Students often learn best by doing. This paper describes a project-based learning assignment for introductory econometrics courses in which students write an original econometric term paper by replicating a published study, modifying the analysis, and then writing a paper that describes the original results they produced. Through this process, students learn econometric methods, coding, research methods, and writing a literature review. After completing this assignment, students will be well-positioned to take on future research projects.
AngristJ. D.PischkeS. (2014). Mastering 'Metrics: The path from cause to effect. Princeton University Press.
2.
BleemerZ.MehtaA. (2022). Will studying economics make you rich? A regression discontinuity analysis of the returns to college major. American Economic Journal: Applied Economics, 14(2), 1–22. https://doi.org/10.1257/app.20200447
BrodeurA.DreberA.Hoces de la GuardiaF.MiguelE. (2023). Replication games: How to make reproducibility research more systematic. Nature, 621(7980), 684–686. https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-023-02997-5
5.
ChristensenG.MiguelE. (2018). Transparency, reproducibility, and the credibility of economics research. Journal of Economic Literature, 56(3), 920–980. https://doi.org/10.1257/jel.20171350
6.
ConawayB.ClarkC.AriasJ. J.FolkJ. (2018). Integrating econometrics: A modern undergraduate economics capstone experience. The Journal of Economic Education, 49(3), 1–11. https://doi.org/10.1080/00220485.2018.1464986
7.
DeLoachS. B.Perry-SizemoreE.BorgM. O. (2012). Creating quality undergraduate research programs in economics: How, when, where (and why). The American Economist, 57(1), 96–110. https://doi.org/10.1177/056943451205700108
8.
FloodS.KingM.RodgersR.RugglesS.WarrenJ. R. (2021). Integrated public use microdata series, current population survey: Version 8.0[dataset]. IPUMS.
HendersonA. (2016). Growing by getting their hands dirty: Meaningful research transforms students. The Journal of Economic Education, 47(3), 241–257. https://doi.org/10.1080/00220485.2016.1179146
11.
HolianM. J. (2021). Data and the American Dream: Contemporary social controversies and the American Community Survey. Palgrave Macmillan.
12.
HolianM. J. (2023). Methods in open policy analysis: An application to California’s building energy codes. Contemporary Economic Policy, 41(4), 613–628. https://doi.org/10.1111/coep.12610
13.
HolianM. J.WolowynaO. (2025). Identity economics and the Russian-Ukrainian war: Evidence from the American Community Survey(manuscript).
14.
HoytG. M.McGoldrickK. M. (2017). Promoting undergraduate research in economics. The American Economic Review, 107(5), 655–659. https://doi.org/10.1257/aer.p20171069
15.
JanzN. (2016). Bringing the gold standard into the classroom: Replication in university teaching. International Studies Perspectives, 17(4), 392–407. https://doi.org/10.1111/insp.12104
16.
KorinekA. (2023). Generative AI for economic research: Use cases and implications for economists. Journal of Economic Literature, 61(4), 1281–1317. https://doi.org/10.1257/jel.20231736
RugglesS.FloodS.SobekM.BackmanD.ChenA.CooperG.RichardsS.RodgersR.SchouweilerM. (2024). IPUMS USA: Version 15.0[dataset]. IPUMS. https://doi.org/10.18128/D010.V15.0
20.
SiegfriedJ. J.BartlettR. L.HansenW. L.KelleyA. C.McCloskeyD. N.TietenbergT. H. (1991). The economics major: Can and should we do better than a B-?The American Economic Review, 81(2), 20–25.
21.
SimkinsZ.MahjabeenR.MahmudS. (2016). Integrating undergraduate research into economics general education. Council on Undergraduate Research Quarterly, 37(2), 11–19. https://doi.org/10.18833/curq/37/2/6
22.
SjoquistD. L.WintersJ. V. (2015). State merit aid programs and college major: A focus on STEM. Journal of Labor Economics, 33(4), 973–1006. https://doi.org/10.1086/681108
WintersJ. V. (2016). Is economics a good major for future lawyers? Evidence from earnings data. The Journal of Economic Education, 47(2), 187–191. https://doi.org/10.1080/00220485.2016.1146101
25.
WintersJ. V. (2022). Minimum wages and restaurant employment for teens and adults in metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas. Journal of the Agricultural and Applied Economics Association, 1(3), 254–269. https://doi.org/10.1002/jaa2.25