Imagine that you have chosen to do a research project based on secondary data and materials using the
briefing paper, ‘Measuring progress and human development’.
You would like to make use of this report as a key source for your project.
Read the briefing paper and then do the following:
iii. Using a suitable econometric method, estimate the model you were asked to write down in Part (ii).
Report the estimation output and explain your results. Your explanation should include a discussion of
the robustness of your model, its limitations, and any additional steps you have taken to check for
common econometric issues. (30 marks)
i. Prepare a plan for a semi-structured interview – based on theories of decision-making in households –
with individuals who live in couples. The plan might include a statement of interview aims, i.e. the
research question the interview seeks to address; a set of questions to be asked, which might be
grouped into themes if appropriate; and a brief indication of how the findings will be used and analysed.
ii. Recruit a volunteer to be interviewed, and use your list to undertake the interview, based on your
research question. Keep the interview quite short – no longer than ten minutes. To complete this
exercise, you will need some results from the interview (in the unlikely event that the first interview is not
informative or calls for a complete rewrite of your questions, it might be prudent to find another
interviewee).
iii. Write up your notes on the responses of your interviewee(s).
iv. Code these notes using headings relevant to your research question. If possible, use economic theory to
help with your headings and coding.
v. Write a brief summary of your findings from the interview(s).
vi. Finally, make short notes on the interview experience: what aspects were successful and what would
you do differently another time?
i. Define a manageable research topic, with a possible research question related to the report. The
research topic should be related to economic welfare.
ii. Search for two further sources that will be useful in elaborating your project; you should provide
references for these, and explain the criteria you used in selecting them and how they relate to your
research topic.
iii. Provide a written statement explaining how you would design your case study, specifying the sections
into which the study would be divided.
