EH337-7-SL-CO:
Quantitative Methods for Causal Inference and Policy Evaluation
2022/23
Essex Summer School in Social Science Data Analysis
Colchester Campus
Summer & Long Vacation
Postgraduate: Level 7
Current
Monday 24 April 2023
Wednesday 04 October 2023
15
03 February 2023
Requisites for this module
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In this course, students will learn the logic and methods of policy evaluation. We will focus on good research designs that answer important causal questions in public policy. In doing so, we will review the technical skills necessary to conduct credible empirical research such as field experiments, differences-in-differences, instrumental variables, and regression discontinuity designs. More importantly, we will practice the thinking necessary to develop and evaluate good research designs.
Class sessions will involve a combination of lecture and discussion. Some sessions will review a particular set of empirical methods in detail, others will involve the detailed discussion of a single paper, and others will involve a mix of lecture and discussion revolving around a substantive topic in policy evaluation. Students are expected to prepare for each class session and participate in the discussions.
No information available.
1. Students will be able to design advanced policy evaluations with quantitative methods. In particular, they will be able to correctly apply i) regression discontinuity designs, ii) instrumental variable designs, and iii) difference-in-difference designs.
2. Students should be able to critically evaluate the empirical soundness of existing policy evaluations.
Course Prerequisites
Students are expected to have taken at least one graduate level course in statistics. Only a basic familiarity with probability, hypothesis testing, and regression is assumed.
The course will conduct statistical analyses using the R programming language. No prior experience in computer coding is necessary. The Instructor and/or teaching assistant will hold special sessions to introduce R. Students will primarily be responsible for running already-produced code, on pre-assembled datasets, rather than writing their own code.
Readings
Angrist, Joshua D., and Jorn-Steffen Pischke. Mastering Metrics: The path from cause to effect. Princeton University Press, 2014. (this will be provided by ESS)
Thinking Clearly with Data: A Guide to Quantitative Reasoning and Analysis Ethan Bueno de Mesquita and Anthony Fowler, Princeton University Press, 9780691214368
We will read selected papers throughout the quarter. Links to these papers, or drafts of them, will be provided. One book which is suggested for several lectures is the following:
Gerber, Alan S., and Donald P. Green. 2012. Field Experiments: Design, Analysis, and Interpretation (FEDAI). New York: W.W. Norton.
Though a more specialized treatment, this book is a must-have for aspiring experimentalists.
Module information will be made available at https://essexsummerschool.com/.
Please contact essexsummerschoolssda@essex.ac.uk and govpgquery@essex.ac.uk with any queries.
No information available.
This module does not appear to have a published bibliography for this year.
Assessment items, weightings and deadlines
| Coursework / exam |
Description |
Deadline |
Coursework weighting |
| Coursework |
Assessment one |
|
50% |
Exam format definitions
- Remote, open book: Your exam will take place remotely via an online learning platform. You may refer to any physical or electronic materials during the exam.
- In-person, open book: Your exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer to any physical materials such as paper study notes or a textbook during the exam. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
- In-person, open book (restricted): The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer only to specific physical materials such as a named textbook during the exam. Permitted materials will be specified by your department. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
- In-person, closed book: The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may not refer to any physical materials or electronic devices during the exam. There may be times when a paper dictionary,
for example, may be permitted in an otherwise closed book exam. Any exceptions will be specified by your department.
Your department will provide further guidance before your exams.
Overall assessment
Reassessment
Module supervisor and teaching staff
No
No
No
Available via Moodle
No lecture recording information available for this module.
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