Economics Homework Help

NYU Merger in the Pharmacy Benefit Management Industry Discussant Report

 

The discussant report involves approximately 4-5 pages (doubled-spaced, 12-point font, and 1-

inch margins) summarizing a case study in the textbook or a paper listed in the references in the

textbook and offering comments and suggestions to help the author improve the paper. The

purpose is to develop your ability to critically evaluate research. Your report should be precise

throughout, but don’t be afraid to have strong opinions. Avoid making superficial comments or

only summarizing the paper—your report should ideally demonstrate the depth and breadth of

your knowledge in Industrial Organization.


Include the following in your report:

A. Summary. For example:

1. What are the questions and goals of the paper?

2. What is the theoretical/empirical framework being used?

3. What are the most interesting ideas and results?

4. How do they relate and compare to other research?


B. Comments. For example:

1. Are the research questions interesting?

2. Are the assumptions reasonable?

3. Do the results answer the stated questions?

4. Are the results generalizable?


C. Suggestions. For example:

1. Are there alternative frameworks or approaches that are more suitable for the stated

questions?

2. Using the present model, what other interesting questions can be answered? What other

results would you like to see?

3. Are there important extensions that should be considered?