ECONOMICS

Course Description This is a course on statistical methods for economics. It begins with some basic concepts and terminology that are fundamental to statistical analysis and inference. It then develops the notion of probability, followed by probability distributions of discrete and continuous random variables and of joint distributions. This is followed by a discussion on sampling techniques used to collect survey data. The course introduces the notion of sampling distributions that act as a bridge between probability theory and statistical inference. The semester concludes with some topics in statistical inference that include point and interval estimation. Course Outline 1. Introduction and Overview   The distinction between populations and samples and between population parameters and  sample statistics; the use of measures of location and variation to describe and summarize data; population moments and their sample counterparts. 2. Elementary Probability Theory Sample spac...