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Course profile

Elements of Econometrics (ECON7310)

Study period
Sem 1 2025
Location
St Lucia
Attendance mode
In Person

Course overview

Study period
Semester 1, 2025 (24/02/2025 - 21/06/2025)
Study level
Postgraduate Coursework
Location
St Lucia
Attendance mode
In Person
Units
2
Administrative campus
St Lucia
Coordinating unit
Economics School

Introductory applied econometric course for students with basic economic statistics background. Topics covered include: economic models and role of econometrics, linear regression, general linear model, hypothesis testing, specification testing, dummy variables, simple dynamic models and simple cointegration models. Tutorial problems are solved using a relevant econometrics program.

This is an introductory course in applied econometrics. It reviews and builds on the linear regression model. Some materials overlap withᅠintroductory statistics and mathematics courses but are usually considered to be on a more applied level or more advanced level. See the prerequisite courses above.

The models studied in this course have numerous applications in economics, finance, marketing, management, and related areas, whether in business, government, or academic research. As a result, this is one of the most important, useful, and practical subjects a BEL student can learn at UQ, as it is highly valued when applying for jobs where analytical skills are crucial. Importantly, as with any math-related course, it may require a lot of work, industriousness, and persistence for the student to succeed.

A feature of the course is how examples and exercises are drawn from these different discipline areas to illustrate the usefulness and limitations of certain econometric/statistical techniques.

Hands-on experience in applying these techniques is gained through using R, statistical software packages available in the BEL computer laboratories and commonly used in business and government research involving econometrics/statistics. So, it is worth investing time in learning how to use it well. Students can also freely download R and its IDE, RStudio.

More details about the course are given below. Any details may be subject to changes. Changes, updates, or other announcements will be communicated to students via the online Blackboard facility.

Course requirements

Assumed background

Knowledge of elementary differential calculus, basic linear algebra, and undergraduate level probability and statistics.

Prerequisites

You'll need to complete the following courses before enrolling in this one:

ECON1310 or 7300

Incompatible

You can't enrol in this course if you've already completed the following:

ECON2300

Course contact

School enquiries

School Enquiries, School of Economics

All enquiries regarding student and academic administration (i.e. non-course content information, e.g., class allocation, timetables, extension to assessment due date, etc.) should be directed toᅠenquiries@economics.uq.edu.au.ᅠ

Enquiries relating specifically to course content should be directed to the Course Coordinator/Lecturer.

Course staff

Lecturer

Tutor

Dr Fu Ouyang
Ms April Deng
Ms Linh Vo
Mr Phyo Myat Aung
Ms Xinghao Yao

Timetable

The timetable for this course is available on the UQ Public Timetable.

Additional timetable information

Lectures commence in Week 1.

Tutorials commence in Week 2.

Please see the Learning Activities section of this Course Profile for the timetabling implications of public holidays.

Important Dates:

·        Public Holidays: Fri 18 April (Good Friday), Mon 5 May (Labour Day).

·        Mid-Semester Break: 21 April - 25 April. Semester 1 classes recommence on Mon 28 April.

Students should refer to the timetable prior to the commencement of classes to ensure that they have the most up-to-date information, as from time to time, late room changes may occur.

Aims and outcomes

The aims of this course are to

  • introduce a range of single-equation econometric models and estimation methods commonly used in empirical economics research work (by businesses, government agencies, consultants, etc.);
  • provide an understanding of which models and methods should be used in particular contexts;
  • provide experience in using statistical software to conduct empirical econometric analyses; and
  • provide the skills necessary to read and understand basic econometric work reported by others to support decision-making in business, public policy, etc.ᅠ

Learning outcomes

After successfully completing this course you should be able to:

LO1.

Explain key concepts and workhorse models in applied econometrics

LO2.

Apply econometric methods to real-world data and learn the correct way to report and interpret empirical results

LO3.

Choose and implement appropriate econometric techniques to conduct estimation, prediction, and statistical inference

LO4.

Examine the internal and external validities of econometric models applying to specific empirical problems

LO5.

Apply proper econometric methods for economic research, policy evaluation, and business analysis

Assessment

Assessment summary

Category Assessment task Weight Due date
Project Research Project 1 15%

17/04/2025 4:59 pm

Project Research Project 2 15%

23/05/2025 4:59 pm

Quiz Online Periodic Assessments (Online Quizzes)
  • Online
20% (5% for each quiz)

All online quizzes are due at 16:59 on the due date.

Examination Final Exam 50%

End of Semester Exam Period

7/06/2025 - 21/06/2025

Assessment details

Research Project 1

Mode
Written
Category
Project
Weight
15%
Due date

17/04/2025 4:59 pm

Learning outcomes
L01, L02

Task description

Answer all questions using a format similar to the answers to your tutorial questions. When you use R to conduct empirical analysis, you should show your R script(s) and outputs (e.g., screenshots for commands, tables, and figures). Your response should be brief and compact when asked to explain or discuss something. To facilitate tutors' grading work, please clearly label all your answers. You should upload your research report via the Turnitin system before the deadline. Do not hand in a hard copy. You can work on this assignment in groups and discuss how to answer these questions with your group members. However, this is not a group assignment, meaning you must answer all the questions in your own words and submit your report separately. The marking system will check the similarity, and UQ's student integrity and misconduct policies on plagiarism apply.

This assessment covers Lectures 1-6. 

This assessment task evaluates students' abilities, skills and knowledge without the aid of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI). Students are advised that the use of AI technologies to develop responses is strictly prohibited and may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.

We strongly suggest you use the Equation Editor in Microsoft Word and submit the Word document. You need to upload your report and appendix (if any, as one and only one file) through the Turnitin portal on the course's Blackboard site. 

This course ONLY allows file types that Turnitin can check for similarity. Link of File types checked for similarity: https://web.library.uq.edu.au/library-services/it/learnuq-blackboard-help/learnuq-assessment/turnitin-assignments.

The Turnitin portals will close on time at the deadline, and you should allow yourself enough time to complete your assessment and submit it on time, allowing time for possible technical issues or submission problems. In other words, please consider the risk if you decide to wait until the last minute to submit your assessment. If you submit your assignments after the deadline, a late assignment penalty will apply based on the time stamp in the Turnitin system. You can submit your work more than one time, but only your last submission will be marked.

You need to keep evidence of your successful submission, such as the screenshot and/or the receipt email of your Turnitin submission. If you encounter any problem in your submission process, please contact Student IT Support directly.

Submission guidelines

Submit via Turnitin, Blackboard by the due date/time. Email submissions will NOT be accepted.

Deferral or extension

You may be able to apply for an extension.

The maximum extension allowed is 7 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.

Extensions are limited to 7 calendar days to ensure timely feedback to other students.

Late submission

A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.

Research Project 2

Mode
Written
Category
Project
Weight
15%
Due date

23/05/2025 4:59 pm

Learning outcomes
L01, L02, L03

Task description

Answer all questions using a format similar to the answers to your tutorial questions. When you use R to conduct empirical analysis, you should show your R script(s) and outputs (e.g., screenshots for commands, tables, and figures). Your response should be brief and compact when asked to explain or discuss something. To facilitate tutors' grading work, please clearly label all your answers. You should upload your research report via the Turnitin system before the deadline. Do not hand in a hard copy. You can work on this assignment in groups and discuss how to answer these questions with your group members. However, this is not a group assignment, meaning you must answer all the questions in your own words and submit your report separately. The marking system will check the similarity, and UQ's student integrity and misconduct policies on plagiarism apply.

This assessment covers Lectures 7-10. 

This assessment task evaluates students' abilities, skills and knowledge without the aid of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI). Students are advised that the use of AI technologies to develop responses is strictly prohibited and may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.

We strongly suggest you use the Equation Editor in Microsoft Word and submit the Word document. You need to upload your report and appendix (if any, as one and only one file) through the Turnitin portal on the course's Blackboard site. 

This course ONLY allows file types that Turnitin can check for similarity. Link of File types checked for similarity: https://web.library.uq.edu.au/library-services/it/learnuq-blackboard-help/learnuq-assessment/turnitin-assignments.

The Turnitin portals will close on time at the deadline, and you should allow yourself enough time to complete your assessment and submit it on time, allowing time for possible technical issues or submission problems. In other words, please consider the risk if you decide to wait until the last minute to submit your assessment. If you submit your assignments after the deadline, a late assignment penalty will apply based on the time stamp in the Turnitin system. You can submit your work more than one time, but only your last submission will be marked.

You need to keep evidence of your successful submission, such as the screenshot and/or the receipt email of your Turnitin submission. If you encounter any problem in your submission process, please contact Student IT Support directly.

Submission guidelines

Submit via Turnitin, Blackboard by the due date/time. Email submissions will NOT be accepted.

Deferral or extension

You may be able to apply for an extension.

The maximum extension allowed is 7 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.

Extensions are limited to 7 calendar days to ensure timely feedback to other students.

Late submission

A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.

Online Periodic Assessments (Online Quizzes)

  • Online
Mode
Written
Category
Quiz
Weight
20% (5% for each quiz)
Due date

All online quizzes are due at 16:59 on the due date.

Learning outcomes
L01, L02, L03, L04, L05

Task description

There will be four online quizzes (via Blackboard) throughout the semester, approximately fortnightly. Each consists of multiple-choice questions related to the materials covered in lectures and tutorials.

Quiz 1: Lectures 1-3, 14 March - 21 March

Quiz 2: Lectures 4-6, 4 April - 11 April

Quiz 3: Lectures 7-9, 2 May - 9 May

Quiz 4: Lectures 10-12, 23 May - 30 May

This assessment task evaluates students' abilities, skills, and knowledge without the aid of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI). Students are advised that the use of AI technologies to develop responses is strictly prohibited and may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.

The Online Quizzes will be accessible through Blackboard. The deadline for quizzes is during the working hours of UQ's St Lucia campus. If you encounter any problems while doing quizzes, please get in touch with Student IT Support. All quizzes must be submitted through Blackboard before the due date and time specified (in the Blackboard). You should keep evidence of your successful submission, such as the screenshot and/or the receipt email. Please consider the risk if you wait until the last minute to do the quizzes. 

Submission guidelines

Deferral or extension

You may be able to apply for an extension.

The maximum extension allowed is 7 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.

Extensions are limited to 7 calendar days to ensure timely feedback to other students.

Late submission

You will receive a mark of 0 if this assessment is submitted late.

Final Exam

Mode
Written
Category
Examination
Weight
50%
Due date

End of Semester Exam Period

7/06/2025 - 21/06/2025

Learning outcomes
L01, L02, L03, L04, L05

Task description

The final exam is comprehensive and will cover all topics discussed throughout the course. Additional details will be provided during the last lecture.

This assessment task evaluates students' abilities, skills and knowledge without the aid of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI). Students are advised that the use of AI technologies to develop responses is strictly prohibited and may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.

Exam details

Planning time 10 minutes
Duration 90 minutes
Calculator options

Any calculator permitted

Open/closed book Closed Book examination - specified written materials permitted
Materials

One A4 sheet of handwritten or typed notes, double sided, is permitted

Exam platform Paper based
Invigilation

Invigilated in person

Submission guidelines

Deferral or extension

You may be able to defer this exam.

Course grading

Full criteria for each grade is available in the Assessment Procedure.

Grade Cut off Percent Description
1 (Low Fail) 0% - 29%

Absence of evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes.

2 (Fail) 30% - 46%

Minimal evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes.

3 (Marginal Fail) 47% - 49%

Demonstrated evidence of developing achievement of course learning outcomes

4 (Pass) 50% - 64%

Demonstrated evidence of functional achievement of course learning outcomes.

5 (Credit) 65% - 74%

Demonstrated evidence of proficient achievement of course learning outcomes.

6 (Distinction) 75% - 84%

Demonstrated evidence of advanced achievement of course learning outcomes.

7 (High Distinction) 85% - 100%

Demonstrated evidence of exceptional achievement of course learning outcomes.

Additional course grading information

A student’s final overall end of semester percentage mark will be rounded to determine their final grade. For example, 64.5% rounds to 65%, while 64.4% rounds to 64%.

Supplementary assessment

Supplementary assessment is available for this course.

Additional assessment information

Plagiarism

The School of Economics is committed to reducing the incidence of plagiarism. Further information on plagiarism and how to avoid an allegation of plagiarism is available in this course profile under Policies and Procedures. Please refer to the Academic Integrity Modules (AIM). It is strongly recommended that you complete the AIM if you have not already done so.

Learning Advice:ᅠ Note that success in a mathematics-related course like this highly depends on regular (e.g., every day) work on the subject. Indeed, in this class, you will see that understanding of the materials covered in any lecture often highly depends on the materials you understood from previous lectures. As a result, waiting for the last moment (e.g., a couple of days) before an assessment (e.g., quiz and assignment) to start studying hard, as some students often do, is likely to be aᅠfailure-proneᅠstrategy. Those of you who will be active and pro-active--digesting the lecture notes soon after the lecture was covered (and, if possible, even before it), digesting the definitions, and working out all the steps in derivations and proofs from covered lectures before coming to next lectures and to tutorials--will improve your chances for success and the likelihood to be among the best in the class!

ASSESSMENT TASKS - ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Assessment for this course involves three types of tasks: (1)ᅠOnline Quizzes (20%), (2) Research Projects (30%), and (3) End of Semester Examination (50%).

Detail of the research projects is provided below:

RESEARCH PROJECTS

Two structured projects are designed so that you are required to apply the techniques learned in this course to analyze the data sets from the real world. As a part of the project, you are expected to set up an economic and corresponding econometric model, write a proposal with research questions, analyze the data to answer the research questions, and finally provide a short research report. Projects will require a minimum of a good working knowledge of R, and any deficiencies in your familiarity with them will be detrimental to your mark.

SUBMISSION OF ASSIGNMENTS

All assignments must be submitted before the due date and time stated in the course profile. For this course, students must submit electronicᅠcopiesᅠto the course webpage in the Blackboard.

Learning resources

You'll need the following resources to successfully complete the course. We've indicated below if you need a personal copy of the reading materials or your own item.

Library resources

Find the required and recommended resources for this course on the UQ Library website.

Other course materials

If we've listed something under further requirement, you'll need to provide your own.

Required

Item Description Further Requirement
Stock, J.H. and Watson, M.W. (2019). Introduction to econometrics, 4th edition (global edition), Pearson. http://pearson.com.au/9781292264455

Recommended

Item Description Further Requirement
Wooldridge, J.M. (2015). Introductory Econometrics: a modern approach, sixth edition, Cengage Learning. https://www.amazon.com.au/Introductory-Econometrics-Michigan-University-Wooldridge/dp/130527010X/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=Introductory+Econometrics%3A+a+modern+approach&qid=1555244278&s=gateway&sr=8-1

Learning activities

The learning activities for this course are outlined below. Learn more about the learning outcomes that apply to this course.

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Learning period Activity type Topic
Week 1

(24 Feb - 02 Mar)

Lecture

Introduction

Course overview; Introduction to econometrics; Review of probability and statistics.

Learning outcomes: L01

Week 2

(03 Mar - 09 Mar)

Lecture

Linear Regression with One Regressor

Population linear regression model (LRM); Ordinary least squares (OLS) estimator and sample regression line; Measures of fit of the sample regression; Least squares assumptions; Sampling distribution of the OLS estimator.

Learning outcomes: L01, L02

Week 3

(10 Mar - 16 Mar)

Lecture

Linear Regression with One Regressor: Inference

Hypothesis tests; Confidence intervals; Regression when X is binary; Heteroskedasticity and homoskedasticity; Efficiency of OLS and the Student t distribution.

Learning outcomes: L01, L02

Week 4

(17 Mar - 23 Mar)

Lecture

Linear Regression with Multiple Regressors

Omitted variable bias; Causality and regression analysis; Multiple regression and OLS; Measures of fit; Sampling distribution of the OLS estimator.

Learning outcomes: L02

Week 5

(24 Mar - 30 Mar)

Lecture

Inference in Multiple Regressions

Hypothesis tests and confidence intervals for one coefficient; Joint hypothesis tests on multiple coefficients; Other types of hypotheses involving multiple coefficients; Control variables; Variable selection.

Learning outcomes: L02

Week 6

(31 Mar - 06 Apr)

Lecture

Nonlinear Regression Functions

Strategy for modelling nonlinear functions; Non-linear functions of a single independent variable; Interactions between independent variables; Application.

Learning outcomes: L02

Week 7

(07 Apr - 13 Apr)

Lecture

Regression with Panel Data

Panel Data: What and Why; Fixed Effects Regression; Regression with Time Fixed Effects; Standard Errors for Fixed Effects Regression; Application.

Learning outcomes: L02, L03

Week 8

(14 Apr - 20 Apr)

Lecture

Regression with a Binary Dependent Variable

Linear probability model; Probit and Logit regression; Estimation and inference in Probit and Logit models; Application.

Friday, April 18th is the Good Friday Public Holiday. Therefore, no classroom lecture or consultation sessions will be held that day. However, a lecture recording will be uploaded to Blackboard. Students who usually attend tutorials on this day are advised to attend an alternative tutorial session for this week only.

Learning outcomes: L05

Mid-sem break

(21 Apr - 27 Apr)

No student involvement (Breaks, information)

In-Semester Break (No Lecture and Tutorials)

There will be no lectures, tutorials, or consultation sessions this week.

Week 9

(28 Apr - 04 May)

Lecture

Instrumental Variables Regression

IV Regression; Two-Stage Least Squares; General IV Regression Model; Checking Instrument Validity; Application.

Learning outcomes: L02, L04

Week 10

(05 May - 11 May)

Lecture

Experiments and Quasi-Experiments

Potential Outcomes, Causal Effects, and Idealized Experiments; Threats to Validity of Experiments; Quasi-Experiments (Differences-in-Differences, IV Estimation, etc.); Threats to Validity of Quasi-Experiments.

Monday, May 5th is the Labour Day public holiday. Students with Monday tutorials are advised to attend any other tutorials scheduled for the week.

Learning outcomes: L03

Week 11

(12 May - 18 May)

Lecture

Introduction to Time Series

Time Series Data; Regression Models for Forecasting; Lags, Differences, Autocorrelation, and Stationarity; Autoregression and ADL Models; Application.

Learning outcomes: L02

Week 12

(19 May - 25 May)

Lecture

Prediction with Many Regressors and Big Data

Big Data; Ridge Regression; Lasso; Principle Components; Application.

Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L05

Week 13

(26 May - 01 Jun)

Lecture

Revision

Review Lectures 1-12.

Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04, L05

Policies and procedures

University policies and procedures apply to all aspects of student life. As a UQ student, you must comply with University-wide and program-specific requirements, including the:

Learn more about UQ policies on my.UQ and the Policy and Procedure Library.