TOPICS IN ECONOMETRICS: CROSS-SECTION ANALYSIS
(Econ/ARE 240F)
  Syllabus

Department of Economics
University of California - Davis
Spring 2008

Instructor:
Professor Colin Cameron
SSH Building 1124   752-8396
accameron@ucdavis.edu

Meeting:
Tues/Thurs 9.00 – 10.20 a.m. Wellman 127

Office Hours:
Tuesday afternoon        1.30-3.00 pm
Wednesday afternoon   1.30-3.00 pm

Course Goals: This course continues on from 240D and presents more advanced methods. Applications will make extensive use of Stata.

Pre-requisites: The listed pre-requisite is Econ / Ag Econ 240D.
The essential pre-requisite is Ag Econ 240D.

Course Outline: REVISED MAY 20

2 weeks  M-estimation and GMM Estimation
2 weeks Panel data - short, dynamic, nonlinear
1 week Simulated ML and MM Estiamtion
1 week Monte Carlo simulation
2 weeks Bayesian Analysis
1 week Bootstrap methods
1 week Semiparametric methods

 
Class 1-4 4 classes M-estimation and GMM Estimation
CT: 5.1-5.5, 10.2-10.3, 6.1-6.5
Class 5-9; 11-12
6 classes Panel data: short, dynamic
CT: 21.2, 22.1-22.6
Class 10 1 class Midterm exam

Class 13-15 3 classes
Monte carlo simulation
CT: 7.6-7.7, 12.8
Class 16 1 class Simulated ML estimation CT: 12.1-12.6
Class 17
1 class Bootstrap methods
CT: 11.1-11.4
Class 18 1 class Semiparametric methods
CT: 9.1-9.7
Class 19-20 2 classes Bayesian Analysis CT: 13.1-13.8.
 
CT=Cameron&Trivedi.  

Required Material:

Cameron, A.C. and P.K. Trivedi (2005), Microeconometrics: Methods and Applications, Cambridge University Press.

Much of the class will follow this book. The book is at times more detailed than what will be covered in this class.

Recommended Material:

These are more than you can buy but are good to have in a microeconometrics library.  I have not ordered these for the bookstore, but still recommend their purchase - in the sequence close to what I would consider buying them in. You should already have Greene. These books can be ordered on-line.

Greene, W.G. (2006), Econometric Analysis, 6th edition, Prentice-Hall.

Wooldridge, J.M. (2008), Econometric Analysis of Cross Section an Panel Data, Second edtition, MIT Press.

Maddala, G.S. (1983), Limited-Dependent and Qualitative Variables in Economics, Cambridge University Press.

Amemiya, T. (1985), Advanced Econometrics, Harvard University Press.

Davidson, R. and J.G. MacKinnon (2004), Econometric Theory and Methods, Oxford University Press.

Greene (which you should have from 240A,B) is useful for more elementary treatment of topics.
Wooldridge is a recent book that is at similar level to Cameron and Trivedi with more on linear models and not as much on nonlinear models and related topics. Maddala is the standard reference for introductory treatment of probit, logit and probit models and is cheap in paperback.
Amemiya was the standard book before D&M (1993) and even now has an excellent advanced treatment of limited dependent and discrete choice models.
D&M is an updated and somewhat less advanced version of Davidson, R. and J.G. MacKinnon (1993), Estimation and Inference in Econometrics, Oxford University Press. It emphasises econometric theory.

These recommended books emphasize cross-section data. For panel data, Cameron & Trivedi and Wooldridge provide considerable coverage. In addition econometrics panel data books are:
Baltagi, B.H (2005), Econometrics Analysis of Panel Data, 3rd edition, Wiley.
Hsiao, C. (2003), Analysis of Panel Data, 2nd edition, Cambridge University Press.
Lee, M.J. (2002), Panel Data Econometrics: Methods of Moments and Limited Dependent Variables, Academic Press.
Arellano M. (2003), Panel Data Econometrics, Oxford University Press.

Additional Materials:

Selected papers can generally be downloaded from the web, mostly using JStor.

Computer Materials:

Stata: Assignments will use STATA. STATA is available on both Econ and ARE computers.  
More complicated models require use of a matrix programming language. We will use the new MATA introduced in Stata 9, rather than GAUSS or MATLAB. 

Some further computer information will be available at my personal home page
cameron.econ.ucdavis.edu

Course Grading:

Assignments 20% Due Thursdays April 10, 17, 24; May 15, 22; June 5.
Midterm 30%  Thurs May 1
Final 50% Wed June 11 10.30am-12.30pm  Comprehensive.

Assignments must be handed in on time, so solutions can be discussed in class and distributed in a timely manner.
No credit for late assignments. Lowest assignment score is dropped.
Academic integrity is required. What is academic integrity? See the UCD Student Judicial Affairs website http://sja.ucdavis.edu/integ.htm.
As an exception to their rules, I permit some collaboration with other students in doing assignments, but the work handed in must be your own. Each person must create their own Stata output and write up their own answers. And you are to write on your assignment the name of the person(s) you worked with.
Exams will be closed book. The final exam is comprehensive.