SUMMATIVE ASSIGNMENT - ECON47715
Microeconometrics
Masters Programmes 2023/24
The country of Raritania had a democratic revolution in 2015. Prior to this, all trade unions were banned but, at the start of 2016, firms were required by the government to hold an internal election on whether their workforces would like to become members of the national trade union. If over 50% of the workforce voted for unionisation, the entire workforce of the firm immediately joined the trade union. If less than 50% voted for unionisation, the entire workforce of the firm did not join the trade union.
The government would like you, firstly, to estimate a model that can be used to predict whether the majority of the workforce of a firm has voted for unionisation (30 marks); and, secondly, to estimate the impact of workforce unionisation on firm productivity (70 marks).
To allow you to undertake such an evaluation, it has provided data for a random sample of firms for the year 2016 (see Table 1 for a description of the variables in the dataset). The sample includes observations on firms with workforces that voted to join the trade union and firms with workforces that chose not to join the trade union. In addition to other variables, information is provided on the margin by which the workforce of a firm did or did not vote for unionisation. Each of you will analyse a different sample (so your results will be different to those of your colleagues).
Table 1. Variable Descriptions
|
Variable
|
Description
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id
|
Firm identifier
|
|
productivity
|
Labour productivity (firm output divided by firm employment)
|
|
union
|
Dummy coded 1 if workforce in firm is unionised
|
|
mov
|
Margin by which the workforce voted for unionisation*
|
|
age
|
Age of firm (in years)
|
|
manufacturing
|
Dummy coded 1 if firm is in manufacturing
|
|
foreign
|
Dummy coded 1 if firm is foreign-owned
|
* This variable takes on a positive (negative) value if the firm voted for (against) unionisation.
Overall word limit: 3000 words
SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS
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Assignments should be typed, using 1.5 spacing and an easy-to-read 12-point font. Assignments and dissertations/business projects must not exceed the word count indicated in the module handbook/assessment brief.
The word count should:
§ Include all the text, including title, preface, introduction, in-text citations, quotations, footnotes and any other items not specifically excluded below.
§ Exclude diagrams, tables (including tables/lists of contents and figures), equations, executive summary/abstract, acknowledgements, declaration, bibliography/list of references and appendices. However, it is not appropriate to use diagrams or tables merely as a way of circumventing the word limit. If a student uses a table or figure as a means of presenting his/her own words, then this is included in the word count.
Examiners will stop reading once the word limit has been reached, and work beyond this point will not be assessed. Checks of word counts will be carried out on submitted work, including any assignments or dissertations/business projects that appear to be clearly over-length. Checks may take place manually and/or with the aid of the word count provided via an electronic submission. Where a student has intentionally misrepresented their word count, the School may treat this as an offence under Section IV of the General Regulations of the University. Extreme cases may be viewed as dishonest practice under Section IV, 5 (a) (x) of the General Regulations.
Very occasionally it may be appropriate to present, in an appendix, material which does not properly belong in the main body of the assessment but which some students wish to provide for the sake of completeness. Any appendices will not have a role in the assessment - examiners are under no obligation to read appendices and they do not form. part of the word count. Material that students wish to be assessed should always be included in the main body of the text.
MARKING GUIDELINES
Performance in the summative assessment for this module is judged against the following criteria:
· Relevance to question(s)
· Organisation, structure and presentation
· Depth of understanding
· Analysis and discussion
· Use of sources and referencing
· Overall conclusions