00915 - Economic Statistics

Learning outcomes

Students will acquire basic knowledge of the main aspects and problems concerning observation and measurement of macro economic phenomena. In particular students will be able: 1) to understand which variables have to be considered to descibe the economic system and the ratio of their relationships; 2) basic concepts of data quality; 3) to measure change over time of  economic variables, in particular prices and inflation rates; 4) to build basic synthetic indicators of production, consumption and labour market.

Course contents

1) Observing and measuring economic phenomena. Micro economics vs macro economics analysis. Concepts of production and income and their relationship.
2) The system of national account, main characteristics. The account system and the  relevant balances. The input - output model: the Leontief model and the nationl accounts. The input output model utilisation for economic analysis and political economy.
3) Measuring economic aggregates. Sources of statistics and statistical surveys. Main steps of statistical surveys and data quality.
4) Estimation of some important variables: active population and labour forces in Italy. Indicators of the labour markets. Estimation of value added and GDP and consumption. Productivity: definition and indicators.
5) Measuring change of monetary aggregates over time. Number index of prices and their construction. Main typologies of number index and their properties. Comparing economic aggregates over time. The number indeces and industrial production of consumption, treatment of seasonality.

Readings/Bibliography

A. Santeusanio, G. Storti; Statistica economica, available on-line web site of  Giuseppe Storti , Università di Salerno (  http://www.unisa.it/docenti/storti/index). 
Handouts concerning some topics of the programme; exercises and examples, are available on AMS campus.  Other readings to deepen some specific topics will be suggeted in the class.

Teaching methods

Lectures ex-catedra are delivered on the topics of the programme. Case studies, and/or data base of actual economic data and indicators are presented and discussed

Assessment methods

Assessment of learning takes place through a written test. In addition to answering some questions about methods (in common language, "theory questions"), students will have to practice exercises demonstrating how to apply the illustrated lesson-based statistical-economic tools.

As an example in AMS CAMPUS will be available a text that contains questions-type present in the exam. During testing, the use of media such as textbooks, notes, computers is not allowed except for calculator.

 

Teaching tools

Slides and teaching materials - exercises and examples - concerning lectures are prepared by the teacher and available on line  (AMS Campus).

Topics are presented using pc and video-projector.

Office hours

See the website of Ignazio Drudi

See the website of Maria Ferrante