EC4425 Econometrics of Impact Evaluation

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 10

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.

Availability restrictions

Available to General Degree students with the permission of the Honours Adviser

Planned timetable

When confirmed, check online https://timetables.st-andrews.ac.uk/.

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

Evaluating the causal effects of economic policies is an important but complex and challenging task. The purpose of this module is to introduce students to the core methods for evaluating the causal effect of economic policies and to apply these methods in practice. It will expose students to the concept of causality and explain under which assumptions the causal effect of economic policies can be identified. The module will have a strong focus on applications and will emphasise problems that economists encounter in practice when evaluating economic policies. Empirical examples will deal mainly with policies in labour economics and development economics. The laboratory sessions will discuss important empirical studies in the field and will provide students with the opportunity to apply empirical methods hands-on using Stata.

Relationship to other modules

Pre-requisites

BEFORE TAKING THIS MODULE YOU MUST PASS EC3301 OR PASS MT3508 OR PASS EC5203

Assessment pattern

Written Examination = 50%, Coursework (incl. Class Test 25%) = 50%

Re-assessment

2-hour Written Examination = 100%

Learning and teaching methods and delivery

Weekly contact

20 hours of lectures over 11 weeks, 1-hour laboratories (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

175

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

Intended learning outcomes

  • Understand the concept of causality
  • Be familiar with the core econometric methods for evaluating the causal effects of interventions
  • Apply these econometric methods in practice using Stata
  • Understand, interpret and critically assess empirical papers that analyse the causal effect of interventions