Assessment of Master Thesis – Opponent
Study programme:Quantitative Methods in Economics Field of study:Quantitative Economic Analysis
Academic year:2020/2021
Master Thesis Topic:The impact of aging on economic growth based on EU panel data Author’s name:Ruihanyu Sun
Ac. Consultant’s Name:doc. Ing. Tomáš Formánek, Ph.D.
Opponent:Mgr. Vladimír Holý, Ph.D.
Criterion Mark
(1–4)
1. Clarity and comprehensibility of the thesis topic and aims 2
2. The extent and relevance of the description of the current state of knowledge 1
3. The complexity of the thesis topic 2
4. Method adequeteness for solving the given issue, correctness of the choice and use 3
5. The extent, quality and precision of the result description 3
6. Relevance and correctness of the result discussion 3
7. Factual contribution of the thesis result 2
8. Information source relevance and citation correctness 2
9. Logical structure and cohesion among individual parts 3
10. Grammar, linguistic style, terminology and overall arrangement 3
Comments and Questions:
The thesis deals with the issue of aging in relation to economic growth. A large portion of the thesis is devoted to the theoretical background with many borrowed figures. This is the stronger part of the thesis.
The empirical part is much weaker. As is unfortunately common in many theses, the author is mixing together empirical results with methodology and description of used software which is a bit unpleasant to follow. There are several unclear and strange formulations such as ”smoothness of the variables to avoid the appearance of spurious regression”. In the panel analysis, first-difference estimator and robust standard errors should also be considered. Used models are not sufficiently described. For example, why is the random effects model better than the fixed effects model?
There are many redundant tables containing only a single relevant number. Some figures have low resolution. Equations have no punctuation. Overall, the formal aspect of the work could be significantly improved.
Conclusion: The Master Thesis is recommended for the defence.
Suggested Grade: 3
Date: 26/05/2021 Mgr. Vladimír Holý, Ph.D.
Opponent
