Analysis of economic and financial data

Research fellow at the IUL Telematic University. Title of research  grant: “Using data to improve educational practices and policies: evaluation as a tool to guide choices in educational research”.

Research Fellow at the University of Florence. Title of research grant: “Perspectives on the integration and use of administrative archives and new data sources (big data and open data) for official statistics”.

European Master in Official Statistics (EMOS) from the University of Florence.

Master’s degree in Statistics, Actuarial and Financial Sciences L-M82 from the University of Florence.

Bachelor’s degree in Statistics L-41 from the University of Florence.

TABLE AND DEFINITION OF CONTENTS

The course consists of 3 modules covering the following topics.

• Module 1 – Univariate descriptive statistics

Introduction to the basic concepts of statistics, definition of population, sample, census, sample survey, statistical unit and variables. Univariate absolute, relative and percentage frequency distributions. Position indices: mode, median, quartiles and arithmetic mean. Definition of variability and main indices of variability: range, interquartile range, variance, standard deviation, coefficient of variation and Z-scores.

Percentage changes and concentration indices. Graphical representations.

• Module 2 – Bivariate descriptive statistics

Bivariate, marginal and conditional, absolute, relative and percentage frequency distributions.

Correlation and correlation coefficient.

Simple linear regression model. Deviance decomposition.

• Module 3 – Economic statistics

The main sources of official statistics. Local labour systems and industrial districts. Employment: definition of related concepts and related surveys. Human capital, definition and calculation methods.

The system of national accounts. Productivity. Index numbers, definition and calculation methods: Laspeyres Index, Paasche Index, Fisher Index.

Definition of the main concepts of statistics.
Univariate frequency distributions.
Calculation and interpretation of the main position and variability indices.
Graphical representations.
Distributions of bivariate frequencies. Definition, interpretation and calculation of correlation and simple linear regression.
Definition and critical study of the main concepts and sources of economic statistics. Calculation and interpretation of the main indices of economic and financial phenomena.

The course will enable the student:

• to know how to use the tools necessary to carry out simple univariate and bivariate statistical analyses;
• to be able to understand and interpret critically and independently the results and data of scientific surveys and research using statistical tools;
• to know the principles of economic statistics in order to be able to interpret and retrieve, also from different sources, statistical information deriving from investigations into economic and financial phenomena.

A. Knowledge and understanding
To acquire skills and knowledge appropriate to the main topics addressed from a statistical perspective.

B. Applied knowledge and understanding
Choosing and applying statistical tools for the quantitative analysis of economic and financial phenomena.

C. Autonomy of judgement
Applying theoretical models for evaluation purposes; autonomously researching data, information, sources and literature for economic and financial evaluations; ability to take reasoned and sustainable positions with regard to the choice and application of statistical analysis techniques.

D. Communication skills
To use technically correct and effective vocabulary in a professional context; to argue on statistical, economic and financial issues, using correct technical language and adequate scientific references.

E. Learning ability
To develop a transversal, autonomous and reasoned method of study that can be extended to other disciplines and aimed at pursuing more advanced studies.

EXPECTED RESULTS

A. Use of advanced textbooks, knowledge of some cutting-edge topics within the subject studied.
To be familiar with case studies in which the theoretical models studied can be applied.

B. Professional approach to work and possession of appropriate skills to devise arguments, support them and to solve problems within the subject studied. Ability to collect and interpret data useful for making independent judgements. Being able to find statistical information also from different sources and to interpret it in an autonomous and reasoned way.

C. Ability to communicate information, ideas, problems and solutions to specialists and non-specialists.
To be able to communicate statistical information resulting from their analyses in a clear, concise and comprehensive manner using appropriate technical language.

D. Ability to undertake subsequent studies with a high degree of autonomy.
Ability to evaluate case studies and new methodologies of quantitative analysis.

DIDACTICS PROVISION

• 9 hrs of recorded video lessons available on the platform.
• 3 synchronous meetings on the platform.
• Podcasts of all the above-metioned video lessons.

INTERACTIVE DIDACTICS

• 1 course orientation forum.
• 3 in-depth thematic forums (1 per module).
• Possibility to carry out work in groups.
• 3 structured e-activities (as described in the section “in itinere assessment methods”).

SELF-LEARNING

Teaching materials are provided for each module: in-depth thematic studies, articles and slides by the lecturer, open access readings, online resources, reference bibliography, etc.

• Cicchitelli G., D’Urso P., Minozzo M. Statistica: principi e metodi. Ediz. mylab. With online updates. Third edition. Pearson Education.

Access to the final examination is subject to the following 3 e-activities:

• E-activity 1 – To perform exercises related to the topics of the first module.
• E-activity 2 – To perform exercises related to the topics of the second module.
• E-activity 3 – An in-depth paper of minimum 500 words and maximum 1000 words on any topic of the third module.

The assessment of learning will take the form of an oral interview on the course contents and on the final report submitted, if any. The grade (min 18, max 30 with possible honours) is determined by the level of performance for each of the following dimensions of the oral interview: mastery of contents, appropriateness of definitions and theoretical references, clarity of argument, command of specialist language.

Italian