ECO 3304 — Fall 2005

Techniques for Economic Research

Instructor: Li Li
Office: GR 2.822
Phone: (not available now)
Email: via WebCT (the best way to contact with me),
or lxl025000@utdallas.edu
Class Hours: MWF 11:00-11:50am, in CB1.106
Office Hours: Monday 1:00-2:30pm, or by appointment.

Course Objectives:
1. Improve the student’s capabilities for economic analysis by studying:
----Elementary calculus
----Elementary probability theory
----Statistics with spreadsheets
----Analysis of data
2. Prepare the student for more advanced courses in economics.
3. Introduce the student to some of the essential sources of economic information.

Prerequisite:
College level statistics course such as STAT1342 or SOCS 3305

Textbooks:
1. Required: Wim P.M. Vijverberg, James C. Murdoch, and Irving Hoch, Basic Techniques
for Economic Research, July 2005. (Manuscript available in the UTD and Off-Campus
Bookstores.)
2. Recommended: Barbara Lee Bleau, Forgotten Calculus, 2nd Edition. Barron’s
educational series.
3. Recommended: Douglas Downing and Jeffrey Clark, Forgotten Statistics, 1st Edition.
Barron’s educational series.

Evaluation:
1. Three examinations, each worth 25 points (on a scale of 100).
2. Five homework, each worth 5 points (on a scale of 100).
3. Attendance, worth 10 bonus points (on top of the scale of 100).

• The final letter grade will be assigned on the following point scale:

97-100% =A+ 93-96%=A 90-92%=A-

87-89%=B+ 83-86%=B 80-82%=B-
77-79%=C+ 73-76%=C 70-72%=C-
67-69%=D+ 63-66%=D 60-62%=D-
59% and below=F

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Notes:
1. Policy Regarding Exams: The exams are not cumulative. Exams will be based on the
materials covered in textbook, lecture notes, and homework. A review will be given
before each exam. No makeup exams are offered during the semester. The student is
expected to take the exams in class at the same time as his or her classmates. If the
student has an emergency or a valid conflict and can not take an exam with the rest of the
class, then he or she will be given a different exam from the rest of the class. The
alternative scheduling for the exams is possible only with a documented excuse. The
questions are likely to be more difficult, especially when the student has had more time to
study than his or her classmates.

2. Homework: Each homework has a definite due date. Late homework will be penalized
by 10 percent per business day if the student hands it in within a week of the due date, or
by 50 percent if the student hands it in anytime afterwards until 11: 50 am of November
28, 2005. After this, no homework will be accepted for a grade anymore. Save all
homework that are returned to you in class.

3. Attendance Policy: An attendance sheet will be circulated each class period for the
student’s signature. Excluding the exam days, there are 40 scheduled class meetings. If
the student attends 38 or more of these 40 meetings, he or she will qualify for 10 points.
Each lecture less reduces the bonus points by 1; If the student attends less than 28
meetings, he or she will get zero point. A signed attendance sheet is valid only if the
students attend the full class period. The attendance policy is “no fault:” with the
exception of the university being closed, one is never excused for missing a lecture.

4. Reminder: Bring your calculator to class. Practice, learn by doing. Get familiar with a
PC that has Excel loaded on it. The newer the version, the better it is. Install the Data
Analysis package. If the student does not have a PC, get a computer account at UTD and
start going to the lab. Ask for help; if you don’t ask, nobody can help. The Stata program
is available in the computer lab.

6. Study Groups: Study groups may be very useful. If the student does work with a study
group on a homework assignment, be sure to write up his or her own answer in the end.
Do not hand in a copy of the study group’s answer as your answer.

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7. Scholastic Dishonesty: Scholastic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, cheating on
assignments or examinations, plagiarizing (misrepresenting as your own work any part of
work done by another), or interfering with another student’s work. If in doubt about the
ethics of your actions, consult the Catalog to see the policy of University of Texas at
Dallas. Scholastic honesty will not be tolerated. Students are responsible for knowing
what constitutes scholastic dishonesty and its consequences. If you have any doubts,
contact me before you submit your homework.

8. Incompletes: There will be no grades of incomplete without appropriate documentation.

Even though it can be awkward asking, I will ask you to provide documentation. Due to
past abuses, there will no exceptions to this policy.

9. Declaimer: This syllabus is tentative and can be changed. All changes will be announced
in class.

10. WebCT: WebCT will be used in this class to check your progress in the class. The
syllabus and other materials relevant to this course, any announcement, and any
clarification need to be made in materials will be posted on WebCT. Questions may be sent
to me via WebCT, and I will provide the answer in a reasonable period of time. Information
will also be distributed via email in your WebCT.

You should make sure you have access to WebCT, and check your WebCT and email
periodically.

If you are unfamiliar with WebCT, go to the following website for directions :
http://www.utdallas.edu/distancelearning/students/webct_login.htm

If you need help with a netID or unix password, go here:

http://www.utdallas.edu/distancelearning/students/netid.htm

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Tentative Schedule:
August 19 – September 23 Mathematics for Economists
September 26 – October 28 Decision Making and Uncertainty
October 31 – December 2 Empirics for Economists

Examination Schedule (tentative):

September 23 Exam 1
October 28 Exam 2
December 2 Exam 3

Homework Due Date Schedule:

The due date for each homework will be announced in the class.

Breaks (no classes on these days):

September 5 Labor Day
November 25 Thanksgiving Holidays