MODULE 1: MACROECONOMICS
Introduction
Welcome to the course. You will be introduced to several topics in macroeconomics and, more importantly, to macroeconomic data. As the course focus mostly on the analysis of macroeconomic data, we will spend the first four modules learning about different techniques to analyze time series data.
In this first module, the focus is on data collection. You will be introduced to specific data software in this course. In particular, you will learn how to download data, and how to import it into the software. You will be trained using climate data, which is the dataset we will analyze in the first four modules. We will also practice using macroeconomic data from the most important online sources.
Learning Outcomes
Students will be able to do the following:
• Define macroeconomics.
• Open and modify a data file using a text editor.
• Import a data file into the required data software.
• Access and use the most important online sources of macroeconomic data.
Key Terms
• Data file: A file in which datasets are stored. There are many types of formats, but the universal format for data files is the text format, because it can be read by all software.
• Dataset: A collection of observed variables.
• Missing values: They are missing observations in a dataset. In a data file, missing values are often represented by special characters.
• Text file: It is a non formatted file that can be opened by any text editor. The most common extensions for text files are .txt and .csv.
• Time series: It is a variable that we observe on a regular basis at different points in time. For example, the temperature in Toronto is a time series, because we observe it daily.
• Variable: It is the general term used when we refer to measures. For example, inflation, unemployment rate, temperature, and CO2 emission are four different variables.
Lessons
For instructions on printing Möbius lecture content, see printing content.
1. What is Macroeconomics?
2. Data Manipulation: Loading the Data
Activities and Assignments
• Introduce Yourself to your classmates this week. See your Course Schedule for due dates.
Data Files
You may require the following files to complete this module:
1410028701-eng.csv
API_NY.GDP.PCAP.PP.CD_DS2_en_csv_v2_656861.csv
climate.rda
co2_mm_mlo.txt
DP_LIVE_07012020232915305.csv
LNU02300000.csv
NA000334Q.csv
NH.Ts+dSST.csv
ontarioAll.csv
precipitation.txt
USACPIALLMINMEI.csv