IDEM 103

Applied Panel Data Analysis

Start: 7 March 2016
End: 10 March 2016
Location: Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research (MPIDR), Rostock, Germany

Instructor: Prof. Dr. Josef Brüderl, University of Munich

Course description
Panel data offer advantages for analyzing individual dynamics and identifying causal effects. This course will present methods that allow capitalizing on these advantages: fixed-effects methods and growth curve models. The course will be on an applied level in that not the mathematics but the intuition behind the models will be emphasized. Real data examples using the German Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP), the German Family Panel (pairfam) and Stata will be presented.

Organization
This is a 4-day intensive course.
Monday, 14:00 – 17:00 Lecture
Tuesday, 09:00 – 12:30 Lecture
Tuesday, 14:00 – 17:00 Lecture
Wednesday, 09:00 – 12:30 Lecture
Wednesday, 14:00 – 17:00 Lab Session
Thursday, 09:00 – 12:30 Lecture
Thursday, 14:00 – 17:00 Lab Session

Prerequisites
Familiarity with basic statistical tools and models (linear and logistic regression, test of significance and confidence intervals) is required. Familiarity with the software Stata is helpful but not required.

Examination
Active participation in class and solving exercises in the lab sessions.

General readings
Allison, P.D. (2009) Fixed Effects Regression Models. Thousand Oaks: Sage.
Brüderl, J. and V. Ludwig (2015) Fixed-Effects Panel Regression. Pp. 327-357, in: H. Best and C. Wolf (eds.) The Sage Handbook of Regression Analysis and Causal Inference. Sage

Financial support
There is no tuition fee for this course.  Students are expected to pay their own transportation and living costs.  However, a limited number of scholarships are available on a competitive basis for outstanding candidates and for those applicants who might otherwise not be able to come.

Recruitment of students

• Applicants should either be enrolled in a PhD program (those well on their way to completion will be favored) or have received their PhD.
• A maximum of 24 students will be admitted.
• The selection will be made by the MPIDR based on the applicants’ scientific qualifications.

How to apply
Applications should be sent by email to the MPIDR (address below).  Please begin your email message with a statement saying that you apply for course IDEM 103 – Applied Panel Data Analysis. You also need to attach the following items integrated in *a single pdf file*:

• A two-page curriculum vitae, including a list of your scholarly publications.
• A one-page letter from your supervisor at your home institution supporting your application.
• A one-page statement of your research and how it relates to the course.  At the very end of your research statement, in a separate paragraph, please indicate (a) whether you would like to be considered for financial support and (b) if you would be able to come without financial aid from our side.
• Send your email to Heiner Maier (idem@demogr.mpg.de).
• Application deadline is 15 January 2016.
• Applicants will be informed of their acceptance by 1 February 2016.