Econometrics Lauren Hoehn Velasco Final Project
Research Project
Econometrics
Part I: Choosing a Topic
Choosing a topic tends to be the most difficult portion of this project. You may propose a topic of your
choice, but I will also post suggested topics, along with datasets, and related literature on iCollege.
Part II: Analysis Requirements
The goal of this course is to put together a convincing research design on a topic of your choice. The final
submission should be a full paper in the exact structure presented. The numbered section headers should
appear in the paper, but the subsections (a-e) will be in paragraph form. You will be graded on the quality
of the analysis, how well you address each point below, and how well you demonstrate what we have
learned throughout the semester.
1. Introduction
(a) What is your research question?
(b) Why is your research question interesting?
(c) Why is your topic important?
(d) Preview your results
2. Literature Review
(a) What other work has been done on these issues? (Includes two academic papers)
(b) What has been found?
3. Data Description
(a) Source of data
(b) Description of variables in relation to research question
(c) Descriptive statistics, including (but not limited to):
• A table with the mean, standard deviation, min, and max of each variable you use in your
regressions
• Two graphs showing important aspects of your outcome and key independent variable
(d) Write up the key features of the descriptive statistics, also make sure to note the variable type
in the write up.
4. Empirical Strategy
(a) Include your regression model
(b) State which independent and dependent variables are of interest
(c) Discuss what you expect to find
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Econometrics Lauren Hoehn Velasco Final Project
5. Results and Interpretation
(a) Write down the estimated equation
(b) Interpretation of the results
• Are these results statistically significant?
• Are they practically significant?
(c) Include at least three regression tables with the following:
• Comment upon and interpret the significance of different variables
• Comment upon and interpret the sign and magnitude of the effect
• Comment upon how different the results look for various subsamples of your data (i.e.
males vs females, etc.)
(d) Are there issues in the analysis that need to be addressed (e.g. standard errors, data problems,
etc...)? How do you correct them?
(e) What are the limitations of the analysis?
(f) What would be an ideal way to set up your identification strategy? Imagine you could design
the perfect data set.
6. Conclusions
(a) Summary of results
(b) Compare with literature
(c) What are the policy implications?
(d) Are there suggestions for future research?
7. Figures and Tables
(a) Figures – at least two (see data section)
(b) Tables – at least four, including summary statistics and three regression tables
8. References
Part III: Submission
In order to receive credit, submissions should be:
1. A do file that replicates all of the tables and figures in your analysis (Must run completely No
Errors Allowed!)
2. Paper submission with all tables and figures referenced in paper (Numbered and at the back of the
paper)