Introductory Econometrics

Humberto Barreto is DeVore Professor of Economics at Wabash College, Indiana. He received his Ph.D. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Professor Barreto has lectured often on teaching economics with computer-based methods, including the National Science Foundation's Chautuqua program for short courses using simulation. He has received the Indiana Sears Roebuck Teaching Award and the Wabash College McLain-McTurnan Arnold Award for Teaching Excellence. The author of The Entrepreneur in Microeconomic Theory, Professor Barreto has served as a Fulbright Scholar in the Dominican Republic. He is the manager of electronic information for the History of Economics Society and the director of the opportunities to Learn about Business program at Wabash College. Frank M. Howland is Associate Professor of Economics at Wabash College. He earned his PhD in Economics from Stanford University. Professor Howland was a visiting researcher at FEDEA on Madrid in 1995–6. His academic research focuses on college savings plans.

• 1. Introduction; Part I. Description: 2. Correlation; 3. Pivot tables; 4. Computing regression; 5. Interpreting regression; 6. Functional form; 7. Multivariate regression; 8. Dummy variables; Part II. Inference: 9. Monte Carlo simulation; 10. Inferential statistics review; 11. Measurement box model; 12. Comparing two populations; 13. The classical econometric model; 14. The Gauss Markov theorem; 15. Understanding the standard error; 16. Hypothesis testing and confidence intervals; 17. F tests; 18. Omitted variable bias; 19. Heteroskedasticity; 20. Autocorrelation; 21. The series topics; 22. Dummy dependent variables; 23. Bootstrap; 24. Simultaneous equations.

'Hats off to Barreto and Howland for a clearly-written text that introduces the undergraduate to data analysis and econometric techniques using Excel. The book's strength is in using Monte Carlo simulation to illustrate sampling theory and the Gauss Markov theorem. I am in total agreement with the authors that computer-based exercises help to make abstract concepts operations and meaningful. Most juniors and seniors are familiar with the basic features of Excel spreadsheets. Showing them how to use SOLVER, the DATA ANALYSIS TOOLS, and to run Monte Carlo simulations, allows an instructor to take a familiar tool (Excel) and use it to introduce undergraduates to econometrics in an intuitive and non-threatening way.' Jon M. Conrad, Cornell University