ETC2520 - Probability and statistical inference for economics and business - 2017

6 points, SCA Band 3, 0.125 EFTSL

Undergraduate - Unit

Refer to the specific census and withdrawal dates for the semester(s) in which this unit is offered.

Faculty

Business and Economics

Organisational Unit

Department of Econometrics and Business Statistics

Coordinator(s)

Professor Donald Poskitt

Unit guides

Offered

Clayton

  • Second semester 2017 (Day)

Synopsis

An introduction to probability and statistical inference for use in economics and business. Topics covered include random variables, moments and cumulants generating function, discrete and continuous distributions, independence, jointly distributed random variables, conditional random variables, the central limit theorem, sampling distribution, properties of estimators, confidence intervals, tests of hypotheses.

Outcomes

The learning goals associated with this unit are to:

  1. understand concepts of probability, statistical inference, generating functions and cumulants
  2. derive and use generating functions to evaluate moments and establish the distribution of linear combinations of independent random variables
  3. understand and apply the main methods of estimation and the main properties of estimators
  4. construct confidence intervals for unknown parameters and test hypotheses
  5. develop written, presentational and group work skills through a series of assessed essays, assignments and tutorial work.

Assessment

Within semester assessment: 40% + Examination: 60%

Workload requirements

Minimum total expected workload to achieve the learning outcomes for this unit is 144 hours per semester typically comprising a mixture of scheduled learning activities and independent study. Independent study may include associated readings, assessment and preparation for scheduled activities. The unit requires on average three/four hours of scheduled activities per week. Scheduled activities may include a combination of teacher directed learning, peer directed learning and online engagement.

See also Unit timetable information

Chief examiner(s)

Prerequisites

ETC1000 or equivalent