Referring to knowledge

The subject Business Econometrics belongs to the wider field of quantitative methods in economics and therefore requires a considerable amount of empirical work. Real statistical data are used for study, and students must be familiar with the principal official sources of statistics and know how to apply the appropriate econometric and computing tools to the resolution of econometric models.

Students are also expected to identify the practical application of theoretical and empirical problems raised during the course. The course combines:

— Lectures.

— Problem-solving sessions to complement lectures.

— Practical computer classes to complement the empirical work carried out in lectures.

Instruments to support learning

— Manuals on econometrics (recommended manuals and additional, advanced manuals).

— Teaching material available on the Virtual Campus.

— Computer applications to be used in practical classes: MicroEconometría © ®.

— Practical problems based on the analysis of statistical information for households, consumers, taxpayers and businesses.

— Statistical search engines (OECD, EUROSTAT, INE, IDESCAT, etc.).

Continuous assessment

— Theoretical and practical test, scheduled in early November or April, depending on the semester in which the student is enrolled (the date can be confirmed in the Virtual Campus), on the content of the first two lessons in the teaching blocks taught in lectures and problem-solving sessions. It takes the form of a multiple-choice test (15 questions), graded on a scale of 0–10.

— A practical computer test, in late December or May, depending on the semester in which the student is enrolled (the date can be confirmed in the Virtual Campus). It covers the content of the practical exercises carried out in practical sessions throughout the course. These tests must be solved using MicroEconometria © ®, whose main features and use are covered in the lectures and with the practical exercises completed during the course. Students must answer multiple-choice questions. The questions and exercises refer to the database of examples provided with the MicroEconometria © ® software (the maximum mark for the test is 1.5).

— Final examination, held in the period January–February or June–July, depending on the semester in which the student is enrolled (the date is published at the beginning of the course in the Faculty’s website). It takes the form of a multiple-choice test (25 questions), graded on a scale of 0–10.

— The mark scheme for multiple-choice tests is: 1 point for a correct answer, -1/3 point for an incorrect answer, and 0 points for an unanswered question.

FINAL GRADE = 0.40 × theory-practical test mark + 0.60 × final examination mark

This weighting is used provided that the final examination mark is equal to or higher than 3.5; otherwise, the FINAL GRADE is the mark for the final examination.

Grade improvement

— Students who obtain a mark of at least 3.5 for the final examination and complete the practical computer test are entitled to improve their FINAL GRADE by adding the mark for the computer test.

— Students must achieve a weighted FINAL GRADE of at least 5 to pass the subject.

Example 1. A student scores 5 in the theory-practical test, a mark of 3.5 in the final examination and a mark of 1 in the practical computer test.

FINAL GRADE = 0.4 × 5 + 0.6 × 3.5 = 4.1 + 1 = 5.1 PASS

Example 2. A student scores 7 in the theory-practical test, a mark of 3 in the final examination and a mark of 1 in the practical computer test.

FINAL GRADE = 3 FAIL

Example 3. A student scores 8 in the theory-practical test, a mark of 9 in the final examination and a mark of 1.3 in the practical computer test.

FINAL GRADE = 0.4 × 8 + 0.6 × 9 = 8.6 + 1.3 = 9.9 EXCELLENT WITH HONOURS

Repeat assessment. Students who do not achieve a pass grade during the standard assessment period are entitled to repeat assessment. The repeat assessment option is an examination with the same characteristics as the standard final examination to be sat during the repeat assessment period established by the Faculty and published in their website at the beginning of the academic year. The examination takes place in February for students enrolled in the first semester, and July for those enrolled in the second semester. The mark for the repeat assessment examination is taken as the final grade for the subject.

NB. Students who take the continuous assessment cannot be awarded a grade of Absent for the first assessment period.

EUS group. The assessment follows the same criteria, although the theoretical and practical test and the practical assignments are specific for the group.

Examination-based assessment

— Students who wish to opt for this method of assessment must follow the guidelines established by the Faculty of Economics and Business. For further information, consult the Regulations for the assessment and marking of learning outcomes (especially point 6.4), which can be found in the Regulations section of the Faculty of Economics and Business website.

— Students must demonstrate successful completion of the course by obtaining a minimum pass grade (5) for the final examination.

— Final examination. This consists of a multiple-choice test. Each question has four possible answers, of which only one is correct. The mark scheme is: 1 point for a correct answer, -1/3 point for an incorrect answer, and 0 points for an unanswered question. The examination is held in the period January–February or June–July, depending on the semester in which the student is enrolled. The date is published at the beginning of the course in the Faculty’s website.

Repeat assessment. Students who do not achieve a pass grade during the standard assessment period are entitled to repeat assessment. The repeat assessment option is an examination with the same characteristics as the standard final examination to be sat during the repeat assessment period established by the Faculty and published in their website at the beginning of the academic year. The examination takes place in February for students enrolled in the first semester, and July for those enrolled in the second semester. The mark for the repeat assessment examination is taken as the final grade for the subject.

NB. Students enrolled in this subject while on an Erasmus course abroad, and thus automatically entered for single assessment, must take the final examination at the UB during the stipulated assessment period; under no circumstances are students allowed to sit the examination at the university where the Erasmus course is being undertaken.

EUS group. The assessment follows the same criteria.