ECON3150 – Introductory Econometrics

Schedule, syllabus and examination date

Course content

This course is equivalent with ECON4150 – Introductory Econometrics

This is the compulsory course in econometrics. It builds on the bachelor’s level course in statistics and is the starting point for advanced econometrics. In this course you will become familiar with statistical methods for analysing single and two equation econometric models. In addition to the theoretical aspects of these methods, you will also learn how use the statistical software R to analyse economic data using the regression methods introduced in this course.

Central themes, both for lectures and seminars, are:

  • properties of ordinary least squares (OLS) and two-stage least squares (2SLS) estimators
  • quantifying statistical uncertainty within regression frameworks
  • how to model relationships between economic variables to recover estimates of population parameters of interest
  • the difference between correlation and causality, and how this matters for how we interpret and use statistical analysis

Learning outcome

Knowledge

You should

  • understand the mechanical and statistical properties of regression methods
  • understand the assumptions that are necessary to interpret the results of analysis for appropriate decision making?
  • understand elementary procedures for model validation

Skills

You should

  • be able to choose the appropriate statistical method for the question at hand
  • be able to interpret and critically evaluate outcomes of regression analyses
  • be able to use R to perform regression analysis of data, including relevant statistical inference

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
  • be able to make use of econometric models in your own academic work, for example in analyses needed for your master’s thesis

Admission to the course

Students at UiO must apply for courses in Studentweb.

If you are not already enrolled as a student at UiO, please see our information about admission requirements and procedures.

You can not attend this course if you have already passed specific ECON-courses at a higher level.

This course is not available for single course students.

Formal prerequisite knowledge

Alternatively

Overlapping courses

Teaching

Lectures and seminars.

Compulsory tuition activity:

  • A compulsory term paper

The assignment deadline will be specified in Canvas. If you submit your answer to the assignment, but do not pass, you may get another attempt. The new attempt will have a short deadline.

When the compulsory term paper is approved, the result will be registered. The approved compulsory term paper is valid for 9 semesters, starting with the semester in which it is passed.

See The Faculty of Social Sciences` rules regarding compulsory tuition activities.

Candidates who have passed the course before autumn 2016 and wish to re-take the exam need to get the term paper approved before they can re-take the exam.

Absence from compulsory tuition activities

If you are ill or have another valid reason for being absent from compulsory tuition activities, your absence may be approved or the compulsory activity may be postponed.

A student who has completed compulsory instruction and coursework and has had these approved, is not entitled to repeat that instruction and coursew