Data Analysis and Descriptive Statistics: (i) Statistical Distributions; (ii) Graphical Representations; (iii) Measures of central tendency; (iv) Measures of Dispersion; (v) Dependence Analysis; (vi) Probability.

The course introduces students to the quantitative evaluation of public policies. The theoretical treatment of the course contents is accompanied by applications to real cases for the evaluation of policy interventions. Exercises, empirical exercises, case studies concerning the quantitative evaluation of public policies based on real data, also using statistical and econometric packages, are proposed. Practical lessons dealing with real-world examples with the use of statistical packages are designed to allow students to improve abilities in collecting, analysing, interpreting and presenting findings and data (RStudio).

1. Review of Probability and Statistical Inference.

2. Linear Regressions: (i) simple linear regression; (ii) multiple linear regression; (iii) assumptions and proofs; (iv) diagnostic tests; (v) hypothesis test and confidence interval.

3. Some Non-linear Regression Models: (i) polynomial functions; (ii)logarithmic functions; (iii) interactions; (iv) variability.

4. Instrumental Variable Regressions: (i) assumptions and proofs; (ii) estimating procedure; (iii) Two Stage Least Squares regression analysis; (iv) diagnostic tests.

5. Causal inference for the quantitative evaluation of public policies.

6. Statistical matching: (i) assumptions and proofs; (ii) estimating procedure; (iii) diagnostic tests.

7. Difference in differences: (i) assumptions and proofs; (ii) estimating procedure; (iii) diagnostic tests.

8. Regression discontinuity: (i) assumptions and proofs; (ii) estimating procedure; (iii) diagnostic tests.

During the course, the statistical-econometric (open source) software used analysing real case studies is going to be RStudio.

• 1.  (A) Stock, James H. and Watson, Mark W. Introduction to Econometrics Pearson, Milan, 2019
• 2.  (C) Cerulli, G. Econometric Evaluation of Socio-Economic Programs: Theory and Applications Springer, Rome, 2015

• Lectures, exercises, applied exercises, case studies concerning the quantitative evaluation of public policies based on real data, also using statistical and econometric packages.

• The final examination consists of a written exam, addressing either theoretical or empirical questions, and discussing estimation outputs and graphical representations.
  
  Students attending the course are requested to solve a Project Work analysing a real case study by using the statistical-econometric software RStudio. The Project Work will be evaluated until 2 points to be added to the exam grade.
  
  The final grade is then obtained by adding to the result of the written examination, the grade obtained in the Project Work (from 0 to maximum 2 points), limited to the test held - with any outcome - in one of the appeals of the first exam session.