Introductory Applied Econometrics

EEP/IAS 118
Fall 2012

Professor Elisabeth Sadoulet (esadoulet@berkeley.edu)
GSI: Daley Kutzman (d_kutz@berkeley.edu)

Lectures: Tuesday & Thursday 9:30-11 am, 213 Wheeler Hall
Sections: Wednesday 8-9 am (242 Dwinelle Hall)
                                    3-4 pm (101 Wheeler Hall)

Office Hours
Professor Sadoulet: Wednesday 10am-12pm (213 Giannini Hall)
GSI Daley Kutzman: Tuesday 2:30-3:30pm (204 Giannini Hall)

                                  Monday 2-3pm (234 Giannini Hall, only on weeks when problem sets are due)

 

Syllabus

Class Handouts

Daily Assignments

Problem Sets

Section Materials

Exams

 

ANNOUNCEMENTS

 

 

October 14:

         Think of a small research project that you would like to perform. This  can be something like the analysis of the gender gap in wage that we did  in class, or estimating the impact of a policy (like the many examples  described in Chapter 13, etc). Look at Chapter 19, there are lots of  ideas too. There are also lots of ideas on effects of policies in the  news (NYTimes, the Economist), and, as you saw from the assignments,  lots more ideas in the American Economic Journal: Applied Economics or  Economic Policy on the web at  http://www.aeaweb.org/aea_journals.php) 

Write a (maximum 1 page) description including the following: Why is the  relationship/research interesting? What equation(s) would you estimate?  What data would you need to estimate the relationship? Where could you  find such data? What would you expect to find? Will there be a problem  in the estimation of omitted variable bias? How would you deal with such  a problem?  What test would you do to support the validity of your analysis?

Due Tuesday Oct 20th.

 

October 19:

         Here are the 2012 midterm solutions.

 

October 8:

         The midterm will be on October 16th in class. A list of review topics and past midterms have been posted on the Exams page for you to study. Professor Sadoulet will hold a review session on Friday October 12th, time and place TBD.

 

September 4:

         The first quiz will be this Thursday (9/6) in class at 9:40am. Future quizzes will not be announced in advance!

 

August 28:

Two Introduction to Stata sessions have been scheduled. It would be good to attend one to familiarize yourself with Stata. They will be on Tuesday 9/4 and Wednesday 9/5. Both will be from 5-6 pm in 234 Giannini.

 

August 21:

   Text
We will use Introductory Econometrics: A Modern Approach, by Jeffrey M. Wooldridge.  The most recent edition is the 4
th, but earlier editions are acceptable substitutes.  There will be several copies on reserve at Moffitt Library.  Reserve call numbers will be posted here when they are available.

Software
Problem sets will require you to use a data analysis and statistical software program called Stata. We will begin using Stata in a tutorial during the second week of class.  If you want to purchase your own copy of the software for your laptop or home computer, a single-user six-month license for Small Stata  (sufficient for this course) is available through Berkeley’s GradPlan for $32. (An annual license is $49.)  Note that a license allows you to install the software on up to three of your own computers.  See http://www.stata.com/order/schoollist.html to purchase (Select University of California, Berkeley, then look for the product you want). Software is delivered to campus for pick-up after your online purchase. There are often delays in delivering copies of Stata at the beginning of the semester, so if you are sure that you will take this class you should order a copy ASAP to ensure you receive it on time.