Causal Inference and Policy Evaluation

A.Y. 2024/2025
6
Max ECTS
40
Overall hours
SSD
SECS-P/01 SECS-P/05
Language
English
Learning objectives
The main objective of this course is to introduce students to the concepts of causality and counterfactual impact evaluation (CIE). After a statistical introduction to the most popular methods used to assess causality (such as instrumental variables, difference-in-differences, regression discontinuity design, randomized control trials), their application will be illustrated through examples of causal inference and policy evaluation in several domains of applied economics, such as labor, education and health economics.
Expected learning outcomes
After the completion of the course students must be able: 1) to read and understand the specialized literature using causal inference; 2) facing a problem of causal inference, to understand the complexities involved and to carefully design research strategies to estimate causality and evaluate policies; 3) to carry out policy evaluations in most fields of applied economics, to write a report (or paper) explaining the results, and to present them to both an academic and a general audience.
Single course

This course cannot be attended as a single course. Please check our list of single courses to find the ones available for enrolment.

Course syllabus and organization

Single session

Course currently not available
SECS-P/01 - ECONOMICS - University credits: 3
SECS-P/05 - ECONOMETRICS - University credits: 3
Lessons: 40 hours