EC486
Econometric Methods
This information is for the 2023/24 session.
Teacher responsible
Dr Ragvir Sabharwal, COL 7.02B
Prof Alessandro Gavazza, SAL 4.21
Availability
This course is compulsory on the MSc in Economics and Management. This course is not available as an outside option.
Course content
This course aims to present the theory and practice of empirical research in economics. Beyond the theory, the course will put a substantial amount of effort in having the students work with Stata and other econometric software in analyzing actual data sets, reproducing and criticising results in previous work and learning the actual practice of econometrics as undertaken by the best applied economists, both in general (in MT) and specifically within the IO field (in the LT). Topics include: (MT) Ordinary Least Squares, hypothesis testing, omitted and added variables, measurement error, the role of controls, and functional form. Panel data, fixed and random effects. Instrumental Variables. The emphasis of this part is on the identification of causal effects, and applications in microeconomics (Labour Economics, Public Policy, IO, etc) are presented throughout. In LT you will learn the applications of many of these techniques to econometric questions in Industrial Organization, organizational economics and management.
Teaching
20 hours of lectures and 8 hours of seminars in the AT. 20 hours of lectures and 10 hours of seminars in the WT. 2 hours of seminars in the ST.
Formative coursework
Students are required to complete answers to problem sets on a week by week basis.
Indicative reading
MT: James H. Stock and Mark W. Watson, Introduction to Econometrics; reading lists of chapters and journal articles will be supplied at the start of each term.
Assessment
Exam (65%, duration: 2 hours) in the spring exam period.
Take-home assessment (35%) in the WT.
Key facts
Department: Economics
Total students 2022/23: 22
Average class size 2022/23: 11
Controlled access 2022/23: No
Lecture capture used 2022/23: Yes (MT & LT)
Value: One Unit
Course selection videos
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