Econometrics

Description

The course aims to provide students the basics of econometric theory and teach them a range of different estimation techniques that can be applied in practice when working with data. The first part of the course will focus mainly on teaching a working knowledge of basic methods and principles of econometric theory, while the second part will focus more on a sequence of specific problems involving the specification, estimation and interpretation of econometric models. Students participating in the course will have the opportunity to solve theory exercises and to estimate econometric models in a computer lab using actual data. Econometrics is concerned with testing the compatibility of economic theories with events in the real world. Its development has influenced recent changes that have taken place in Economics to such an extent that some knowledge of Econometrics is essential if much of the modern literature is to be understood. Economic theories are seen as hypotheses about the nature of the world, and are expressed as an equation or a system of equations. These equations are then estimated using one or more of the methods of Econometrics. The acceptability or otherwise of the theory can then be decided upon, or the theory itself may be modified and retested. Econometrics is essentially the application of scientific empirical methods to Economics.