August 12 -16, 2024
PhD Summer School on
Finance and Product Markets
Theory, Evidence, and Measurements
in Lugano, Switzerland
One-week full-time intensive research course on the intersection(s) between finance and product markets
Course description
The course aims to introduce participants to the growing research area focusing on the intersection(s) between finance and industrial organization.
The course will cover the multifaceted interactions between firms’ (real and financial) decisions and their product market environments. Both theoretical articles and empirical articles will be covered and discussed.
In addition, we will discuss issues related to the definition and measurement of firms’ product markets and competitive environments, as well as methods and settings used by researchers to estimate causal relationships.
We will emphasize the link between theoretical and empirical research in both industrial organization and finance.
Lecturers
Target audience
The course is intended for PhD students who have completed their core courses (macro, micro, econometrics, etc.), interested faculty members, and for practitioners. It could be considered a necessary “field course” for those interested in corporate finance and industrial organization.
The course is self-contained. Familiarity with finance and economics will be helpful.
Course Content
The course is structured around ten sessions of three hours (mornings and afternoons).
Five sessions covering the main themes linking finance and product markets, presenting, and (critically) discussing important (theoretical and empirical) articles. A strong emphasis is given on the development of the research field and the research process.
Two sessions dedicated to specific research methods: one focusing on the use of computational linguistics (i.e., text‐based methods) to measure product market boundaries, characteristics, and dynamics, and one devoted to settings used to identify causal relationships in this research area.
Two practical sessions covering (step‐by‐step) the use of computational linguistics (illustrated using Python) to replicate the latest measurements of product market boundaries based on firms annual reports. Preparation materials and replication kits will be provided.
One session of mini-seminars for participants interested to present their work and receive feedback from professors and other participants.
Organization and Fees
When: August 12 -16, 2024
Fee: Students or faculty at an academic institution: 1'000 CHF (others: 2'500 CHF). This fee includes the lectures, tutorials, and preparation materials prior to the course for Python new users. Food and accommodation costs are not covered.
The course fee is waived for students from Swiss Universities thanks to the financial support provided by the SFI.
Payment: Admitted participants will receive a URL to complete their payments online.
Application
The application process is now closed as we have reached full capacity for the course. Accepted participants have been notified and will receive further details about the course organization.
As some accepted participants may not be able to come and drop their seat, please contact Laurent Fresard if you would like to be included on the waiting list.
If you are interested in receiving information regarding future editions of the summer school, please register in the mailing list.
Contact
If you have any questions about the summer school, please contact Prof. Laurent Fresard or Prof. Gordon Phillips
Previous editions
Edition 2023 (July 24-28)
50 participants from 38 institutions (Europe, US, and Asia)
Some of the comments by participants on what they particularly liked:
"Detailed walk-troughs of good papers."
"Close interactions with professors and other students."
"Deep understanding of the topic and the current trend of research in the area."
"The Theoretical Underpin and Detailed Explanations."
"Dinner with professors."
Edition 2022 (August 15-19)
26 participants from Swiss Universities.
Some of the comments by participants on what they particularly liked:
"Close interactions with professors and other students."
"Research framework, stories behind papers, comprehensive walkthrough of the literature, and social events."
"The closeness of the professors."
"Instructors made it very easy to ask questions. Discussion of the really old papers (<2000) was very nice to get the basic ideas."
Please note
ECTS may be offered for this course. The details will be available from your local administrator .
Enrolled students must attend all the units.
The course will take place in-person and once registered, students need to commit to attend.
A certificate of attendance will be issued at the end of the course.
