PP419 Half Unit
Advanced Empirical Methods for Policy Analysis
This information is for the 2020/21 session.
Teacher responsible
Professor Daniel Sturm
Availability
This course is available on the MPA Dual Degree (LSE and Columbia), MPA Dual Degree (LSE and Hertie), MPA Dual Degree (LSE and NUS), MPA Dual Degree (LSE and Sciences Po), MPA Dual Degree (LSE and Tokyo), Master of Public Administration and Master of Public Policy. This course is available with permission as an outside option to students on other programmes where regulations permit.
Pre-requisites
The expectation is that students will have previously taken PP440 and PP455 or other equivalent courses. Students that have not taken PP440 and PP455 will require permission from the course lecturer to attend the course.
Course content
This course provides an advanced treatment of the empirical methods that are used to evaluate the effectiveness of public policies. The course builds closely on the course Quantitative Approaches and Policy Analysis (PP455) and also Micro and Macroeconomics for Public Policy (PP440). Topics covered include the problem of causality, the theory and practice of randomised experiments, difference-in-differences, synthetic controls, regression discontinuity, robust and clustered standard errors, and calibration.
Teaching
This course is delivered through a combination of classes and lectures totalling a minimum of 29 hours across Michaelmas Term. This year, some or all of this teaching will be delivered through a combination of virtual classes and lectures delivered as online videos. This course includes a reading week in Week 6 of Michaelmas Term.
Formative coursework
The formative coursework will comprise a graded problem set.
Indicative reading
There is no single textbook for the course and many of the key readings are journal articles. James Stock and Mark Watson "Introduction to Econometrics'' remains a useful reference particularly for the material at the beginning of the course. A very good source for background reading is Joshua Angrist and Jörn-Steffen Pischke "Mastering 'Metrics: The Path from Cause to Effect''. A full reading list will be distributed at the beginning of the course.
Assessment
Exam (75%, duration: 2 hours) in the January exam period.
Project (25%, 2000 words) in the LT.
Project (25%, 2000 words) due at the beginning of the LT
Important information in response to COVID-19
Please note that during 2020/21 academic year some variation to teaching and learning activities may be required to respond to changes in public health advice and/or to account for the situation of students in attendance on campus and those studying online during the early part of the academic year. For assessment, this may involve changes to mode of delivery and/or the format or weighting of assessments. Changes will only be made if required and students will be notified about any changes to teaching or assessment plans at the earliest opportunity.
Key facts
Department: School of Public Policy
Total students 2019/20: 38
Average class size 2019/20: 13
Controlled access 2019/20: Yes
Value: Half Unit
Personal development skills
- Self-management
- Problem solving
- Application of information skills
- Communication
- Application of numeracy skills
- Specialist skills
