B030726 - Stata Lab I: software

INGLESE

This lab deals with common quantitative approaches for ex post policy analysis.
In the first part of the course students will learn how to use Stata in a very practical manner by solving assignments and replicating analysis of published papers.
The second part focuses on causality and provides students with a statistical toolkit which will allow them to plan and conduct their own independent research using the main techniques of impact assessment from randomized experiments to matching.

• Gertler, P.J., Martinez, S., Premand , P., Rawlings, L.B., and Vermeersch, C.M.J., 2011. Impact Evaluation in Practice. Washington, D.C.: The World Bank.
• Khandker, S.R., Koolwal, G.B., and Samad, H.A., 2010. Handbook on Impact Evaluation. Quantitative Methods and Practices. Washington, D.C.: The World Bank

After attending the course students will learn how to use Stata to implement quantitative techniques for impacy analysis in a very practical manner and assess a technical report about the impact analysis of programmes or policies

Basic statistics and econometric knowledges are welcomed although not strictly necessary

This lab is taught in standard classes and in the lab with relatively simple examples in stata. Small group activities will be arranged as well such as reading and discussing papers, solving and discussing casual analysis or conterfactual exercises.
Standard classes: 16 hours
Small group activities: 8 hours
Practicals in the pc lab : 24 hours

All module materials (handouts, guidelines for small group activities, stata codes) are available on the Moodle platform. Please ask the convenor for the password

Final : 2 open ended questions ( 2nd part) and/or a problem sets to be solved with stata ( first part) ( time: 60-90 minutes)
Students are required to attend at least 60% of classes/ labs in order to get a pass

The program of the first part (Stata lab) includes the following issues: data management, commands to describe and summarize data, programming basics, application to a LSMS dtaset.
The program for the second part ( policy evaluation methods) includes the following issues: Introduction to policy evaluation, ex post evaluation, causality, randomized experiments , quasi experiments, reviewing of policy evaluation papers