040067 UK Applied Economics (BA) (2017S)

Students are strongly encouraged to work through the examples in the course textbook in order to supplement what is learned in lecture. Periodically, problem sets will be assigned in order to apply the tools that we learn in class. Students will be responsible for the material taught in class, the techniques covered in the required textbook, and the material covered by the problem sets.
A central component of the course entails an original research project. The purpose of the
research project is to allow the student to get a taste for devising his/her own empirical analysis in the field of economics. The student will be expected to collect a data set, identify and test one or more empirical hypotheses, and draw a conclusion. In particular, the student is expected to apply many of the tools learned in the class.

Students are strongly encouraged to work through the examples in the course textbook in order to supplement what is learned in lecture. Periodically, problem sets will be assigned in order to apply the tools that we learn in class. Students will be responsible for the material taught in class, the techniques covered in the required textbook, and the material covered by the problem sets.
A central component of the course entails an original research project. The purpose of the
research project is to allow the student to get a taste for devising his/her own empirical analysis in the field of economics. The student will be expected to collect a data set, identify and test one or more empirical hypotheses, and draw a conclusion. In particular, the student is expected to apply many of the tools learned in the class.

Abstract: The course introduces the main workhorse of applied empirical research in economics, linear regression by ordinary least squares (OLS). After having taken the course, students should understand and be able to evaluate applied analysis of cross-section data and be able to undertake such analysis themselves. The main output shall be an independent research paper on a data set of own choice. Basic theoretical knowledge as well as computer skills are required.

Outline: Review of probability and statistics; How to find and handle economic data; Linear regression with one regressor; Hypothesis testing; Linear regressions with multiple regressors; Introduction to the general-purpose statistical software package STATA; Nonlinear regression functions; Assessing statistical studies; Introduction to instrumental variable regressions; Estimation of popular economic models such as the Cobb-Douglas production function; Introduction to LaTeX; Presentation and discussion of the independent research papers.