Causality and Programme Evaluation

Module (major changes): Causality and Programme Evaluation (6 Credits)
Name in diploma supplement	Causality and Programme Evaluation
Responsible	Prof. Dr. Martin Karlsson
Admission criteria	See exam regulations.
Workload	180 hours of student workload, in detail: Attendance: 60 hours Preparation, follow up: 60 hours Exam preparation: 60 hours
Duration	The module takes 1 semester(s).
Qualification Targets	Students taking the course will Acquire a sound understanding of identification strategies in microeconometrics Gain knowledge of the advantages and limitations of experimental research Get familiar with the most important non-experimental techniques and their underlying assumptions Learn how to critically assess empirical microeconometric work
Relevance	For decision makers, e.g. in public policy, it is important to identify causal effects of distinct policy programmes in order to use available resources efficiently. For this purpose there exists a broad variety of methods. This course enables students to critically assess existing empirical evidence and pursue own empirical evaluations.
Module Exam	In order to pass the course students need to solve and hand in problem sets (20% of the final grade), and to write a term paper (usually 20-30 pages, 80% of the final grade) in which they pursue an own empirical evaluation.
Usage in different degree programs	BWL EaF Master > Wahlpflichtbereich > 1.-3. Sem, Elective ECMX Master > Wahlpflichtbereich > ME7 Econometric Methods > 1.-3. Sem, Elective GOEMIK Master > Wahlpflichtbereich > Bereich Volkswirtschaftslehre > 1.-3. Sem, Elective VWL Master > Wahlpflichtbereich I > 1.-3. Sem, Elective
Elements	Lecture with integrated exercise Causality and Programme Evaluation (6 Credits)
Module: Causality and Programme Evaluation (WIWI‑M0473)

Lecture with integrated exercise: Causality and Programme Evaluation (6 Credits)
Name in diploma supplement	Causality and Programme Evaluation
Organisational Unit	Lehrstuhl für VWL, insb. Gesundheitsökonomik
Lecturers	Prof. Dr. Martin Karlsson, wissenschaftliche Mitarbeiter(innen)
Hours per week	4	Language	English
Cycle	summer semester	Participants at most	###LABEL_NOLIMIT###
Preliminary knowledge Good knowledge of econometrics required.
Abstract This is a Master/Ph.D.-level course in causal inference and program evaluation methodology. We will focus on using the potential outcomes approach as a general organizing principle, and examine identification and estimation of treatment effects under various types of assumptions. The course will not go into great depth in regard to any particular applied econometric method, but will instead aim to provide you with enough knowledge about each one to know when, and when not, to use it in empirical work.
Contents Theories of Causation Conducting Experiments in Economics Randomisation Differences-in-Differences Instrumental Variables Fuzzy DiD / Multiple Testing Regression Discontinuity Design Methods based on Unconfoundedness Quantile Regression Evaluating Evaluation Techniques
Literature Angrist & Pischke (2009), Mostly Harmless Econometrics Imbens & Wooldridge (2009), "Recent developments in the econometrics of program evaluation". Journal of Economic Literature.
Teaching concept Die Veranstaltung entspricht einem Vorlesungsanteil von 2 SWS und einem Übungsanteil von 2 SWS.
Lecture with integrated exercise: Causality and Programme Evaluation (WIWI‑C0635)