac.uk/economics/event/alex-vickery-rhul-reaching-for-the-sky-parental-investments-in-academic-skills-and-competition-for-university-places-phd-seminar/
LOCATION:Microsoft Teams
CATEGORIES:PhD Seminars
ORGANIZER;CN="Carl%20Singleton":MAILTO:c.a.singleton@reading.ac.uk
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20210121T134500
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20210121T143000
DTSTAMP:20260501T000152
CREATED:20210111T164416Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20210114T142059Z
UID:2180-1611236700-1611239400@research.reading.ac.uk
SUMMARY:Muayad Ismail "Distributional and Welfare Effects of IMF Programs in Sudan" - PhD Seminar
DESCRIPTION:Abstract \nThis research aims at evaluating the distributional and welfare effects of IMF programs implemented in Sudan during the period 1960-2018. This research is expected to contribute to the current debate about the potential social impact of the ongoing IMF program in Sudan and implications for the very difficult political transition following regime change. It generally examines the validity of various claims in the literature that Fund programs are harmful for income distribution and growth. Specifically\, the research evaluates the efficacy of these assumptions and the costs of IMF programs in terms of increasing income inequality and reducing per capita income for Sudanese during or after programs. To this effect\, the study will use a combination of quantitative methods\, including Vector Auto-regressive models (VAR) and Generalized Method of Moments. The paper will also extend the analysis to cover the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region to further strengthen the robustness of the results.
URL:https://research.reading.ac.uk/economics/event/muayad-ismail-tbc-phd-seminar/
LOCATION:Microsoft Teams
CATEGORIES:PhD Seminars
ORGANIZER;CN="Carl%20Singleton":MAILTO:c.a.singleton@reading.ac.uk
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20210121T130000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20210121T134500
DTSTAMP:20260501T000152
CREATED:20210111T162148Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20210111T162329Z
UID:2167-1611234000-1611236700@research.reading.ac.uk
SUMMARY:Michael Simmons (RHUL) "Pre-layoff search" - PhD Seminar
DESCRIPTION:See Michael’s personal website here \nAbstract \nAre workers able to foresee job loss? If so\, how many and how far in advance? In this paper\, I document the extent to which workers change their search behaviour before job loss in the UK. In particular\, for low and high skill workers\, search incidence increases by 17and 32 percentage points\, respectively\, during the quarter that precedes job loss\, and this increased incidence is predominantly due to workers “thinking their job may end”. Equipped with this information\, I build a search model of the labour market with stochastic human capital\, where workers may receive information of job insecurity\, and are able to respond by picking their search effort and savings. I show that that the dynamics of pre-layoff search pins down key parameters governing the changes in the average worker’s information set prior to unemployment. The model estimates reveal that\, 50% and 67% of low and high skill workers\, respectively\, know of impending job loss on average about three months before becoming unemployed. As well as fitting the dynamics of pre-layoff search\, the model is also able to replicate the level of involuntary job switching\, and the costs of job loss for workers who immediately find new employment and for workers who do not. I decompose the difference sin the costs of job loss into the underlying forces at play. I find that the smaller costs of job loss for those managing to switch employers\, relative to those who transition into unemployment\, are predominantly due to workers avoiding skill loss in unemployment. Counterfactual analysis shows that if workers were unable to foresee job loss\, the unemployment rate would rise by 20% and consumption would fall by over 1%. The results reveal that increasing search following the pre-layoff warning is far more valuable to the worker than to increase savings. Finally\, I use the model to understand the implications for salient policies\, designed to mitigate the costs of job loss.
URL:https://research.reading.ac.uk/economics/event/michael-simmons-rhul-pre-layoff-search-phd-seminar/
LOCATION:Microsoft Teams
CATEGORIES:PhD Seminars
ORGANIZER;CN="Carl%20Singleton":MAILTO:c.a.singleton@reading.ac.uk
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20201210T130000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20201210T134500
DTSTAMP:20260501T000152
CREATED:20201129T192020Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20201129T192418Z
UID:2094-1607605200-1607607900@research.reading.ac.uk
SUMMARY:Anh Nguyen (ICMA) - "The real impact of sovereign rating changes: Sovereign ceiling or crowding out of public debts?" - PhD Seminar
DESCRIPTION:Abstract \nThis paper investigates the impacts of sovereign ratings on domestic corporate investments. Based on a sample of 1757 non-financial firms in 51 countries from 1994 to 2018\, we find significant impacts of sovereign ratings on domestic investments\, after controlling for corporate creditworthiness. Specifically\, firms domiciled in a recently downgraded sovereign reduce investments by 32%\, even if their credit ratings are unchanged following the negative sovereign rating event. There is no evidence of increases in firms’ investments following sovereign upgrades. Further investigations reveal that a crowding out effect of government debts is an important channel for corporate-sovereign rating spillovers. Public debt overhangs exacerbate negative impacts of sovereign downgrades on corporate investing activities.
URL:https://research.reading.ac.uk/economics/event/anh-nguyen-icma-the-real-impact-of-sovereign-rating-changes-sovereign-ceiling-or-crowding-out-of-public-debts-phd-seminar/
LOCATION:Microsoft Teams
CATEGORIES:PhD Seminars
ORGANIZER;CN="Carl%20Singleton":MAILTO:c.a.singleton@reading.ac.uk
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20201203T134500
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20201203T143000
DTSTAMP:20260501T000152
CREATED:20201117T155227Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20201117T155227Z
UID:2085-1607003100-1607005800@research.reading.ac.uk
SUMMARY:Mobolaji Alabi (ICMA) - "The financial impact of Financial Fair Play regulation: Evidence from the English Premier League" - PhD Seminar
DESCRIPTION:Abstract \nIn response to the ailing financial situation of European Football clubs\, UEFA introduced Financial Fair Play (FFP) regulation in 2011 to guide clubs towards profitability and sustainability. The existing literature is inundated with the impacts of FFP on footballing competitiveness. However\, this study focuses on FFP’s impact on financial performance. The English Premier League (EPL) – with the highest losses and debt level in Europe pre-FFP – is an excellent scene to assess the effectiveness of FFP. Drawing on financial data of 37 football clubs in the EPL and applying difference-in-differences quasi-experiment\, we measure the effectiveness of the regulation. We find statistical significance for improved profitability; however\, solvency is yet to experience similar improvements. We believe our findings and subsequent regulatory recommendations can further improve the financial performance of football clubs.
URL:https://research.reading.ac.uk/economics/event/mobolaji-alabi-icma-the-financial-impact-of-financial-fair-play-regulation-evidence-from-the-english-premier-league-phd-seminar/
LOCATION:Microsoft Teams
CATEGORIES:PhD Seminars
ORGANIZER;CN="Carl%20Singleton":MAILTO:c.a.singleton@reading.ac.uk
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20201126T134500
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20201126T143000
DTSTAMP:20260501T000152
CREATED:20201115T140048Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20201115T140048Z
UID:2082-1606398300-1606401000@research.reading.ac.uk
SUMMARY:Wei-Fong Pan - "The Labour Market Effect of Fiscal Policy Uncertainty" (PhD Seminar)
DESCRIPTION:Abstract \nThis study examines the effect of fiscal policy uncertainty (FPU) on job searches and labour demand in the United States. We first develop search-based job search indices and find that increased FPU leads to lower job search levels. At the same time\, when FPU rises\, labour demand is also reduced. The effect of FPU varies across different regions and is also affected by the prevailing monetary policy stance and the level of government debt. Labour market institutions can help explain these differences. Lastly\, FPU reduces matching efficiency in labour markets. These results are robust to alternative specifications\, the consideration of the effect of uncertainty from risk\, and the endogeneity problem.
URL:https://research.reading.ac.uk/economics/event/wei-fong-pan-the-labour-market-effect-of-fiscal-policy-uncertainty-phd-seminar/
LOCATION:Microsoft Teams
CATEGORIES:PhD Seminars
ORGANIZER;CN="Carl%20Singleton":MAILTO:c.a.singleton@reading.ac.uk
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20201126T130000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20201126T134500
DTSTAMP:20260501T000152
CREATED:20201113T192053Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20201113T192140Z
UID:2080-1606395600-1606398300@research.reading.ac.uk
SUMMARY:Ana Sina - "Leveraged Loans\, Systemic Risk and Network Interconnectedness" - PhD Seminar
DESCRIPTION:Abstract \nEspecially among those who lived the global financial crisis of 2007-2008\, it is likely that few regulators will instinctively be careless about the above pre-crisis level achieved by the global syndicated leveraged loans. We introduce global syndicated leveraged loans to study the relationship between systemic risk\, syndicated leveraged loans\, and network interconnectedness. We gather our daily deal-level loans from SDC Platinum Database and analyze the U.S. and European syndicated loans\, that together account for almost 80% of the global syndicated database during the period from 1988 to 2019. By distinguishing between leveraged and other syndicated loans\, we develop a novel measure of systemic risk as the ratio between leveraged and total loans that each lead arranger holds. We make the following contributions. First\, we show that leveraged loans have already exceeded the pre-financial crisis level\, which may pose financial stability concerns. Second\, we relate our novel measure with the systemic risk of each financial institution and find a significant correlation\, which may suggest that this new measure is employable as an early-warning. Finally\, since the syndicated loan market can be represented as a network where the linkages and nodes are based on real collaborations among lead arrangers\, we show that the financial institutions that have a larger proportion of leveraged loans in their portfolio are the most central in the network and this may cause possible implications for the future financial stability.
URL:https://research.reading.ac.uk/economics/event/ana-sina-leveraged-loans-systemic-risk-and-network-interconnectedness-phd-seminar/
LOCATION:Microsoft Teams
CATEGORIES:PhD Seminars
ORGANIZER;CN="Carl%20Singleton":MAILTO:c.a.singleton@reading.ac.uk
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20201119T130000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20201119T134500
DTSTAMP:20260501T000152
CREATED:20201019T143026Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20201019T143026Z
UID:2034-1605790800-1605793500@research.reading.ac.uk
SUMMARY:Jian Chen (ICMA)– “Modelling Price and Volatility Jump Clustering by Marked Hawkes Process” – PhD Seminar
DESCRIPTION:Abstract \nThis paper studies clustering behaviours of price and volatility jumps using high-frequency data\, modelled using a Marked Hawkes Process embedded in a bivariate jump-diffusion model. Under de-periodisation\, we find evidence showing self-excitation behaviours of jumps in both individual stocks and an index. Also\, considering positive\, negative price jumps and volatility jumps\, the impact that an occurrence of a jump in one dimension has on that in another dimension is shown to be asymmetry. More importantly\, the extent of this impact is shown empirically to be positively correlated with jump size. We also formalise the self-excitement and self-freeze properties of durations between two jumps. More self-freeze behaviours have been found in empirical studies. We estimate model parameters using Bayesian inference by Markov Chains Monte Carlo.
URL:https://research.reading.ac.uk/economics/event/jian-chen-icma-modelling-price-and-volatility-jump-clustering-by-marked-hawkes-process-phd-seminar/
LOCATION:Microsoft Teams
CATEGORIES:PhD Seminars
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20201112T134500
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20201112T143000
DTSTAMP:20260501T000152
CREATED:20201012T090035Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20201012T090035Z
UID:2027-1605188700-1605191400@research.reading.ac.uk
SUMMARY:Caterina Muratori (Reading/Collegio Carlo Alberto) - "The impact of abortion access on women's agency" - PhD Seminar
DESCRIPTION:Abstract \nIn this paper\, I document the centrality of reproductive rights\, and in particular of the abortion right\, in women’s empowerment process. Limiting access to abortion implies higher rate of unintended pregnancies and subsequent lower bargaining power for women\, particularly among poor and vulnerable groups. I start from the evidences that estimate a sharp reduction in the abortion rate and an increase in the fertility rate after the implementation of many state laws regulating abortion in U.S.\, the so-called Targeted Restrictions on Abortion Providers (TRAP). I evaluate the second order effect of these restrictive policies on violence against women within family and in the workplace\, using variation caused by House Bill 2 of 2013 that suddenly closed nearly a half of Texas’ abortion clinics and doubled\, on average\, the distance from a Texas resident to her nearest clinic. I use a difference-in-difference design with year and city fixed effects to estimate the impact of a variation in abortion access on the number of reported cases of gender violence\, using within city variation in access across time. A 30 minutes increase in distance from a city’s centroid to the nearest abortion clinic is associated with a 5.5% percent increase in the number of reported cases of gender violence the same period and a 5.7% percent increase the following year. The major part of the effect of restriction on abortion access on gender violence is driven by the impact on intimate partner violence (IPV).
URL:https://research.reading.ac.uk/economics/event/caterina-muratori-reading-collegio-carlo-alberto-the-impact-of-abortion-access-on-womens-agency-phd-seminar/
LOCATION:Microsoft Teams
CATEGORIES:PhD Seminars
ORGANIZER;CN="Carl%20Singleton":MAILTO:c.a.singleton@reading.ac.uk
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20201112T130000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20201112T134500
DTSTAMP:20260501T000152
CREATED:20201001T153247Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20201001T153247Z
UID:2013-1605186000-1605188700@research.reading.ac.uk
SUMMARY:Agnes Martins (ICMA\, Henley Business School) - "Basel II/III Implementation in Nigeria: Impact on the Resilience of its Banking Sector" - PhD Seminar
DESCRIPTION:Abstract: \nThe last twelve years have been characterised by a myriad of banking reforms in response to the 2007 to 2009 global financial crisis which propagated rapidly across the world. Nigeria\, Africa’s largest country by population and gross domestic product\, and a leading country for foreign direct investment\, was not spared from the contagion effect. In line with best practice banking reforms all over the world\, Nigeria adopted Basel II and some elements of the Basel III capital framework in 2014\, after a banking sector crisis from 2009 to 2012. This study aims to investigate the impact of these reforms on the resilience of the Nigerian Banking Industry. Firstly\, discussing the impact of reforms in Africa generally\, it then focuses on Nigeria. It uses the Industry Bank Z-score as its primary measure of resilience. The study finds that a positive impact of the reforms is revealed after controlling for macroeconomic factors in most African countries. In Nigeria\, the success of the reforms is further contingent on limiting leverage\, incorporating sound corporate governance\, and improving the business environment in terms of better regulation and the investment climate. \n 
URL:https://research.reading.ac.uk/economics/event/agnes-martins-icma-henley-business-school-basel-ii-iii-implementation-in-nigeria-impact-on-the-resilience-of-its-banking-sector-phd-seminar/
LOCATION:Microsoft Teams
CATEGORIES:PhD Seminars
ORGANIZER;CN="Carl%20Singleton":MAILTO:c.a.singleton@reading.ac.uk
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20201105T134500
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20201105T143000
DTSTAMP:20260501T000152
CREATED:20200903T062045Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20200903T063806Z
UID:1869-1604583900-1604586600@research.reading.ac.uk
SUMMARY:Alanood Alotaibi - "Pandemics and Economic Growth: Evidence from the 1918 Influenza in the UK" - PhD Seminar
DESCRIPTION:Abstract: \nThis study investigates the link between the 1918 Influenza and economic growth in the UK. The pandemic\ncaused about 160\,000 deaths in in England and Wales. The study applies an Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) cointegration approach. We find evidence of a strong and significant adverse effect of the pandemic on growth.
URL:https://research.reading.ac.uk/economics/event/alanood-alotaibi-pandemics-and-economic-growth-evidence-from-the-1918-influenza-in-the-uk-phd-seminar/
LOCATION:Microsoft Teams
CATEGORIES:PhD Seminars
ORGANIZER;CN="Carl%20Singleton":MAILTO:c.a.singleton@reading.ac.uk
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20201105T130000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20201105T134500
DTSTAMP:20260501T000152
CREATED:20200831T204927Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20200903T062457Z
UID:1862-1604581200-1604583900@research.reading.ac.uk
SUMMARY:Abdulaleem Isiaka - "Public Expenditure Shocks and the Inequality Multiplier: Evidence from a Sample of Middle-Income Countries" - PhD Seminar
DESCRIPTION:Abstract: \nThis paper examines the impact of unexpected public expenditure shocks on income inequality within a sample of middle-income countries. Also\, this study investigates how different percentiles are affected by the spending shocks. The fiscal shocks are captured with forecast errors in public spending. Likewise\, the local projection method is used to estimate the response of income inequality to the shocks. Additionally\, this paper presents the income inequality multiplier through cross-country and within-country dimensions. By relating the multipliers of each country to its fiscal policies\, this research provides valuable policy recommendations as to how fiscal consolidations might be implemented with less disequalizing effects.
URL:https://research.reading.ac.uk/economics/event/abdulaleem-isiaka-public-expenditure-shocks-and-the-inequality-multiplier-evidence-from-a-sample-of-middle-income-countries-phd-seminar/
LOCATION:Microsoft Teams
CATEGORIES:PhD Seminars
ORGANIZER;CN="Carl%20Singleton":MAILTO:c.a.singleton@reading.ac.uk
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20201029T134500
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20201029T143000
DTSTAMP:20260501T000152
CREATED:20200830T203246Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20200903T063809Z
UID:1860-1603979100-1603981800@research.reading.ac.uk
SUMMARY:Reema Altheyab - "Female Entrepreneurship: Factors governing the Performance of Female-owned SMEs in Saudi Arabia" - PhD Seminar
DESCRIPTION:Abstract: \nThere is limited literature that examines SMEs’ growth\, barriers to growth\, female entrepreneurs and the Saudi economy dimension\, where these are considered together. So\, this research aims to make a significant addition to a small body of empirical evidence in the literature review by considering the previous dimensions together. Specifically\, it aims to investigate the performance of female-owned SMEs in Saudi Arabia by measuring their sales growth and employment growth\, using male-owned SMEs as a control group. It will control for the personal characteristics of the entrepreneur (e.g. age) and for the location of the business. Economic theory of entrepreneurship will be used as the theoretical lens for this research. The research instrument will be a questionnaire. Stratified sampling techniques will be utilised to collect data from 400 Saudi entrepreneurs. The results will show whether barriers to growth are greater for women than for men.
URL:https://research.reading.ac.uk/economics/event/reema-altheyab-female-entrepreneurship-factors-governing-the-performance-of-female-owned-smes-in-saudi-arabia-phd-seminar/
LOCATION:Microsoft Teams
CATEGORIES:PhD Seminars
ORGANIZER;CN="Carl%20Singleton":MAILTO:c.a.singleton@reading.ac.uk
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20201029T130000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20201029T134500
DTSTAMP:20260501T000152
CREATED:20200822T090511Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20200903T063813Z
UID:1846-1603976400-1603979100@research.reading.ac.uk
SUMMARY:Matthew Yeo - "Mass Outdoor Events and the Spread of an Airborne Virus: English Football and Covid-19" --- PhD Seminar
DESCRIPTION:Abstract: \nMass attendance events are a mainstay of economic and social activity. However\, such events can potentially have public health consequences by facilitating the spreading of disease. Despite these concerns\, there is currently limited evidence on the extent to which such events\, especially those taking place outdoor\, can spread disease. To provide evidence on this\, we examine how football matches that took place in England contributed to the spread of the Covid-19 virus. Our sample covers 336 league and cup matches from the Premier League down to the 8th tier of English football in March 2020 immediately before the season was halted. Combined attendance at these matches was almost 1.5m and these matches took place in around 60% of local areas. We evaluate how attendance at these matches and how full the stadia were\, contributed to the spread of Covid-19 in these areas in April.
URL:https://research.reading.ac.uk/economics/event/matthew-yeo-mass-outdoor-events-and-the-spread-of-an-airborne-virus-english-football-and-covid-19-phd-seminar/
CATEGORIES:PhD Seminars
ORGANIZER;CN="Carl%20Singleton":MAILTO:c.a.singleton@reading.ac.uk
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20201022T134500
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20201022T143000
DTSTAMP:20260501T000152
CREATED:20200902T064547Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20200903T063839Z
UID:1867-1603374300-1603377000@research.reading.ac.uk
SUMMARY:Bushan Mohan - "Modelling returns to education in a developing economy context" - PhD Seminar
DESCRIPTION:Abstract: \nThis paper provides a brief overview of the models being used to determine the returns to education in Guyana’s labour market. The models are limited to the Quarterly LFS data published by the Guyanese Government since this is the only dataset available. The paper explains the use of the ORU approach to returns to education and model taking human capital\, job-related and regional characteristics hence leading to an Oaxaca decomposition as prescribed by empirical studies.
URL:https://research.reading.ac.uk/economics/event/bushan-mohan-modelling-returns-to-education-in-a-developing-economy-context-phd-seminar/
LOCATION:Microsoft Teams
CATEGORIES:PhD Seminars
ORGANIZER;CN="Carl%20Singleton":MAILTO:c.a.singleton@reading.ac.uk
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20201022T130000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20201022T134500
DTSTAMP:20260501T000152
CREATED:20200904T062809Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20200904T062809Z
UID:1888-1603371600-1603374300@research.reading.ac.uk
SUMMARY:Sonia - "Impact of Climate Change on Agricultural Output: Evidence from Pakistan" - PhD Seminar
DESCRIPTION:Abstract: \nGlobal warming is a major ecological concern of the 21st century. The increasing trends in climate change over the past few decades have immensely affected the agricultural sector\, as agricultural output is heavily dependent on variation in weather and climate. Based on this notion\, I am looking into the impact of climate change on  agricultural output over time. where the agricultural output is the production of five major crops\, namely Wheat\, maize\, rice\, cotton and sugarcane of Pakistan. The type of data used for this study is panel data\, which is comprised of the cross-sectional data on the production of crops and time series data on the climate variables i.e. minimum temperature\, maximum temperature and rainfall from 1981 to 2018. A production function approach will be applied for analyzing the impacts of climate change on the production of major crops.
URL:https://research.reading.ac.uk/economics/event/sonia-impact-of-climate-change-on-agricultural-output-evidence-from-pakistan-phd-seminar/
LOCATION:Microsoft Teams
CATEGORIES:PhD Seminars
ORGANIZER;CN="Carl%20Singleton":MAILTO:c.a.singleton@reading.ac.uk
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20201015T134500
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20201015T143000
DTSTAMP:20260501T000152
CREATED:20200826T170231Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20200903T063842Z
UID:1852-1602769500-1602772200@research.reading.ac.uk
SUMMARY:Andrew Clark - "Complex Systems Modeling of Community Currencies" - PhD Seminar
DESCRIPTION:Abstract: \nWe present a complex dynamical systems subpopulation model for the construction and validation of Grassroots Economics Foundation’s Community Inclusion Currency. In our paper we introduce the modern application of community currencies\, frame our model economically\, and describe a formalized topological model of a community currency implementation. We then describe the simulation\, its results\, and prescribe next steps in applying this model to operational decision making.
URL:https://research.reading.ac.uk/economics/event/andrew-clark-complex-systems-modeling-of-community-currencies-phd-seminar/
LOCATION:Microsoft Teams
CATEGORIES:PhD Seminars
ORGANIZER;CN="Carl%20Singleton":MAILTO:c.a.singleton@reading.ac.uk
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20201015T130000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20201015T134500
DTSTAMP:20260501T000152
CREATED:20200903T063449Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20200903T063525Z
UID:1876-1602766800-1602769500@research.reading.ac.uk
SUMMARY:Philip Ramirez - "Popularity\, Beauty and Mispricing in Tennis Betting Markets" - PhD Seminar
DESCRIPTION:Abstract: \nBehavioral biases\, such as the favorite-longshot bias\, can lead to market inefficiencies manifesting as systematic mispricing in betting markets. Using bookmaker odds for tennis matches\, as well as match results and player rankings – ability markers for performance – we attempt to uncover behavioral biases that contribute to mispricing in tennis betting markets\, i.e. beauty and popularity bias. We introduce a deep learning facial recognition model to provide subjective beauty scores for hundreds of the top female tennis players in the Women’s Tennis Association. With popularity measured with daily Wikipedia article views\, preliminary results include significant popularity bias and “beauty” bias that could explain some mispricing.
URL:https://research.reading.ac.uk/economics/event/philip-ramirez-popularity-beauty-and-mispricing-in-tennis-betting-markets-phd-seminar/
LOCATION:Microsoft Teams
CATEGORIES:PhD Seminars
ORGANIZER;CN="Carl%20Singleton":MAILTO:c.a.singleton@reading.ac.uk
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20201008T134500
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20201008T143000
DTSTAMP:20260501T000152
CREATED:20200903T062412Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20200903T063845Z
UID:1871-1602164700-1602167400@research.reading.ac.uk
SUMMARY:Stephen Opata - "Inflation forecasting performance of a developing economy central bank- The Case of Ghana" - PhD Seminar
DESCRIPTION:Abstract: \nThis study used historical inflation forecast data of the Bank of Ghana and quarterly inflation outcomes to assess forecast performance through the use of Mincer-Zarnowitz regressions and the incorporation of step indicator saturation (SIS) methodology. This paper also compared the forecast performance of the Bank of Ghana against other forecasts\, notably a benchmark forecast using the random walk model proposed by Atkeson and Ohanian (2001) and the IMF WEO forecasts. We concluded that the central bank’s forecast outperformed the other forecasts followed by the random walk forecast judging from the ratio of the root mean squared forecast errors. The Diebold Marino test further supported the conclusion that the central bank’s one-step-ahead forecast was superior with a statistically significant difference in the accuracy of the one-step-ahead central bank forecast compared to the random walk forecast. Using the concept of encompassing\, we concluded that the central bank’s forecasts reflected all information embedded in the random walk forecast but the latter forecast did not reflect all information embedded in the central bank’s one-step-ahead forecast.. The Bank of Ghana’s one-quarter-ahead inflation forecast was found to be efficient with or without the incorporation of SIS variables\, however a stronger efficiency was exhibited when SIS variables were incorporated in the forecast. The stronger efficiency exhibited by the forecast that incorporated the SIS variables points to the importance in addressing outliers and structural breaks when evaluating inflation forecasts especially in developing economies such as Ghana. There was evidence that the Bank of Ghana’s forecasting performance as measured by the inflation forecast error improved with time.
URL:https://research.reading.ac.uk/economics/event/stephen-opata-inflation-forecasting-performance-of-a-developing-economy-central-bank-the-case-of-ghana-phd-seminar/
LOCATION:Microsoft Teams
CATEGORIES:PhD Seminars
ORGANIZER;CN="Carl%20Singleton":MAILTO:c.a.singleton@reading.ac.uk
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20201008T130000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20201008T134500
DTSTAMP:20260501T000152
CREATED:20201001T152944Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20201001T153215Z
UID:2011-1602162000-1602164700@research.reading.ac.uk
SUMMARY:Willie Nakunyada–“Termination of Correspondent Banking Relationships (CBRs) In Zimbabwe: Trends\, and Implications” - PhD Seminar
DESCRIPTION:Abstract: \nFollowing the global financial crisis of 2008\, correspondent banking relationships (CBRs) which facilitate the settlement of domestic and cross-border payments\, have been terminated in several developing countries mostly in Africa\, and the Caribbean. The closure of correspondent accounts is attributed to pressures on global banks to rationalize their business and re-evaluate their risk exposures and viability prospects. This study will use a combination of survey\, single regression models\, and panel regressions to analyze the drivers of CBRs\, as well as its impact on bank credit and remittances in Zimbabwe over the period 2008-2018.
URL:https://research.reading.ac.uk/economics/event/willie-nakunyada-termination-of-correspondent-banking-relationships-cbrs-in-zimbabwe-trends-and-implications-phd-seminar/
LOCATION:Microsoft Teams
CATEGORIES:PhD Seminars
ORGANIZER;CN="Carl%20Singleton":MAILTO:c.a.singleton@reading.ac.uk
END:VEVENT
END:VCALENDAR