Course content
This is a hands-on, data-oriented course that combines theory with econometric and statistical tools to analyze the determinants and effects of innovation and new technologies on firms, markets, and society. Innovation and new technologies are central to today’s fast-changing economy. Managers, entrepreneurs, and policymakers need to decide which technologies to support, how to organize innovation, and how to evaluate their impacts. This course integrates perspectives from economics, finance, and management to explore the connection between theory and empirical evidence. We will study how new ideas and technologies influence firms, markets, and society.
A central component of the course is an introduction to the analysis of innovation-related datasets (e.g., firm-level, patent, or labor-market data) using statistical software and to the basics of interpreting regression results. We will adopt an integrated approach, discussing key topics in innovation through theory and related empirical studies. Core topics include innovation incentives and competition, innovation policy, intellectual property rights and strategy, and innovation financing and valuation. We will also examine how innovation, automation, and artificial intelligence impact economic growth, financial markets, labor markets, firms, and society. Throughout the course, we will analyze relevant innovation questions with empirical studies and real-world data. Additionally, we will introduce econometric tools and data analysis techniques to evaluate and discuss the societal impacts of innovation. The course will also teach you how to interpret and communicate results that inform strategic decisions and policy design.
See course description in course catalogue