Introductory econometrics
Introductory econometrics This course will cover the basics of applying statistics to economics. It assumes a familiarity with probability.
Course code: 345-001 Class time: T,R 9am-10.15am Date of midterm: 10/13 Date of final: 12/8 Due date for final paper: 12/15 Class website: http://www.omar.ec/ then go to teaching Course instructor: Omar Al-Ubaydli (just call me Omar) o Email: [email protected] o Office hours: TBA Teaching assistant: TBA o Email: TBA o Office hours: TBA
If you are a student with a disability and you need academic accommodations, please see me and contact the Office of Disability Resources at 703-993-2474. All academic accommodations must be arranged through that office. Make sure that you regularly check your email as official class and university communications will occur over email. Lecture outlines are available on my website, but I stress that these are outlines and not notes. I do this to make sure that you have an incentive to come to class. All material covered in class is examinable.
Grading There will be five problem sets (15%), a midterm (30%), a final (40%) and a written paper (15%). While there is no grade for class attendance, you are recommended to attend class as the manner in which material is presented will often deviate substantially from the main text. Moreover, some material will only be covered in class. All material covered in class is examinable. The distribution of the final letter grades is not fixed in advance (i.e., I do not grade purely on a curve), but nor will the ab solute standard necessary for certain letter grade be pre-defined. If you demonstrate understanding of the basic concepts covered in class and perform averagely on the problem sets, you can expect a B. IMPORTANT NOTE: the exams that I set typically yield an average in the range 60-70%. Scores in that range typically (though not always) correspond to a B. It is often possible to pass the class with scores of 50% or even lower. You may be used to requiring much higher scores to pass, so do not be immediately alarmed if you get a 60% in my exam and think that you will fail. Just ask me what letter grade your score corresponds to before thinking the worst! You can work together on homework in groups of no more than two, but you still have to hand in work individually. If you collaborate with another, please write down the name of your colleague on the assignment that you turn in. All answers to problem set and exam questions require full workings for full credit. If only the answer is given without any workings, the answer will receive zero points, regardless of whether or not it is correct.
Readings The closest thing to a main course text book will be: Stock, J., and M. Watson (2006) Introduction to econometrics. Addison Wesley (2nd edition). However most of the material will not come from this. Do not rush out and buy it on my account – only buy it if you feel that it helps you. On the library website, you will be able to find photocopies of chapters from several different textbooks. These will be useful.
Course code: 345-001 Class time: T,R 9am-10.15am Date of midterm: 10/13 Date of final: 12/8 Due date for final paper: 12/15 Class website: http://www.omar.ec/ then go to teaching Course instructor: Omar Al-Ubaydli (just call me Omar) o Email: [email protected] o Office hours: TBA Teaching assistant: TBA o Email: TBA o Office hours: TBA
If you are a student with a disability and you need academic accommodations, please see me and contact the Office of Disability Resources at 703-993-2474. All academic accommodations must be arranged through that office. Make sure that you regularly check your email as official class and university communications will occur over email. Lecture outlines are available on my website, but I stress that these are outlines and not notes. I do this to make sure that you have an incentive to come to class. All material covered in class is examinable.
Grading There will be five problem sets (15%), a midterm (30%), a final (40%) and a written paper (15%). While there is no grade for class attendance, you are recommended to attend class as the manner in which material is presented will often deviate substantially from the main text. Moreover, some material will only be covered in class. All material covered in class is examinable. The distribution of the final letter grades is not fixed in advance (i.e., I do not grade purely on a curve), but nor will the ab solute standard necessary for certain letter grade be pre-defined. If you demonstrate understanding of the basic concepts covered in class and perform averagely on the problem sets, you can expect a B. IMPORTANT NOTE: the exams that I set typically yield an average in the range 60-70%. Scores in that range typically (though not always) correspond to a B. It is often possible to pass the class with scores of 50% or even lower. You may be used to requiring much higher scores to pass, so do not be immediately alarmed if you get a 60% in my exam and think that you will fail. Just ask me what letter grade your score corresponds to before thinking the worst! You can work together on homework in groups of no more than two, but you still have to hand in work individually. If you collaborate with another, please write down the name of your colleague on the assignment that you turn in. All answers to problem set and exam questions require full workings for full credit. If only the answer is given without any workings, the answer will receive zero points, regardless of whether or not it is correct.
Readings The closest thing to a main course text book will be: Stock, J., and M. Watson (2006) Introduction to econometrics. Addison Wesley (2nd edition). However most of the material will not come from this. Do not rush out and buy it on my account – only buy it if you feel that it helps you. On the library website, you will be able to find photocopies of chapters from several different textbooks. These will be useful.
