Introduction to Econometrics

Catalog description

The implementation of statistical techniques to analyze data and address economic questions. Econometric results are produced and assessed. ECON 306H Introduction to Econometrics (3) In this course students learn basic quantitative methods used in applied economics, focusing on linear regression models and their applications. The course will cover topics similar to those covered in ECON 306 but with more mathematical rigor (i.e., using calculus). Following an introduction and reviews of probability and statistics, the course will focus on: (1) the statistical properties of commonly-used estimators and test statistics in regression models, (2) how to use them in practice for statistical inference, and (3) the issue of endogeneity and instrumental variables. Students will study both practical and theoretical aspects of econometrics, by which they will be able to implement the basic methods in practice and to understand the limitations of these methods. This course is an honors version of the second quantitative course in economics that is now required of all economics majors. As noted above, students will learn both theoretical and practical aspects of econometrics, so that they will be able to carry out econometric analyses of data. Evaluation of student performance will be based on homework assignments, midterm exams, and a final exam. Typically, the homework assignments would account for 20 percent of the overall course grade, each of two midterm exams would count for 25 percent of the grade, and the final exam would count for the remaining 30 percent of the grade. This course has ECON 106 /106H, Statistical Foundations for Econometrics, as a prerequisite, and will use calculus. Further, the course is a prerequisite for advanced course work in econometrics, such as ECON 465W, ECON 466W, and ECON 483W, as well as other 400-level courses requiring econometrics.