Course Details
Next offered: Summer Semester 2026 (link)
This course equips students with the technical and analytical tools needed to study spatial economic and social phenomena. We focus on the application of quantitative methods to analyze economic and policy-relevant issues at the urban and regional level, using spatial datasets.
Throughout the course, we examine a range of empirical research—primarily from economics and the social sciences—that makes use of spatial data. This engagement with applied work helps students critically assess existing research and develop their own ideas using spatial methods.
A central component of the course is a hands-on introduction to Geographical Information Systems (GIS) and spatial analysis in R, enabling students to work with spatial data for research purposes.
Topics covered include:
Vector and raster data structures
Spatial projections and coordinate systems
Zonal statistics
Distance measures, buffers, and map algebra
Spatial point pattern analysis
Local and global spatial autocorrelation
Spatial econometric models
Using spatial data in identification strategies
Next offered: Summer Semester 2026 (Master - link)
This course introduces students to the use of the statistical programming language R for applied empirical research. It provides a practical framework for planning and conducting research projects, with a strong focus on identifying causal effects using observational data.
Students will learn how to translate research questions into testable hypotheses and choose appropriate identification strategies based on the empirical context. The course combines conceptual understanding with hands-on coding exercises in R, aiming to build both technical and analytical skills.
The specific content and depth of the course will vary depending on the level of instruction:
At the Bachelor's level, the course emphasizes foundational empirical tools and introduces basic strategies for causal identification.
At the Master's level, we explore more advanced identification strategies and pay particular attention to challenges in causal inference and the assumptions underlying each method.
Topics include:
Developing research questions and designing empirical projects
Concepts of causality and causal diagrams (Directed Acyclic Graphs)
Linear regression and interpretation of coefficients
Fixed effects estimation
Matching methods
Differences-in-Differences (DiD)
Instrumental Variables (IV)
Regression Discontinuity Design (RDD)
All methods are illustrated with real-world examples and implemented using R. The course is ideal for students aiming to conduct their own empirical research or critically assess applied work in economics and related disciplines.
Offered in Winter Semester 2025/26 (Master’s level - link, in cooperation with the University of Music and Performing Arts Graz)
Arts and Climate Change is an interdisciplinary, project-based course that brings together Master’s students from the University of Graz and the University of Music and Performing Arts Graz to explore pressing climate change issues from both scientific and artistic perspectives.
Students work in small, interdisciplinary teams—each composed of members from both universities—to investigate selected topics related to climate change. Guided by a team of instructors from the social sciences, natural sciences, and the arts, each group independently develops a project that reflects their chosen theme.
The course structure includes:
An initial workshop for team formation and topic development
One to two progress meetings for peer and instructor feedback
A final workshop where groups present their work in the form of performances, installations, or exhibitions
The course emphasizes collaboration, creativity, and public engagement. It is ideal for students interested in combining analytical and artistic approaches to address complex societal challenges posed by climate change.
If you are interested in participating, please feel free to contact me by email.
Offered in Summer Semester 2026 (Master’s level - link)
This highly applied course offers Master’s students the opportunity to collaborate directly with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations on real-world case studies related to food security and climate change.
Students will work in small teams (approx. four students per group) to develop climate risk reports for selected countries in the Global South. These reports are intended to directly inform FAO project work and decision-making processes. The case study countries will be chosen at the start of the course, depending on the FAO’s current priorities.
Each student team will:
Assess the current and projected changes in relevant climate indicators using observational data and climate model outputs
Evaluate the impact of climate change on regional food production using agricultural data and model-based projections
Analyze the socioeconomic implications based on available country- and region-specific data
Explore and summarize potential adaptation options tailored to the context of the selected country
This course is ideal for students interested in policy-relevant, interdisciplinary climate research with a strong focus on data analysis, climate impacts, and development. It offers the chance to contribute directly to the work of an international organization and gain experience with real-world challenges at the intersection of climate and food systems.
Offered in Summer Semester 2026 (Master’s level - link)
This course provides an in-depth introduction to core concepts and policy applications in Environmental Economics, with a strong focus on real-world cases and applied analysis. Students will explore how economic theory can be used to understand and address pressing environmental challenges, such as pollution, climate change, and the management of natural resources.
The course combines theoretical foundations with practical case studies, allowing students to apply key economic concepts to evaluate and design environmental policy instruments. Through examples from both national and international contexts, students will develop a solid understanding of how economic tools are used in environmental governance.
Topics include:
Fundamentals of environmental economics
Market failure, externalities, and the role of government intervention
Public vs. private goods in environmental contexts
Sustainable development and the concept of optimal pollution levels
Environmental policy instruments: standards, taxes/subsidies, and tradable permits
Economic approaches to international environmental problems (e.g. climate agreements)
Offered in Winter Semester 2025/26 (Master’s level - link)
This course provides a rigorous introduction to the fundamental models and methods of microeconomics, tailored for students interested in applying economic reasoning to environmental and social issues. It combines theoretical modeling with applied examples and emphasizes how microeconomic tools can help explain real-world outcomes such as inequality, market failure, and environmental degradation.
Students will develop the analytical skills needed to understand individual and firm behavior, assess market outcomes, and evaluate policy interventions. The course balances formal modeling with discussions of empirical relevance and application.
Core topics include:
Consumer choice and individual decision-making
Production theory and cost structures
Competitive markets and welfare analysis
Market power and imperfect competition
Market failure and externalities
Globalization, inequality, and environmental challenges
Learning outcomes:
Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
Analyze microeconomic relationships using formal models
Translate between verbal, graphical, and mathematical representations of economic problems
Apply microeconomic reasoning to assess policy and empirical findings
Critically evaluate the implications of market structures and interventions in applied contexts