Institut für Öffentliche Finanzen Lehre Seminare Master
Seminar Empirical Research in Taxation and Public Finance (371058)

Seminar Empirical Research in Taxation and Public Finance (371058)

Seminar-Profile

General Details
Seminar titleSeminar Empirical Research in Taxation and Public Finance
Course code(s)371058
Academic sessionFall term 25/26
Course availabilityFall
Course contentEmpirical research in the areas of taxation and public finance
Target group / area (Zuordnung)MSc WiWi PO 2018: Area Accounting, Taxation and Public Finance
Number of participants20
Course languageEnglish
Locationinternal seminar
Industry partnerno
Timetable

Block course with 4 sessions

Session 1 (Oct 27, 2025, 11:00 am – 12:30 am): Introduction and distribution of teams and topics (room: 1501 - 112)

Session 2 (Nov 4, 2025, 9:15 am – 10:45 am): Overview on current empirical research in taxation and practical advice on how to set up your own research project (room: 1501 - 332)

Session 3 (Nov 18, 2025, 9:15 am – 10:45 am): Practical introduction to Stata (room: 1502 - 214)

Session 4 (Dec 11, 2025, 8:30 am – 3:30 pm): Presentation of databases (room: 1501 - 112)

Completion of term paperduring lecture period
Requirements and Academic Support
ObjectivesPreparing empirical research projects, expanding knowledge in empirical research in taxation and public finance  
PrerequisitesNone
Introductory course to academic researchNo
Formal guidelinesNone
General literature

Auerbach, A. J. (2018). Measuring the effects of corporate tax cuts. Journal of Economic Perspectives, 32 (4), 97-120.

Hanlon, M., & Heitzman, S. (2010). A review of tax research. Journal of Accounting and Economics, 50 (2), 127-178.

Basic literature to introduce each topicNo
MethodologyEmpirical research
Specialised softwareStata
Recommended word processing softwareLATEX or MS Word
Length of term papermax. 5 pages
Meeting(s) to discuss outline1-2
Performance requirements / evaluation  [indicate weighting]

· attendance, oral participation (20%)

· presentation (50%)

· research proposal (30%)

Examiner(s)Prof. Dr. Maximilian Todtenhaupt
Contact personProf. Dr. Maximilian Todtenhaupt
Group Assignments and Topics
Group assignment

· Compulsory for presentation

· Term papers are written individually

Group size2-3
Group formationpreference-based
Topics

Students are asked to present a database in class, including (i) a description of the content, (ii) demonstrating access (iii) demonstrating interesting characteristics, (iv) explanation how it is used by practitioners and/or researchers. Possible databases to look include (but are not limited to)

  1. OECD Intellectual Property Data
  2. Panama Papers
  3. SEC mutual fund prospectuses
  4. Mutual fund holdings in the U.S.
  5. Labor force survey of selected EU countries
  6. Corporate Register in Germany (Handelsregister)
Assignment of topicspreference-based
Initial registrationno pre-registration is required. For information about the seminar, please register in the relevant Stud.IP course in good time.
Process Schedule
Initial registration / applicationno pre-registration is required. If the seminar's capacity limit is reached, places will be allocated based on the order of registration in Stud.IP.
Initial discussion / topic discussion / kick-off meetingMonday, October 27, 2025, room: 1501 - 112
Topic assignmentDuring the Kick-Off
Formal (binding) registrationUntil October 30, 2025, 2:00 pm
Commencement of seminar paperOctober 30, 2025
Submission of seminar paperJanuary 31, 2026, 2:00 pm
Submission of presentationAfter presentation
PresentationDecember 11, 2025, 8:30 am – 3:30 pm, room: 1501 - 112