Syllabus

The key components of the syllabus are outlined below. You can access the complete syllabus in PDF format by clicking here.

Overview

This course covers the basics of conducting quantitative economic research. The course aims to take you through the steps involved in answering a research question using observational data. You will learn and implement statistical and econometric concepts vital to empirical research. You will select a question, locate data to answer it and use the tools we learn in this class to answer this question.

This course will involve hands-on work with data using R, a statistical software, both inside and outside the classroom. The tools learned in this class will be helpful regardless of whether your goal is to be a researcher, a consultant, run your own business, or work for a non-profit.

Learning Goals

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to discern valuable insights from datasets and communicate empirical findings effectively. In particular, you will

  • Develop a strong grasp of both the conceptual and practical aspects of various statistical and econometric tools.
  • Learn to tidy, wrangle, manipulate, and visualize data using TidyVerse in R.
  • Be able to compute descriptive statistics, perform regression analysis in R, and present results in a clear, elegant manner.
  • Gain the skill to effectively communicate empirical findings.
  • Develop an understanding of causality, including the ability to identify and articulate potential threats to causal inference
  • Get an introduction to advanced topics at the forefront of economic research, such as quasi-experimental methods and machine learning.

Course Structure

All meetings for this are anticipated to take place in a physical classroom setting. During our class sessions, I use lecture slides to deliver the day’s topics, and we frequently engage in collaborative problem-solving using handouts, practical work in R, or participate in class discussions. The course is designed to be interactive, and requires you to actively participate. Therefore, regular class attendance is especially important for you to suceed in this class.

A substantial portion of this class centers around the development of a research paper. You have the freedom to choose your dataset or you can utilize one of the datasets that I have compiled for this class in the Econ340 Datasets Dropbox folder. You will start working on the research project early in the semester with assignments focused on coming up with a question, selecting data, and conducting descriptive analysis. I will provide guidance and support as you progress through the semester, and also schedule a mid-semester meeting to evaluate your progress.

Course Material

All course materials—including lecture slides, handouts, notes for each topic—are available on the course website. These materials should generally be sufficient, and there is no mandatory textbook for this class. However, if you have a keen interest in the subject and seek additional references, the following options are great choices:

Grading Criteria

Your course grade will be determined according to the following breakdown:

Component Points
Active Engagement 10
Problem Sets 20
Research Paper: Interim Submission 10
Research Paper: Final Submission 20
Midterm Exam 20
Final Exam 20