Students liked the relaxed atmosphere and interesting subject matter of the course. However, they disliked the lack of feedback, and many students felt that the math for the course was dumbed down. They suggested going deeper into some of the topics discussed in class for more challenging materials. Students who are thinking of taking this class need to be prepared for a fair bit or reading and writing, but are advised that the course is relatively easy.

The best aspects of the course included the diverse material and articles, as well as the helpful homework assignments and professor. The worst aspects of the course were the lengthy readings and articles. The lectures were occasionally dull and the homework assignments were hefty and repetitive. The course would improve if the lectures were more interactive and if the homework assignments were lessened. Prospective students should have previous background in econometrics and expect an interesting course.

The instructor for this course, Dr. Takahashi, was given a near unanimous vote for the best aspect of this course. Other favorites included the clear and comprehensive lecture slides and interesting subject material. Students were split regarding the worst aspects of the course, and many could find no fault. The discussion papers were cited most often as student’s least favorite component. Making Econometrics a pre-requisite was one suggested improvement. Prospective students should know that having working knowledge of STATA is useful, and Dr. Takahashi is a highly recommended instructor.

The best part of this class was the fact that lectures were textbook and research based. Professor Takahashi was engaging and posed interesting discussion questions. Some students found the problem sets to be long and difficult to understand. This course could be improved by having a review of STATA and increasing the opportunities for students to receive feedback. Prospective students should have taken Econometrics. Completing assigned readings is an important aspect to doing well in this course.