Introductory Econometrics Using R

Description

Econometrics is widely used to analyze economic effects, make forecasts, and inform decision-making. A central concern in economics is understanding how specific events, changes, or policy measures affect economic outcomes. Econometrics provides the tools to study such relationships empirically. Typical examples include the causal links between credit information and default risk, advertising and sales revenue, work experience and wage levels, political trust and investment behavior, inflation and price dynamics, and much more. 

This course provides insights into how to study such relationships and effects. The course is aimed at students who want to do academic research and want to be prepared for a Master’s programme in economics.  

The course starts with a refresher in statistics and linear regression models. The course further covers the Ordinary Least Squares estimator, the interpretation of the regression parameters, the standard error of the OLS-estimator, unbiased estimators, t-test and F-test, perfect multicollinearity, consequences of omitted variables, consequences of irrelevant variables, interaction effects, dummy variables, heteroskedasticity, time-series regression models, exogeneity and autocorrelation. You will learn how to integrate this knowledge with economic theory and mathematics, and how to apply it using the freely available software R. Toward the end of the course, there will be a test so that you can reflect on and demonstrate what you have learned. 

Please bring your laptop to the course, as you will make use of the statistical software package R to estimate and evaluate econometric models. It will be an intensive course of lectures and tutorials. 

The course will be taught on campus. Only if a student is unable to be present on campus, they may submit a motivated request for an online alternative (contact details on the right). Each request will be assessed individually. It is important to note that the on-campus course and the online alternative take place concurrently, requiring active participation in either format. The course fee will remain unchanged.

Lecturers

Prof. dr. W.H.J. Hassink and dr. T.W. Dulam 

Target audience

The course is open to prospective students of one of the master's programmes of Utrecht University School of Economics. They will pay a reduced course fee: € 330,-.

The course is also open to other participants who would like to refresh their knowledge of econometrics. Fee: € 1200,-.

Tags

• Econometrics
• R