EC5612 Causal Inference in Econometrics (20)

Academic year

2024 to 2025 Semester 2

Further information on which modules are specific to your programme.

Key module information

SCOTCAT credits

20

The Scottish Credit Accumulation and Transfer (SCOTCAT) system allows credits gained in Scotland to be transferred between institutions. The number of credits associated with a module gives an indication of the amount of learning effort required by the learner. European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) credits are half the value of SCOTCAT credits.

SCQF level

SCQF level 11

The Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) provides an indication of the complexity of award qualifications and associated learning and operates on an ascending numeric scale from Levels 1-12 with SCQF Level 10 equating to a Scottish undergraduate Honours degree.

Planned timetable

Monday 10:00 (lectures); Tuesday 15:00 (tutorials)

This information is given as indicative. Timetable may change at short notice depending on room availability.

Module coordinator

Prof D A Jaeger

This information is given as indicative. Staff involved in a module may change at short notice depending on availability and circumstances.

Module Staff

Prof David Jaeger

This information is given as indicative. Staff involved in a module may change at short notice depending on availability and circumstances.

Module description

This module discusses various methods for plausibly estimating causal effects in econometrics. These methods include randomized experiments, instrumental variables, difference-in-differences, synthetic controls, and regression discontinuity designs. Propensity score matching will also be discussed. The theoretical bases for these methods will be presented along with empirical examples from labour, development, education, health, and other fields in economics. Students will focus on interpretation of results and how to implement the methods using statistical software.

Relationship to other modules

Pre-requisites

EC5203 OR WITH THE PERMISSION OF THE DIRECTOR OF POSTGRADUATE TAUGHT PROGRAMMES

Anti-requisites

YOU CANNOT TAKE THIS MODULE IF YOU TAKE EC4425

Assessment pattern

Coursework = 100%

Re-assessment

100% Written Examination

Learning and teaching methods and delivery

Weekly contact

20 hours of lectures over 11 weeks, 1-hour tutorial (x 5 weeks)

Scheduled learning hours

25

The number of compulsory student:staff contact hours over the period of the module.

Guided independent study hours

168

The number of hours that students are expected to invest in independent study over the period of the module.

Intended learning outcomes

  • Understand the methods used for causal inference in empirical economics
  • Assess the validity of published empirical research that uses causal inference methods
  • Apply causal inference methods in Stata or other statistical packages using data
  • Propose original research that employs causal methods to estimate the effect of policies or other phenomena