Overview:
- ECTS: 6 ECTS
- Language: English
- Necessary previous knowledge: EWF
- Recommended semester: 5. / 6. semester
- Classification: ECON1
- Areas of interest: Methodology of empirical economic research
- Effort per ECTS (appropriate, much, too much): The level of effort mainly depends on your affinity for statistics and varies between medium to high.
Abstract
This course provides an introduction into empirical research methods. It covers most of the (by now) staple methods in econometrics such as D.i.D, RDD etc. The lectures focus on the mathematical aspects of these concepts and provide interesting examples from state of the art research. The exercises and the problem sets focus more on the application of said methods and provide a good space to ask questions and engage hands on with the concepts. If you are interested in empirical research in the slightest this course will give you a solid base to sharpen your analytical thinking and understanding of applied economics. The problem sets are very closely linked to the content of the lectures and provide a good preparation for the exam. The lecturer is extremely knowledgeable and is happy to answer questions in- and outside the lecture.
Good to know
Naturally this course is rather heavy on statistics and basic mathematics. In my experience it is doable for anyone and does not require you to be extremely maths savvy.
It may be good to know that some of the faculty require you to take this course in order to write your bachelor thesis under their supervision. Aside from this formality I see econometrics as part of your basic education and is helpful to anyone studying economics.
Pro / Contra
Lecture (content, structure, learning materials)
Pros
- It is very well structured and builds on itself.
- The lecturer is extremely competent and engages regularly with the class.
- This course offers you the toolset needed for your further studies and potentially your bachelor thesis.
Cons
- If you do not like maths or statistics at all; this lecture might indeed be a bit dry.
Exercise (relevance, relation to lecture)Übung (Relevanz, Bezug zur Vorlesung)
Pros
- The problem sets are a good preparation for the exam and deepen your understanding.
Cons
- Some of the graded problem sets take a while to complete.
- The TA sessions are mainly focused on the problem sets and do not provide much more if you completed the problem sets with ease.
Effort for the exam / tips
Effort: If you did all the problem sets the exam will not require you to study extensively. The individual effort required does heavily depend on your general statistical ability and can vary a lot from person to person.
Weighting of the exercises: The graded problem sets are weighed at 20% of your final grade.
Materials: The lecture slides contain most of the relevant information.
Learning Strategy: When you do the problem sets and revise the theory at the end of the semester you are well prepared for the exam.
Placement in studies
What subjects build on it: Useful for any module which contains empirical methodologies. Certainly useful for your further studies and the bachelor thesis.
Similar subjects: Methods which are taught in this course are relevant to Global Policy Analysis, Arbeitsmarktökonomik and Gender Economics.