ECON4136 – Applied Statistical Analysis for the Social Sciences
Course description
Course content
The course is discontinued after Autumn 2015. Teaching will be given for the last time Autumn 2014. Examination is offered for the last time Autumn 2015
This course introduces core microeconometric methods and the principles of causal inference. We will cover instrumental variables, elementary panel data models, and limited dependent variable models. Both experimental and quasi-experimental approaches to causal inference and program evaluation will be covered.
The emphasis will be on developing a solid understanding of the underlying econometric principles of the methods taught, as well as on their empirical application.
Students will also be introduced to statistical computing with Stata, a statistical package for data analysis, data management, and graphics.
Learning outcome
Knowledge outcomes
- The course develops knowledge of both the formal and practical aspects of important microeconometric methods.
- The successful student will be able to understand when to apply a method, how to apply this method and the method's limitations.
- This also covers model specification and being able to correctly interpret estimation results.
- Mastering the course's content will allow students to understand much of the applied microeconometric literature, and to perform basic econometric analyses themselves.
Skills
- Basic skills in using Stata in performing various analyses on economic data will be developed through exercises and examples in the textbook
- Students should be able to interpret Stata output
Competence
You should be able to
- read and understand project reports and journal articles that make use of the concepts and methods that are introduced in the course
- make use of the course content in your own academic work, for example in analyses that are part of the master’s thesis
Admission
Students who are admitted to study programmes at UiO must each semester register which courses and exams they wish to sign up for in Studentweb.
Students enrolled in other Master's Degree Programmes can, on application, be admitted to the course if this is cleared by their own study programme.
If you are not already enrolled as a student at UiO, please see our information about admission requirements and procedures.
Prerequisites
Formal prerequisite knowledge
ECON3150 – Introductory Econometrics /ECON4150 – Introductory Econometrics
Overlapping courses
- 10 credits overlap with ECON301B Applied statistics and econometrics
- 10 credits overlap with SØK2ØMG Økonometri grunnkurs, 2. avd. samfunnsøkonomi
- 5 credits overlap with STK2120 – Statistical Methods and Data Analysis 2 (discontinued)
- 5 credits overlap with STK1120 – Statistical methods and data analysis 2 (continued)
Teaching
Lectures: 2 hours per week throughout the semester.
Seminar: 2 hours per through parts of the semester.
Your course portfolio must be approved before you can present your self for the written school exam.
Access to teaching
A student who has completed compulsory instruction and coursework and has had these approved, is not entitled to repeat that instruction and coursework. A student who has been admitted to a course, but who has not completed compulsory instruction and coursework or had these approved, is entitled to repeat that instruction and coursework, depending on available capacity.
Examination
A 3-hour written school exam. Your course portfolio must be approved before you can present your self for the written school exam.
Examination support material
Open-book exam, where all written and printed resources, as well as calculator, are allowed.
Language of examination
The problem set will be given in English. Answers can be given in Norwegian, Swedish, Danish or in English. See § 5.4 in Regulations governing studies and examinations at the University of Oslo.
Grading scale
Grades are awarded on a scale from A to F, where A is the best grade and F is a fail. Read more about the grading system.
Explanations and appeals
Resit an examination
The Department of Economics has passed following resolution for ECON-courses: It will no longer be possible for candidates to register for an exam in a lower level course after having passed exams in intermediate and advanced level courses in the same subject area (also where there are no pre-requisites that apply to the intermediate course). Further information can be found here.
Students who might wish to retake the exam later, are not guaranteed that the course is ever repeated with a similar reading list, nor that the exam arrangement will be the same.
Withdrawal from an examination
It is possible to take the exam up to 3 times. If you withdraw from the exam after the deadline or during the exam, this will be counted as an examination attempt.
Special examination arrangements
Application form, deadline and requirements for special examination arrangements.
Evaluation
The course is subject to continuous evaluation. At regular intervals we also ask students to participate in a more comprehensive evaluation.