Econometrics and Mathematical Economics (Econometrics)
The study programme
The Econometrics and Mathematical Economics track places a strong emphasis on statistical techniques for micro and macro-econometrics analysis, as well as mathematical modelling of economic and financial markets. Additionally, the curriculum offers in-depth insights into the behaviour of companies, governments, financial traders, and consumers in various market dynamics.
The programme
Econometrics and Mathematical Economics is one of the tracks of the Master's Econometrics. During your Master's you will follow 4 general courses and 5 track-specific courses and electives. You will finish with a thesis. If you have excellent analytical and leadership abilities and it is your goal to use applied research to tackle complex real-life problems, you can participate in our Honours programme. There is also an opportunity to pursue a Master’s degree in both Econometrics and Mathematics, if you opt for a Double Degree Master’s programme.
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Compulsory courses
Advanced Econometrics I
In this course, you will gain a deep understanding of econometric theory, practice and inference. You will learn how to apply advanced econometric techniques in practice, extend available methods for particular applications and how to implement them in a matrix programming environment. Also you will learn to understand and derive their statistical properties.
Theory of Markets
In this course, you will study the microeconomic theory of perfect and imperfect competition. Learn under what conditions markets perform well as a means to organise economic activity (and under what conditions they do not).
Data Science Methods
In this course, you will cover the basic theory of multivariate data analysis and of statistical methods in data science. You will focus on the most relevant multivariate techniques, as well as their application to econometric data in computer lab sessions. We will introduce you to Python, NumPy and pandas, data scraping, cleaning and wrangling.
Advanced Econometrics II
In this course, you will build upon the general knowledge you acquired in Advanced Econometrics 1. You will gain a deep understanding of econometric theory, acquire the technical skills to conduct inference and be able to implement these techniques using software like MATLAB, R or Python.
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Track-specific courses
CED 1: Learning, Stability and Chaos
In this course, you will analyse nonlinear dynamical systems with applications to economics and financial markets. You will apply complexity modelling to economics and finance and learn how to critically evaluate the literature on behavioural models with boundedly rational agents. Furthermore, you will learn how to interpret the results of computer-based simulated periodic and chaotic solutions.
Topics in Microeconometrics
In this course, you will discuss 8 recent empirical papers that apply microeconometric estimation techniques. These papers usually concern issues like individual choice behaviour in the labour and consumer markets. You will apply the techniques during the computer lab sessions with MatLab or R.
Mandatory electives: semester 1
Choose 1 out of 2 electives:
- Machine Learning for Econometrics
- Health Econometrics: Empirical Research
Mandatory electives: semester 2
Choose 2 out of 5 electives:
- Behavioural Macro and Finance
- CED 2: Optimal Control and Environmental Tipping
- Economic and Financial Network Analysis
- Environmental Econometrics: Empirical Research
- Financial Econometrics
Students who want to specialise in mathematical economics are recommended to take the courses Behavioural Marco and Finance and CED2: Optimal Control and Environmental Tipping.
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Thesis
The academic programme culminates in a thesis, which allows you to engage with state-of-the-art data analysis and statistical techniques. The Master’s thesis is the final requirement for your graduation. It is your chance to dive deep into a topic in your field of choice (track) that you are enthusiastic about, and allows you to do an independent research project. A professor of your track will supervise and support you in writing your thesis.
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Honours programme
If you are a student of the Master's Econometrics and you have a record of academic excellence, a critical mind and an enthusiasm for applied research, then our Econometrics Honours programme is a great opportunity for you.
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Double Degree Master's programme
If you want to pursue a Master’s degree in Econometrics as well as in Mathematics, you can opt for one of our Double Degree Master’s programmes:
- Master's in Double Degree Programme in Econometrics and Mathematics. In combination with all specialisations of the Master's in Econometrics.
- Double Degree Master's programme Econometrics and Stochastics and Financial Mathematics. Only in combination with the specialisation Financial Econometrics of the Master's in Econometrics.
Copyright: Onbekend
I wanted to be an architect when I was a kid. Now I operate as a Machine Learning Engineer. The academic way of tackling a problem, something I learned during my studies, is something I still use a lot.Dolf Noordman - alumnus Master's Econometrics Read about Dolf's experiences with this Master's
Real-life case: optimal soccer team
Econometrics: The manager of a football club can have great influence when it comes to winning prizes. With data driven analyses likely being the future, models that help clubs in managing their teams, become more and more relevant. We discuss an investigation that presents a management tool that can optimise a team's chances of fulfilling its sportive ambitions by adjusting their squad.
Real-life case: redistribution model of research funding
Mathematical economics - Analyse a proposed new model of research funding distribution from a game theoretical point of view. Rather than applying for grants through writing research proposals, peers can distribute the funding freely among themselves. The main point of concern is that researchers will conspire and form a coalition to improve their own funding. Show that the game is indeed vulnerable to coalitions in general.
Frequently asked questions
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When do I need to select a specialisation track?
A specialisation track must be chosen when applying for the Master’s programme. However, track modifications are still possible until late October. The criteria for all tracks are identical and do not impact the likelihood of being accepted into the programme.
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How many students are in the programme?
Our Master’s programme admits around 20 students per specialisation track. If you meet the entry requirements, you will always be accepted; this Master’s does not have a numerus fixus.
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What are the weekly contact hours?
Most courses have one 2-3 hour lecture and one 2-hour tutorial per week. Generally students take 3 courses at a time, so count on about 12-15 contact hours per week.
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Will all lectures be held in person, or will there be options for online attendance?
Our preference is for in-person lectures. Certain sessions may be pre-recorded or follow a hybrid format. This entails preparing for Question and Answer (Q&A) sessions through video clips and readings, with subsequent discussions during meetings.
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Is attendance compulsory for lectures, tutorials, and other sessions?
Attendance is usually not compulsory for lectures, but commonly for tutorials and other sessions. Students greatly benefit from being present and engaging in discussions with both the instructor and their classmates.
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What is the typical method of assessment for most courses?
The majority of courses have a written on-site exam, which counts for a large percentage of the final grade. Most courses have additional assessment methods, including oral presentations, developing research proposals, conducting experiments and writing up results. Finally, some courses grade attendance, which is reflected by presence and activity in tutorials and online assignments.