Statistical Methods and Applications

General Targets: Prior educational teaching concern is the students’ understanding of the main (Economic Statistics Modeling) problems and methods for Panel Data making use of parametric estimation. Here the empirical focus is on individuals represented by Decisional Making Units (DMU). More specifically, these are banks typically involved in the European (and also international) banking system. The course will focus on managerial problems of these firms by studying equations such as cost (mostly) and profit functions which are relevant to asses on the Efficiency of banks. Furthermore, students should know both how to solve analytical problems, in order to apply the appropriate methodology, and to interpret results obtained from empirical applications to actual data. Specific Targets: a) Knowledge and capability in understanding. After attending the course, students know and understand main problems of Panel Data. In particular, the course will account for the logic for building empirical models, related to the underlying economic theory (and the consequent subdivisions in endogenous and exogenous variables), with one or more equations in order to evaluate the degree of efficiency of a typical Decisional Making Unit (here the bank and possibly the insurance company). We will study the main estimation methods of Panel Data for solving efficiency problems pertaining a firm traditionally operating in the private sector. b) Capability of applying knowledge and comprehension At the end of the course students are able to formalize and solve problems by means of specific methods as well as treating fundamental models of Panel Data to answer questions on the Efficiency and Productivity Analysis for the banking system. Finally, students will be able to apply the methods studied to real data and interpret results correctly also from a theoretical point of view. c) Autonomy in assessment. Students develop analytical skills and capacity of facing different alternative approaches for solving actual empirical problems. d) Communication ability. Students learn technical language which is appropriate for the subject studied and that will be used at the oral and written exam, by means of practical exercises. e) Learning capacity. Students passing the exam are capable to extend the methodology studied also to other fields and derive conclusions.