This course is an introduction for economics graduate students to the techniques of econometrics. The emphasis is on the essential ideas and the applications of econometric methods rather than on technical and theoretical details. However the results are not just presented but instead are derived using a mixture of rigour and intuition so as to leave as few loose ends as possible. We recognise that available economic data are either cross sectional (observations on several economic units - usually countries, firms or households - at a single point in time) or time series (observations one economic unit over time), or panel (observations on several economic units followed through time), and each type of data may need its special set of tools. We start with the linear regression model, which is the simplest model for explaining one variable using several explanatory variables, and then move to an introduction to ‘micro-econometrics', i.e., methods most useful for the analysis of cross sectional data, and an introduction to ‘macro-econometrics', i.e., methods most useful for the analysis of aggregate data over time.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:
On completion of the course you should be able to understand most of the econometric results that are presented in the applied economics literature and make critical assessments of those results. You should also be able to produce good estimates in fairly simple situations and provide coherent interpretation of those results, including any caveats on their use. Particular skills include:
- interpret regression coefficients in linear and nonlinear regression models
- assess the fit and statistical significance of econometric relationships
- construct interval estimates and hypothesis tests of interesting economic hypotheses, including those involving several parameters
- distinguish different forms of data and the models appropriate for them: cross section and time series
- critically assess choices of functional form
- understand the assumptions in the statistical model, the consequences of failure and methods of detection
- use the statistical package.
Other Information
Delivery Mode: On-Campus. 2 hours of lectures and 1 hour tutorial a week for a 13 week semester.
Indicative Assessment
The assessment scheme is as follows:
Mid-semester examination 20%
Assignments 15%
Final examination 65%
Both examinations will be in the standard closed-book format. Your final grade from the course will generally not be the exact result of the calculation, as scaling of scores is often necessary after the raw score is calculated. The scaling, if needed, will preserve the order and the scaling may be up or down.
In response to COVID-19: Please note that Semester 2 Class Summary information (available under the classes tab) is as up to date as possible. Changes to Class Summaries not captured by this publication will be available to enrolled students via Wattle.
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Workload
Contact of 3 hours and a total 10 hours a week.
Prescribed Texts
Jeffrey M. Wooldridge, Introductory Econometrics: A Modern Approach, South-Western, 3rd edition 2006, ISBN 0-324-28978-2
Marno Verbeek, A Guide to Modern Econometrics, Wiley, 2nd edition 2004, ISBN 0-470-85773-1.
Preliminary Reading
Any introductory textbooks in (i) mathematical techniques for economics and (ii) statistics for economists.
Assumed Knowledge
Students should have a background with at least undergraduate study of economics, including courses in basic mathematics and statistics for economics.
Fees
Tuition fees are for the academic year indicated at the top of the page.
If you are a domestic graduate coursework or international student you will be required to pay tuition fees. Tuition fees are indexed annually. Further information for domestic and international students about tuition and other fees can be found at Fees.
- Student Contribution Band:
- 3
- Unit value:
- 6 units
If you are an undergraduate student and have been offered a Commonwealth supported place, your fees are set by the Australian Government for each course. At ANU 1 EFTSL is 48 units (normally 8 x 6-unit courses). You can find your student contribution amount for each course at Fees. Where there is a unit range displayed for this course, not all unit options below may be available.
| Units | EFTSL |
|---|---|
| 6.00 | 0.12500 |
Course fees
- Domestic fee paying students
| Year | Fee |
|---|---|
| 2020 | $4500 |
- International fee paying students
| Year | Fee |
|---|---|
| 2020 | $6000 |
Offerings, Dates and Class Summary Links
ANU utilises MyTimetable to enable students to view the timetable for their enrolled courses, browse, then self-allocate to small teaching activities / tutorials so they can better plan their time. Find out more on the Timetable webpage.
Class summaries, if available, can be accessed by clicking on the View link for the relevant class number.
Second Semester
| Class number | Class start date | Last day to enrol | Census date | Class end date | Mode Of Delivery | Class Summary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7449 | 27 Jul 2020 | 03 Aug 2020 | 31 Aug 2020 | 30 Oct 2020 | In Person | View |