Course Description
Causal inference for business analytics students, focusing on regression analysis and the quasi-experimental methods of difference in differences, regression discontinuity, and instrumental variables. Each of these techniques is developed in the context of a formal framework for counterfactual thinking and compared with the experimental ideal of a randomized trial.
Athena Title
Intro Causal Infer Bus Analyt
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Course Objectives
After completing this course, student should understand: 1. The distinction between correlation and causation. 2. Basic counterfactual thinking. 3. The value of randomized trials. 4. Regression estimation and inference for causal analysis. 5. The specification and implementation of the following research designs: a. difference-in-differences. b. regression discontinuity. c. instrumental variables.
Topical Outline
1. Statistics review 2. Regression fundamentals 3. Causation vs. correlation 4. Counterfactual thinking 5. Randomized experiments 6. Difference in differences 7. Regression discontinuity 8. Instrumental variables
Syllabus