* Understand how causal evidence can be used to analyse individuals’ behaviour, institutions, and society in general, and why it is essential for social science research and policy analysis.
* Being able to read and critically evaluate the credibility and validity of empirical studies, with particular attention to causal identification strategies.
* Understand the problem of endogeneity in empirical research and recognize its implications for establishing causal relationships between variables.
* Understand basic econometric tools with which empirical claims about causality can be established.

This course provides an introduction to the analysis of social phenomena, with an emphasis on modern empirical approaches to identify causal relationships in social science research. Students will learn why credible causal evidence is essential for testing theories and deriving valid policy implications. Central to the course is the empirical revolution in economics, which has shifted the discipline toward causal identification and positioned economists at the forefront of evidence-based policy analysis across a wide range of societal issues.

Students will learn how to read and critically evaluate empirical research, understand common identification strategies, and interpret causal claims using basic econometric tools. By engaging directly with influential empirical studies in economics addressing major societal challenges, students will develop the ability to assess the validity and credibility of empirical findings independently. The course aims to equip students with a more rigorous and critical perspective on empirical research and its role in understanding society and informing public policy.