Courses Master Display 2022-2023

Course Description To PDF
Course title Empirical Methods in Economics
Course code EBC4233
ECTS credits 5,0
Assessment Whole/Half Grades
Period
Period Start End Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri
1 5-9-2022 21-10-2022 X X
Level Advanced
Coordinator Bart Golsteyn
For more information: b.golsteyn@maastrichtuniversity.nl
Language of instruction English
Goals
* A critical attitude towards the use of data and the empirical methods to analyse real world events
* How empirical observations can be interpreted and evaluated from an economic point of view
* Experience in working with Stata
Description
PLEASE NOTE THAT THE INFORMATION ABOUT THE TEACHING AND ASSESSMENT METHOD(S) USED IN THIS COURSE IS WITH RESERVATION. A RE-EMERGENCE OF THE CORONAVIRUS AND NEW COUNTERMEASURES BY THE DUTCH GOVERNMENT MIGHT FORCE COORDINATORS TO CHANGE THE TEACHING AND ASSESSMENT METHODS USED. THE MOST UP-TO-DATE INFORMATION ABOUT THE TEACHING/ASSESSMENT METHOD(S) WILL BE AVAILABLE IN THE COURSE SYLLABUS.

People who retire earlier, die earlier. Would you conclude from this evidence that it is better not to retire early? This course offers you (1) tools with which you can take a critical look at such claims, (2) tools with which you can investigate data yourself. In case of this example, causality might run in the opposite direction: people who are healthier work longer than those who are less healthy. So deceasing earlier might not be caused by earlier retirement but be due to worse health of early retirees. To estimate whether early retirement really increases health risks we need a better research strategy.
This course offers such methods and tools along with assignments to see how it works in practice. It considers both cross-section, time series and panel methods. The course develops an understanding of the main tools with which empirical claims can be established or refuted. The philosophy is to explain the empirical strategies in an intuitive way. We focus on analysing economic phenomena, using applied papers as examples.
Literature
Chapters from:
* Stock, J. & Watson, M. (2019), Introduction to Econometrics, Fourth Edition, Pearson.
* Söderbom, M. and F. Teal (2015), Empirical Development Economics, Routledge, London/New York.
A reader with articles and background material.
Prerequisites
Basic econometrics, some experience with statistical software such as Stata. An advanced level of English.
Keywords
Teaching methods (indicative; course manual is definitive) PBL / Lecture / Assignment
Assessment methods (indicative; course manual is definitive) Participation / Written Exam / Assignment
Evaluation in previous academic year For the complete evaluation of this course please click "here"
This course belongs to the following programmes / specialisations
Master Economics - Digitalisation and the Future of Learning and Work Compulsory Course(s)
Master Economics - Global Challenges and Macroeconomic Policy Compulsory Course(s)
Master Economics - Market Regulation and Design Compulsory Course(s)
Master Economics - No specialisation Compulsory Course(s)
Master Economics and Strategy in Emerging Markets Compulsory Course(s)
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