ECON 446 Causal Data ScienceMEF UniversityDegree Programs EconomicsGeneral Information For StudentsDiploma SupplementErasmus Policy Statement
Economics
Bachelor Length of the Programme: 4 Number of Credits: 240 TR-NQF-HE: Level 6 QF-EHEA: First Cycle EQF: Level 6

Ders Genel Tanıtım Bilgileri

School/Faculty/Institute Faculty of Econ., Admin. and Social Sciences
Course Code ECON 446
Course Title in English Causal Data Science
Course Title in Turkish Nedensel Veri Bilimi
Language of Instruction EN
Type of Course Flipped Classroom
Level of Course Advanced
Semester Fall
Contact Hours per Week
Lecture: 3 Recitation: 0 Lab: 0 Other: 0
Estimated Student Workload 126 hours per semester
Number of Credits 5 ECTS
Grading Mode Standard Letter Grade
Pre-requisites MATH 126 - Statistics for Social Sciences | MATH 204 - Probability and Statistics for Social Sciences II | MATH 224 - Probability and Statistics for Engineering | MATH 228 - Probability and Statistics for Engineering II
Expected Prior Knowledge Statistics and Non-formal Logic
Co-requisites None
Registration Restrictions Only Undergraduate Students
Overall Educational Objective Understand the causal language and causal reasoning and apply these tools to real (non-fictitious) problems.
Course Description This is a one-semester undergraduate course into the science of cause and effect, designed to introduce students to the genesis, the fundamentals and the tools of causal reasoning. The course assumes familiarity with statistics and non-formal logic/reasoning.
Course Description in Turkish Bu ders katılımcılara neden-sonuç ilişkisini, nedensel muhakemenin doğuşunu, temellerini, ve araçlarını anlatmayı amaçlamaktadır.

Course Learning Outcomes and Competences

Upon successful completion of the course, the learner is expected to be able to:
1) Understand the causal language, causal reasoning and the distinction between traditional statistical approaches and counterfactuals
2) Relate concepts of causality with possible economic, legal and medical applications
3) Use causal framework to understand critical cause-and-effect questions
Program Learning Outcomes/Course Learning Outcomes 1 2 3
1) Has a broad understanding of economics with a deep exposure to other social sciences and mathematics.
2) Demonstrates knowledge and skills in understanding the interactions of different areas of economics.
3) Displays a sound comprehension of microeconomic and macroeconomic theory.
4) Applies economic concepts to solve complex problems and enhance decision-making capability.
5) Uses quantitative techniques to analyze different economic systems.
6) Applies theoretical knowledge to analyze issues regarding Turkish and global economies.
7) Demonstrates proficiency in statistical tools and mainstream software programs to process and evaluate economic data.
8) Behaves according to scientific and ethical values at all stages of economic analysis: data collection, interpretation and dissemination of findings.
9) Uses written and spoken English effectively (at least CEFR B2 level) to exchange scientific information.
10) Exhibits individual and professional ethical behavior and social responsibility.
11) Displays learning skills necessary for further study with a high degree of autonomy

Relation to Program Outcomes and Competences

N None S Supportive H Highly Related
     
Program Outcomes and Competences Level Assessed by
1) Has a broad understanding of economics with a deep exposure to other social sciences and mathematics. N
2) Demonstrates knowledge and skills in understanding the interactions of different areas of economics. H
3) Displays a sound comprehension of microeconomic and macroeconomic theory. N
4) Applies economic concepts to solve complex problems and enhance decision-making capability. H
5) Uses quantitative techniques to analyze different economic systems. H
6) Applies theoretical knowledge to analyze issues regarding Turkish and global economies. N
7) Demonstrates proficiency in statistical tools and mainstream software programs to process and evaluate economic data. S
8) Behaves according to scientific and ethical values at all stages of economic analysis: data collection, interpretation and dissemination of findings. N
9) Uses written and spoken English effectively (at least CEFR B2 level) to exchange scientific information. S
10) Exhibits individual and professional ethical behavior and social responsibility. S
11) Displays learning skills necessary for further study with a high degree of autonomy N
Prepared by and Date FIRAT BİLGEL , November 2023
Course Coordinator FIRAT BİLGEL
Semester Fall
Name of Instructor Prof. Dr. FIRAT BİLGEL

Course Contents

Week Subject
1) Introduction to Causality
2) The Ladder of Causation
3) The Genesis of Causal Inference
4) Pearl’s Causal Framework: Directed Acyclic Graphs (DAG) – Part I
5) Pearl’s Causal Framework: Directed Acyclic Graphs (DAG) – Part II
6) DAGs in Action: Using the dagitty software
7) Paradoxes and Causation
8) Midterm
9) Rubin’s Causal Framework: Potential Outcomes – Part I
10) Rubin’s Causal Framework: Potential Outcomes – Part II
11) Randomized Controlled Trials
12) Counterfactuals
13) Counterfactuals and the Law
14) Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence
15) Final Examination period
16) Final Examination period
Required/Recommended ReadingsPearl, J. and Mackenzie, D. (2018) The Book of Why: The New Science of Cause and Effect, New York: Basic Books, Chapters 1-6, 8-10 Rubin, D.B. and Imbens, G.W. (2015) Causal Inference in Statistics and in the Social and Biomedical Sciences. New York: Cambridge University Press, Chapters 1-3 Pearl, J., Gylmour, M. and Jewell, N.P. (2016) Causal Inference in Statistics. A Primer. Wiley
Teaching Methods
Homework and Projects
Laboratory WorkN/A
Computer UseN/A
Other Activities
Assessment Methods
Assessment Tools Count Weight
Attendance 14 % 10
Quiz(zes) 3 % 15
Homework Assignments 3 % 15
Midterm(s) 1 % 30
Final Examination 1 % 30
TOTAL % 100
Course Administration bilgelf@mef.edu.tr

Academic Dishonesty and Plagiarism: YOK Regulation

ECTS Student Workload Estimation

Activity No/Weeks Hours Calculation
No/Weeks per Semester Preparing for the Activity Spent in the Activity Itself Completing the Activity Requirements
Course Hours 14 3 3 1 98
Homework Assignments 6 2 1 18
Midterm(s) 1 4 1 5
Final Examination 1 4 1 5
Total Workload 126
Total Workload/25 5.0
ECTS 5