Applied Econometric Policy Evaluation (p)

Course content

The aim of the course is to develop knowledge, skills and competences that enable students to provide answers to real applied econometric problems rather than just econometric theory, and in this way prepare students to carry out their own empirical analyses.

 

The course is divided into four blocks. In the first block, the counter-factual setup is introduced and natural experiments and methods assuming unconfoundedness are considered. In the second block, methods based on the availability of panel data are considered. These lectures focus on the difference-in-differences estimator and event studies. Furthermore, since the usual standard errors of panel data estimates are likely to be seriously biased, one lecture will be devoted to consider how to obtain correct (clustered) standard errors. In the third block, regression discontinuity and regression kink designs are dealt with. Finally, in the fourth block methods using instrumental variables are considered. Each of the four blocks will be concluded by a workshop, where the students will get hands-on experience in how to apply the methods.

Education

MSc programme in Economics – elective course

Bacheloruddannelsen i økonomi – Prioriteret valgfag på 3. år (angivet med et p)

The Danish BSc programme in Economics - prioritized elective at the 3rd year (symbolized by ‘p’)

Learning outcome

After completing the course the student is expected to be able to:

 

Knowledge:

  • be introduced to the counterfactual set-up and the key treatment parameters we seek to estimate.
  • Understand how the estimated treatment parameters rely on specific identifying assumptions.
  • have learned a list of research designs that have been used in the literature.
  • Understand how arguments in favor of a research design are developed in research articles.

 

Skills:

  • Set-up appropriate evaluation designs matching specific empirical applications.
  • Discuss the identifying assumptions and use regressions or descriptive data analysis to assess the assumptions.
  • Implement an empirical policy evaluation analysis using Stata.

 

Competences:

  • Formulate an empirical research question.
  • Develop a policy evaluation research design.
  • Identify how to exploit variation induced by a policy to set-up a credible research design.
  • Apply the appropriate econometric techniques to the policy evaluation problems using micro data.
  • Develop arguments supporting an identification strategy.
  • Assess the identification strategies in existing research papers as well as in their own analyses.

 

The course will consist of 17 regular lectures and 4 STATA workshops.
Most of the necessary econometric theory being taught in the lectures will draw on the Angrist and Pischke (2009) textbook.

Besides teaching the econometric theory, an important part of the lectures is devoted to considering how to apply the methods taught to real policy evaluation problems. Teaching how to develop appropriate research designs will be case-based drawing on examples from development economics, health economics, labor economics, the economics of education, tax policy, and public economics. The course will thus be complementary to many of the other course in the economics programme.

Office hours:
There will be office hours given and informed by the lecturers.

Pandemic:
In case of a pandemic like Corona the teaching in this course may be changed to be taught either fully or partly online. For further information, see the course room on Absalon.

Angrist, J.D. and J.-S. Pischke (2009), “Mostly Harmless Econometrics,” Princeton

University Press .

Journal articles.

Econometrics I.

Schedule:
2 hours lectures 1 to 2 times a week from week 6 to 20 (except holidays).

The overall schema for the BA 3rd year and Master can be seen at KUnet:
MSc in Economics => "courses and teaching" => "Planning and overview" => "Your timetable"
BA i Økonomi/KA i Økonomi => "Kurser og undervisning" => "Planlægning og overblik" => "Dit skema"

Timetable and venue:
To see the time and location of lectures please press the link under "Timetable"/​​"Se skema" at the right side of this page (F means Spring).

You can find the similar information in English at
https:/​/​skema.ku.dk/​ku2021/​uk/​module.htm
-Select Department: “2200-Økonomisk Institut” (and wait for respond)
-Select Module:: “2200-F21; [Name of course]”
-Select Report Type: “List – Weekdays”
-Select Period: “Forår/Spring – Week 5-30”
Press: “ View Timetable”

Please be aware:
- That it is the students´s own responsibility to continuously update themselves about their studies, their teaching, their schedule, their exams etc. through the study pages, the course description, the Digital Exam portal, Absalon, KUnet, myUCPH app, the curriculum etc.

Oral
Collective
ECTS
7,5 ECTS
Type of assessment
Written assignment, 12 hours
take-home exam, individual or in groups of max. 2 students. The groups shall be etablised before the exam begins. The plagiarism rules must be complied and please be aware of the rules for co-written assignments.

The different groups and the individual students are not allowed to communicate during the exam.

The exam assignment is given in English and must be answered in English.

In the event that this summer's exams have to be conducted as online exams due to COVID-19, the reexam will be an online oral 20 minutes exam without preparation time.
____
Aid
All aids allowed

for the written regular exam.

___

Marking scale
7-point grading scale
Censorship form
No external censorship
for the written exam.
____
Criteria for exam assessment

Students are assessed on the extent to which they master the learning outcome for the course.

 

To receive the top grade, the student must with no or only a few minor weaknesses be able to demonstrate an excellent performance displaying a high level of command of all aspects of the relevant material and can make use of the knowledge, skills and competencies listed in the learning outcomes.

Single subject courses (day)

  • Category
  • Hours
  • Lectures
  • 42
  • Preparation
  • 152
  • Exam
  • 12
  • English
  • 206