00-0: Logistics

Logistics

Instructors

  • Instructor : Taro Mieno (Office: 209, E-mail: tmieno2@unl.edu)
  • Teaching Assistant :
    • TBD

Goals of the course

  • Learn modern introductory econometric theory
  • Apply econometric theories to real economic problems
  • Learn how to use statistical software (R) so you can conduct research independently (without technical help from your advisor)
    • manage data
    • visualize data
    • run regressions
    • interpret results

Text Books

Recommended: Wooldridge, Jeffrey M. 2006. “Introductory Econometrics: A Modern Approach (5th edition).” Mason, OH: Thomson/South-Western.

Course Schedule

  • Lectures (MW): 3:00-4:30pm
  • Lab sessions (F): 1:00-2:30pm

Grading

  • Problem sets (3 assignments): 30%
  • Small-size midterms (2): 40%
  • Paper: 40%

Assignments

Problem sets + Most questions are from the required text book + Some questions come from what we cover in lab sessions

** Quarto to do and submit your problem sets** + You are required to present your R codes + You learn how to compile your assignment with your R code written in a document using Quarto , which will be covered in the second lab session

Caution + 2nd year students have answers to all the questions I will assign (I will use exactly the same problems because they are really good to learn econometrics) + You are free to copy and paste (or rephrase) the answers for your assignment. I won’t bother to try to tell if you have copied and pasted answers. + However, you are simply doing dis-service to yourself by depriving yourself of learning opportunities + Moreover, your lack of understanding of the material will be clearly manifested on your performance at midterms and final paper

Midterms

In-class open-book midterms

  • Midterm 1: Oct, 9 (M)
  • Midterm 2: Nov, 20 (M)

Final Paper

In this assignment, + you write a paper with a particular emphasis on econometric analysis using a real world data set + you are encouraged to use the data set you are using for your masters thesis (talk with your advisor) + you need to ensure that you use a panel dataset + No presentation of your final paper

Time line

  • Oct, 16 : identify a research topic and the data set you will be using, and get an approval from the instructor
  • Oct, 23 : paper proposal
  • Dec, 15 : final paper

Paper Proposal

Introduction + clear identification of what you are trying to find out (research question) + why the research question is worthwhile answering

Simple Model + dependent variable (the variable to be explained) + explanatory variable (variables to be explain)

Data Source + where you get data

Final Paper

Introduction

  • clear identification of what you are trying to find out (research question) [1 point]
  • why the research question is worthwhile answering [1 point]

Data description

  • the nature of the data with summary statistics table [1 point]
  • visualize a few key variables in a meaningful way [3 points]

Econometric Methods

The process of how you end up with the final econometric models and methods. [40 points ( or more )]

  • justification of your choice of independent variables
  • potential endogeneity problems
  • what did you do to address the endogeneity problems?
  • justification of econometric model(s) and method(s)
  • identify appropriate standard error estimation methods

Results, Discussions, and Conclusions + interpret and describe the results [2 points] + implications of the results [1 point] + conclusions [1 point]