GRA 6648 Research Methodology - Economics

GRA 6648 Research Methodology - Economics

Course code: 
GRA 6648
Department: 
Economics
Credits: 
6
Course coordinator: 
Hilde Christiane Bjørnland
Leif Anders Thorsrud
Course name in Norwegian: 
Research Methodology - Economics
Product category: 
Master
Portfolio: 
MSc - Core course
Semester: 
2020 Spring
Active status: 
Active
Level of study: 
Master
Teaching language: 
English
Course type: 
One semester
Introduction

This course is a graduate level introduction to Econometrics.

Learning outcomes - Knowledge

Students will learn to use statistical methods for estimating economic relationship, testing economic theories, and using estimated models to analyze the effect of policy intervention for the public and the private sector.

Learning outcomes - Skills

The students will learn about the main estimation methods, using both time series and panel data. Projects using Big data will also be introduced. The students will learn details about time series econometrics with applications in macroeconomics and international finance. They will master univariate and multivariate models of stationary and non stationary time series, including structural VARs. Panel data techniques are covered, as well as the difference in difference methodology. In the end, they should be able to design applied econometric projects.

The students should have an understanding of information search strategies:

  • Acquaintance with methods for information, harvesting and search techniques
  • Know what a critical literature review is and how this type of articles may be searched for and used
  • Critical evaluation of sources
General Competence

Students should be able to reflect and understand the basic techniques used in applied econometrics, so that eventually they can master and produce sophisticated applied econometric analysis.

Course content

I Data Management

  • Traditional data (time series and panel data)
  • Big data
  • Data reduction
  • Web scraping

II Time series – Stationary and non-stationary univariate time series

  • White noise, moving average, autoregressive models
  • Forecasting
  • Deterministic and stochastic trends, unit roots, structural change
  • Applications

III Vector autoregression (VAR) methodology

  • Structural VARs specification and estimation
  • Identification, impulse responses, variance decomposition
  • Spurious regression and log run economic relationships
  • Applications

IV Panel data analysis

  • Difference in difference methodology
  • Fixed effects
  • Applications

V Introduction to information search strategies (3 hours in the pc-lab)

  • Acquaintance with methods for information, harvesting and search techniques
  • Know what a critical literature review is and how this type of articles may be searched for and used
  • Critical evaluation of sources

VI Setting up an econometric project

  • Research ethics, data handling, specification, modeling, policy analysis
Teaching and learning activities

Lectures and practical exercises that must be solved on the computer.

Software tools
Matlab
Additional information

Please note that while attendance is not compulsory in all courses, it is the student’s own responsibility to obtain any information provided in class.

This is a course with continuous assessment (several exam components) and one final exam code. Each exam component is graded by using points on a scale from 0-100. The components will be weighted together according to the information in the course description in order to calculate the final letter grade for the examination code (course). Students who fail to participate in one/some/all exam elements will get a lower grade or may fail the course. You will find detailed information about the point system and the cut off points with reference to the letter grades when the course starts.

At resit, all exam components must, as a main rule, be retaken during next scheduled course.

Qualifications

All courses in the Masters programme will assume that students have fulfilled the admission requirements for the programme. In addition, courses in second, third and/or fourth semester can have spesific prerequisites and will assume that students have followed normal study progression. For double degree and exchange students, please note that equivalent courses are accepted.

Assessments
Assessments
Exam category: 
Activity
Form of assessment: 
Presentation
Weight: 
20
Grouping: 
Group (4 - 6)
Exam code: 
GRA66486
Grading scale: 
Point scale leading to ECTS letter grade
Resit: 
All components must, as a main rule, be retaken during next scheduled course
Exam category: 
Submission
Form of assessment: 
Written submission
Weight: 
10
Grouping: 
Group/Individual (1 - 3)
Duration: 
1 Week(s)
Comment: 
Library assignment
Exam code: 
GRA66486
Grading scale: 
Point scale leading to ECTS letter grade
Resit: 
All components must, as a main rule, be retaken during next scheduled course
Exam category: 
Submission
Form of assessment: 
Written submission
Invigilation
Weight: 
70
Grouping: 
Individual
Support materials: 
  • BI-approved exam calculator
  • Simple calculator
  • Bilingual dictionary
Duration: 
3 Hour(s)
Comment: 
Final written examination under supervision.
Exam code: 
GRA66486
Grading scale: 
Point scale leading to ECTS letter grade
Resit: 
All components must, as a main rule, be retaken during next scheduled course
Type of Assessment: 
Continuous assessment
Grading scale: 
ECTS
Total weight: 
100
Sum workload: 
0

A course of 1 ECTS credit corresponds to a workload of 26-30 hours. Therefore a course of 6 ECTS credits corresponds to a workload of at least 160 hours.