Basic introduction to Impact Assessment and overview of methods: Establishment of causality vs. correlations. Impacts of what on what? How far can the results be generalized? Introduction and exercise in use of Matching methods, Selection methods, Instrumental variable methods, Control function methods, Difference-in-Difference methods, Panel data methods, Pipeline and Experimental Methods. The students get exercises in use of the different methods.

There are five exercises in the course, one on design of an impact assessment, and four on use of different impact assessment methods. Each method and exercise is introduced through a lecture. The students then spend two weeks on completing each of the exercises. The course has a "learning by doing" philosophy and the students can seek help from the teacher when they face challenges. Towards the end of the course the students are asked to compare the different methods, their strengths and weaknesses and consider how they may be combined to get further insights.

Exercises with support from teacher

Cameron, A. C. and Trivedi, P. K. (2010). Microeconometrics Using Stata. Revised Edition. Stata Press. Detailed list of readings is provided at the beginning of the course.

ECN201 Econometrics, STAT100 Statistics, basic knowledge of STATA.

Recommended to combine with ECN301 Econometric methods.

Compulsory participation in exercises. At least four out of five exercises must have been submitted and accepted (quality check) before a candidate can take the exam. Exercises are valid until the next time the course is offered and for re-examination.

Written exam, 3,5 hours (100%)

150 hours

Minimum requirements for entrance to higher education in Norway (generell studiekompetanse)

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2 hours per week, combining lecture and exercise.

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External examiner will control the quality of syllabus, questions for the final examination, and principles for the assessment of the examination answers.