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Thursday, July 11, 2013

Let's Put the "ECON" Back Into Microeconometrics

You just couldn't resist the title, could you?

Don't worry, I'm not going to be too harsh. After all, I'm rather fond of those who practise "applied microeconometrics" - especially lightly sautéed, with a little pepper and garlic. Sorry! Sorry!

The point that I want to make is a simple one, and I'll be brief.

How many seminars have you attended where the speaker has gone through the details of a formal microeconomic model, and then proceeded to a potentially interesting empirical application? And in how many cases was there a total "disconnect" between the theoretical model and the empirical model?

Hand up! Don't be shy! Wow - that's almost everyone!