Course descriptions for the winter semester 2013

040131 Introductory econometrics

UK, 4 hours per week (8 ECTS)

Language of instruction: English

Time and location:

Tuesday, 16:00-17:30, Hörsaal 14, Oskar Morgenstern Platz

Wednesday, 16:00-17:30, Hörsaal 14, Oskar Morgenstern Platz

(at some dates different rooms at these times, kindly consult Univis)

Starts: October 1, 2013

Course description: The course provides an introduction to the most common statistical methods that are used in empirical economics. This includes linear regression (ordinary least squares, generalized least squares, instrumental variables) and the corresponding hypothesis tests (restriction tests as well as diagnostic tests). The basic literature used for the course is Jeffrey M. Wooldridge: Introductory Econometrics (South-Western, 4^th edition). The methods are highlighted in empirical applications in Stata.

Plan of the course: Assessment will be based on four written tests in the last units of each month. No alternative dates for these tests can be provided. Each of the tests carries a weight of 25 % in the final grade. A positive grade requires at least 50 % of the maximum achievable score and attendance at the first written test. Dropping the course without a grade is not possible after the first written test in the last October unit.

040043 Microeconometrics

UK, 4 hours per week (8 ECTS)

Language of instruction: English

Time and location:

Monday, 18:00-19:30, Hörsaal 11, Oskar Morgenstern Platz

Thursday, 16:00-17:30, Hörsaal 14, Oskar Morgenstern Platz

Starts: October 2, 2013

Course description: The course focuses on those econometric methods that are used in the analysis of individual economic data. The following five topics will be targeted:

1. Basics

2. Endogenous regressors

3. Maximum likelihood

4. Limited dependent variables

5. Panel data

The topics 2-5 roughly correspond to the Sections 5, 6, 7, 10 of the textbook

Verbeek: A Guide to Modern Econometrics (Wiley, 4^th edition),

which serves as the main literature for the course. Another recommended textbook is Cameron and Trivedi: Microeconometrics (Cambridge University Press).

Plan of the course: Assessment will be based on two written tests, a midterm test in late November and a final test in the last unit in January (no alternative dates can be provided), and a small independent empirical econometric project. Each of the tests carries a weight of 35 % for the final grade, while the project carries 30 %. Dropping the course without a grade is only possible before the midterm test. A positive grade requires 50 % of the maximum achievable score and attendance at the midterm test.