Prof Mark Schankerman

This course is compulsory on the Double Master of Public Administration (LSE-University of Toronto) and Master of Public Policy. This course is not available as an outside option.

The course introduces several econometric approaches that are widely used for quantitative and empirical evaluation which can be applied to policy-making. We will develop the basic methodology and assumptions underlying each approach, which is essential to understand in order to know when each tool can be applied, and when not.  The emphasis is on the practical application of these skills and tools to real-life situations and policy-making interventions. Topics covered include randomised control experiments, difference-in-differences regressions, regression discontinuity design and matching. In the final weeks the course also gives students an overview of the key principles of cost-benefit analysis and how to apply it to real-world scenarios.

This course is delivered through a combination of lectures and seminars totalling a minimum of 35 hours across Michaelmas Term. This year teaching will be delivered through a combination of online lectures, with seminars taking place in person where possible and where conditions allow.

There will be weekly formative course work to give students the opportunity to develop fluency with the tools covered in the course.

Joshua D. Angrist and Jom-Steffen Pischke, "Mastering Metrics";

James Stock & Mark Watson, "Introduction to Econometrics"

Jeffrey Wooldridge, "Introductory Econometrics".

The given texts are preparatory reading only. A full reading list will be provided at the start of the course.

Coursework (30%) in the MT.
Online assessment (70%) in the LT.

For the online assessment students will have a fixed window to access the assignment questions and to respond to them. No outside research will be required. Questions will be based on topics covered in lectures and seminars.

Some departments have produced short videos to introduce their courses. Please refer to the course selection videos index page for further information.