The course aims at providing students an understanding of how to design, implement and interpret empirical research in economics. Students will gain knowledge in measuring relevant economic concepts and in identifying causality in economics. Students will learn about available statistical tools and their main differences, so that they are able to judge the internal validity of empirical studies.

The course provides an overview of methodological and practical issues that arise in empirical economics when (i) measuring concepts in the area of learning and work and (ii) estimating causal relationships. The course covers statistical tools to estimate causal relationships in economics using non-experimental (observable) data and psychometric tools for using test data. We review advantages and pitfalls of various identification strategies, and discuss data requirements. In addition to discussing implementation issues, the course puts particularly emphasize on how to justify the technical assumptions in real-life studies. Examples from the economics of education and labour economics will be discussed. At the end of the course, students should be able to judge which methods are most appropriate in different contexts and circumstances and whether the underlying assumptions are fulfilled. Students will be able to assess the internal validity of empirical studies and make statements with respect to their reliability.

This course has been cancelled

The following rule applies to master Economics students, who started the programme prior to academic year 2021/22.
TRANSITIONAL REGULATION (EBC4240):
Students who started this specialisation in or prior to September 2020 and did not successfully complete Empirical Research in Education and Labour (EBC4240) must successfully complete the replacement course Behavioural and Experimental methods (EBC4235)

See the Transitional Regulations section in the Master Education and Examination Regulations for more information.