A Concise Introduction to Econometrics: An Intuitive Guide

Book Description

This book is an ideal introduction for beginning students of econometrics that assumes only basic familiarity with matrix algebra and calculus. It features practical questions which can be answered using econometric methods and models. Focusing on a limited number of the most basic and widely used methods, the book reviews the basics of econometrics before concluding with a number of recent empirical case studies. The volume is an intuitive illustration of what econometricians do when faced with practical questions.

Customer Reviews:

Of little value.......2004-06-22

I used to know a bit of econometrics and hoped this would jog my memory and give some practical pointers. I found it almost useless for my purposes. It reads almost like a really detailed glossary of terms.

An unique gem of a book.......2004-03-13

I'm really surprised that there haven't been more knowledgable reviews of this book before now. I'm also surprised that there isn't a lot of buzz out there about *A Concise Introduction to Econometrics.* This is an unique gem of a book for anyone who is interested in econometrics but does not have a PhD in economics.

What is this book about? This is one of the few books that lives up to its title.

It is concise (the heart of the book is about 100 pages) and is reminiscent of Oxford UP's 'A Very Short Introduction' series.

It deals with econometrics - the statistical analysis of economic data. The book provides a brief but informative remedial section on basic statistics necessary to understand the heart of the book, regression analysis (both cross-sectional and time-series). The book dissects some case studies -- examples from actual, real-life econometric studies (as opposed to made up 'toy' examples used in much more dense books) -- with a special emphasis on topics relevant to finance (financial econometrics) and marketing.

Finally, it lives up to its byline "An Intuitive Guide." It really does deliver a (relatively) intuitive guide to a highly mathematical subject. Even though the book recommends familiarity with calculus and linear algebra, it can easily be read and understood by an intelligent person with a more limited mathematical background (high-school algebra is probably all you need, but you do need mathematical 'maturity' and patience). The emphasis is on understanding the underlying reasoning and not on calculation or formal proofs. It even deals with advanced topics like ARCH/GARCH in this relatively intuitive way.

Who is this book for? I think that the audience for this book are beginning students of econometrics or regression analysis outside of economics. This would obviously include undergrads in economics, finance, etc. and non-quant MBA students. But what many people don't realize is the extent to which econometrics has gained in importance in seemingly unrelated fields. Many law schools, lawyers, and legal scholars make use of econometrics and they could benefit from a book like this. Those people in public policy (academics or in practice), public health, and non-econ social sciences could also benefit from this book. The book is written on a level that intelligent law and policy students should be able to get a lot of knowledge about a topic they would normally be intimidated by.

Another audience for this book are people who have to deal with econometrics on a PRACTICAL level. One of the things that many people who studied econometrics in school find when they have to use it in the real world (on-the-job) is that the formal academic training both OVER-prepared them and UNDER-prepared them for the real world uses of econometrics in finance and marketing (the two areas of emphasis in this book). At least in non-academic settings (and in research assistant work in academe), you don't really need to formally derive a proof or have memorized the content of Greene's econometrics textbook. In fact, a lot of the gibberish one learns in a formal setting will confuse you and often times not clarify how you would model a situation you confront and what kind of data (and how to get it) you need to properly answer the problems you're tackling.

Philip Hans Franses, the author of this book, actually relays to the readers that he is very cogniscent of these types of issues. In fact that was his main motivation for writing this book. He comes from a marketing and financial econometrics background so he is very familiar with on-the-job issues relevant to making practical use of econometrics.

I contrast all of the above with a book like Peter Kennedy's famous guide to econometrics. I don't want to knock or disparage that book, because (for what it is intended to do) it does a great job. But Kennedy's book is designed as a way for economics students (especially graduate and advanced undergrad) and PhD economists to have a reference and general overview of a variety of topics in academic econometrics. That isn't to say that it is not useful -- it would be especially useful for financial engineers dealing with advanced issues in financial econometrics. But, in spite of its strengths for those taking formal econometrics courses or in need of a academically oriented refresher or intro, it does not do what Franses' book does: A practically oriented and brief light-on-the-math introduction to econometrics especially useful for legal and policy scholars and for econonomics, finance, MBA, etc. students that find even Kennedy's book to be over their heads.

I don't know of any other book of its kind out there in the marketplace. If you're even vaguely intrigued, I suggest you buy this relatively inexpensive book. Frankly, it's a lot better than books ten times its price and size.

Learn the basics of econometrics.......2003-04-28

This book is about the wierd subject of econometrics. Econometrics iis a subject that uses math, economics, and statistics. They take an economic question and use data that some what relates to that to try to predict what is going to happen. If this interests you you might like this book. I have never read anything about econometrics before and this book helped to explain it. Sometimes the book would get really complicated and get really hard to follow. The key points in the book are in italics and the practical questions are in bold. These are really helpful. If you read this book make sure you understand how to read functions and how to work with them. You will also have to be able to follow multi-variable equations. You also need a basic understanding of integrals and what they do. If you can understand all of this math and are interested in learning about math in economics you might like this book. The final chapter was helpful becuase it looks at actual questions that have been answered with econometrics. This should it in action. Overall I think this book was informative, but really confusing.

Book Description

Corporate and investor needs for profits are being met with painful cost cutting and a blind adoption of outsourcing. Our organizations look for successes and advantages onshore, offshore and, in fact, “anyshore.” We struggle for change, success, and sustainability, but we persistently underestimate and misalign the resources, skills, and efforts needed. The changes based in the fundamentals of realignments and innovations have been lost, and as a result, so has our collective ability to sustain the initiatives. We've lost our innovative abilities.

Innovative Relevance is not just about increases in productivity, loss of domestic jobs, cultural differences, cash flow, and most recently the certification of our financial statements. It also addresses the focused utilization of multiple disciplines that are seldom practiced today—ethics, integrity, passion, and consistency.

Innovative Relevance represents the pragmatic prescription for globalized workforces and operations. It creates the sustainable, repeatable, and measurable roadmap for change. Without relevance, many an approach or set of facts will suffice.

Customer Reviews:

A holistic approach to technology innovation.......2005-03-16

Why do technology initiatives fail? Everyone in the company has an answer, but the IT personnel in charge of implementing the new systems are probably closest to the mark. Unfortunately, most of our great engineers are not great communicators. Mark Dangelo is the exception. His experience is impressive. His command of the language is quite sufficient to provide us with a step-by-step guidebook for making innovation work in the American enterprise. Filled with real world examples, descriptive graphics, checklists and do-it-yourself assessments, this book is destined for the must-read list for all executives charged with changing their organizations.

Beekeeping in India
Average customer rating:
Beekeeping in India
G.K. Ghosh
Manufacturer: Ashish Publishing House (APH)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Agricultural Sciences | Professional Science | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 817024644X

First Lessons in Beekeeping (IVS Technical Bulletin)
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First Lessons in Beekeeping (IVS Technical Bulletin)

Manufacturer: International Voluntary Services
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000HCRRUM

Product Description

Lessons in Beekeeping in English and Bengali, published in Bangladesh

Average customer rating:

Beekeeping in India
Sardar Singh
Manufacturer: Indian Council of Agricultural Research
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

Biological Science, Volume 2: Evolution, Diversity, and Ecology (2nd Edition) (Biological Science)
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Biological Science, Volume 2: Evolution, Diversity, and Ecology (2nd Edition) (Biological Science)
Scott Freeman
Manufacturer: Prentice Hall
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Biology | Biological Sciences | Science | Subjects | Books
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Look Inside Science Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
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ASIN: 0131502956

BIOLOGICAL SCIENCE, VOLUME 2 Evolution, Diversity, and Ecology (2nd Edition) (Biological Science)
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BIOLOGICAL SCIENCE, VOLUME 2 Evolution, Diversity, and Ecology (2nd Edition) (Biological Science)
Scott Freeman
Manufacturer: Prentice Hall
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OI3BPO

Complete Body Development With Dumbbells
Average customer rating:

Way too long a delivery schedule

Useful. Worth purchasing. Glad I did.

Not Available, Never Ships

Great beginner's guide to dumbbells

Complete Body Development With Dumbbells
Mark McKown
Manufacturer: Meyer & Meyer Sport
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Exercise & Fitness | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books
General | Massage | Alternative Medicine | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books
General | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books
Healthy Living | Personal Health | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books
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Airborne Effervescent Health Formula, Original Orange, 10 Tablets (Pack of 3)

Tanita BC533 Glass Innerscan Body Composition Monitor

RESPeRATE Blood Pressure Lowering Device

ASIN: 1841260878

Book Description

Maximize your physical potential. An excellent route to a better physique. Get a healthier and fitter body.

Customer Reviews:

Way too long a delivery schedule.......2005-02-16

Any book that has a delivery date of 1 to 2 months is way too long a delivery schedule for the average consumer. I wish I could rate the content, but I am going to cancel the order because I found out later the estimated delivery would be that long. Too bad for both sides - the buyer and the seller.

Useful. Worth purchasing. Glad I did........2004-09-16

Good for a fairly wide audience, though perhaps not for experienced strength trainers or weight lifters. Simple, clear, unpretentious explanations of how muscles work, how to establish a fitness routine, and so on. For the various dumbbell exercises themselves: good pictures / illustrations with accompanying text / explanation. I use this book more for dumbbell alternatives for what is a mixed bodyweight, dumbbell and barbell program. But I would highly recommend it to someone just getting started or reacquainted with strength training. Just lots of useful information, well organized, and hype-free.

Not Available, Never Ships.......2004-08-17

After waiting for months, Amazon.com recently informed me that:

"We are sorry to report that we will not be able to obtain the following item from your order:

Mark McKown "Complete Body Development With Dumbbells"

Though we had expected to be able to send this item to you, we've since found that it is not available from any of our sources at this time. We realize this is disappointing news to hear, and we apologize for the inconvenience we have caused you.

We must also apologize for the length of time it has taken us to reach this conclusion. Until recently, we had still hoped to obtain this item for you."

Great beginner's guide to dumbbells.......2004-02-08

It's amazing that dumbbells enable a person to engage in a full body workout. If you work out at home and have limited space, a set of dumbbells and this book will get you started. The book is written so that even beginners will have no problem getting started. Half of the book discusses the advantages of dumbbells versus other resistance training devices, workout routines, and the general science behind muscle development. The other half of the book is devoted to dumbbell exercises. The exercises are fully described, and have accompanying pictures visually describing how to perform the indicated exercise.

What the book did not have was an index. Although the book is short enough to flip through to find the specific topic, an index would have alleviated the nuisance of having to flip through pages.

I would recommend this book to anyone interested in training with dumbbells.

Book Description

Mastering and becoming comfortable with the ability to make a toast or write a note will pay rich dividends in a gentleman's life-both professional and personal. Toasts and Tributes helps men master these important skills with examples of more than 40 different toasts and 40 different notes. In addition to each example of what to say are, perhaps more importantly, examples of what not to say.

Customer Reviews:

Toats & Tributes: A Gentleman's Guide to Personal Correspondence and the Noble Tradition of the Toast.......2006-03-23

A great gift for the groom-to-be and the father of the bride. We laughed at "wrong" way to communicate and toasts. The ideas were presented in a fun and easy-to-enjoy format.

Master Album of Pictorial Calligraphy and Scrollwork: An Antique Copybook Rediscovered
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Master Album of Pictorial Calligraphy and Scrollwork: An Antique Copybook Rediscovered
Baldri van Horicke
Manufacturer: Dover Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Architecture | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books
Calligraphy | Graphic Design | Design & Decorative Arts | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
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The Universal Penman (Picture Archives)

Calligraphic Flourishing: A New Approach to an Ancient Art

ASIN: 0486249743

Book Description

Astounding discovery of unpublished 1633 manuscript of authentic Renaissance graphics. Each page features a moral maxim surrounded by ornamental scrollwork and pictorial themes — musicians, cupids, mythological beasts, etc. Copyright-free. 54 black-and-white illustrations.

Crisp: Twenty Ways to Improve Customer Service (Quick Read)
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Crisp: Twenty Ways to Improve Customer Service (Quick Read)
Lloyd C. Finch
Manufacturer: Crisp Learning
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
Customer Service | Industries & Professions | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
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Exceptional Customer Service: Going Beyond Your Good Service to Exceed the Customer's Expectation

Crisp: Telephone Courtesy & Customer Service, Third Edition: Achieving Interpersonal Impact in Business (Fifty-Minute Series.)

ASIN: 1560522461

Book Description

Are you interested in improving your customer service, especially the skills of frontline representatives? This book highlights twenty key elements to customer service and supports them with skill-builders, suggestions, and recommended personal actions to help you increase your service skill inventory.

The Fed: The Inside Story How World's Most Powerful Financial Institution Drives Markets
Average customer rating:

Skip it

Dry and tedious

The best book on the subject I've encountered

Tempted to give five stars...

Not good at all

The Fed: The Inside Story How World's Most Powerful Financial Institution Drives Markets
Martin Mayer
Manufacturer: Plume
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Economic History | Economics | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
International | Economics | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
Money & Monetary Policy | Economics | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
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The Case Against the Fed

ASIN: 0452283418
Release Date: 2002-06-25

Amazon.com

Martin Mayer's engaging examination of the much-talked-about but little understood U.S. Federal Reserve begins with the dramatic events of October 1998, a month in which the market closed "lock limit down" for the first time in almost a decade. At the same time, Alan Greenspan, the Fed's chairman, began radically reinventing his agency's role and its influence on the market. Indeed, while most of the rest of the world's countries were diminishing the role of their central banks, Congress was granting new powers and responsibilities to the Fed. Mayer's book--part history, part journalistic report, and all detailed analysis--looks at the significance of those powers, their benefits and risks, and what they mean to the markets. He also devotes chapters to the day-to-day inner workings of the Fed, its influence in international financial matters, and its possible role in coming years.

As a prolific author and respected economics scholar, Mayer has been immersed in the financial world for decades and provides both bird's-eye and long-range views of money's complicated maneuverings. Without his excellent storytelling abilities and fluid writing style, this book would be heavy going for anyone who doesn't speak the language of high finance. Though it is most definitely dense (and its structure somewhat erratic), Mayer manages to make a complicated subject accessible for those with more interest than actual knowledge. An informative look at a hitherto enigmatic but influential institution. --S. Ketchum

Book Description

Interest in Alan Greenspan and the Federal Reserve Board has never been greater and veteran financial journalist Martin Mayer delivers a first rate explanation of how the Fed works and how its decisions drive financial markets.

The Fed has entered a new era, and few understand the rules of its game. Whereas it once indirectly exerted influence on the economy by overseeing what the banks did, it now must push directly on the markets. What brought about this sweeping change? Why do interest-rate changes sometimes move the markets as expected and other times fail to have any effect? How else do Fed decisions affect us?

Offering behind the scenes stories from past and present Fed administrations and explaining the significance of the recent expansion in the Fed's power and perks, Martin Mayer, one of the world's best financial journalists, offers a new explanation of the Fed's changing role, explains why all the old rules for Fed watchers are no longer relevant, and what investors must know to understand the Fed today.

Customer Reviews:

Skip it.......2007-09-26

I'm not sure that the book lives up to its claim of providing the inside story on the Fed. The writing style is not user friendly and the author uses concepts or lingo that he doesn't bother to explain. More interesting and informative books on the Fed can be found elsewhere. This is a good one to skip.

Dry and tedious.......2007-09-01

Reading this book felt a bit like listening to the pompous diatribes of an elitist that is so self absorbed about his own knowledge that he does not care to take the time to explain anything. I'm sure there is lots of good information to be had if I had a solid understanding of how the fed worked already, but then that would have defeated the purpose for which I bought the book!

The best book on the subject I've encountered.......2007-04-23

If you are starting out in finance and want to know how the Fed works, this is the best book for you. It's not the easiest or the smallest, but it is the most illuminating. This book was very helpful to me when I started on Wall Street. It's a bit long (to be fair I'm still about 100 pages away from finish) but will make you understand why, as of April 23, 2007 "The 13 1/4 percent bond due in 2014 that the government sold on May 15, 1984, returned an annualized 24 percent. The S&500 returned 13 percent, including dividends, during the same period. Bonds gained more than shares of Motorola Inc., DuPont Co. and Duke Energy Corp." - this is from today's Bloomberg.
This and reading Pimco's McCulley/Gross monthly pieces is a must if you want to understand what's driving world capital markets.

Tempted to give five stars..........2006-08-27

Martin Mayer has been writing about banking for decades. He has held positions in government, and testified as an expert in various governmental committees. He has known personally many of the people about whom he is writing in this book.

His writing style is dense. He often assumes the reader is familiar with banking terms or processes (or can go look them up). If you can get through this, the information he provides is priceless. I came away from reading this book with a variety of insights into banking and the federal reserve that will continue to inform me for years to come. I have read a number of books on the fed, and this is certainly one of the best (along with Greiders).

Not good at all.......2006-07-08

When people buy books like this, in most cases, they don't know much about the topic and would like to learn more about it. This author writes as if the reader knows everything already, speaking of person after person and concept after concept all along he barely introduces anyone or explains the concepts which he is writing about in any logical fashion. In addition, the author goes on tangents and loses focus which is hard to follow. On top of that, this book is packed with pro-fed propoganda I found to be out of place. If you already know everything about how the federal reserve works and it's history, this book might keep your attention, but then again why would you buy this book if you already knew everything about the fed? I would not suggest this book. I wanted to learn about the fed but instead I wasted both my time and money.

The Fed. (Book Reviews).(The Inside Story of How the World's Most Powerful Financial Institution Drives the Market) (book review): An article from: Finance & Development

Average customer rating:

The Fed. (Book Reviews).(The Inside Story of How the World's Most Powerful Financial Institution Drives the Market) (book review): An article from: Finance & Development
Michael Taylor , and Martin Mayer
Manufacturer: International Monetary Fund
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital

General | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

Book Description

This digital document is an article from Finance & Development, published by International Monetary Fund on December 1, 2001. The length of the article is 831 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: The Fed. (Book Reviews).(The Inside Story of How the World's Most Powerful Financial Institution Drives the Market) (book review)
Author: Michael Taylor
Publication: Finance & Development (Magazine/Journal)
Date: December 1, 2001
Publisher: International Monetary Fund
Volume: 38 Issue: 4 Page: 65(1)

Article Type: Book Review

Distributed by Thomson Gale

The Fed: The Inside Story of How the World's Most Powerful Financial Institution Drives the Markets. (Book Reviews).(Book Review) (book review): An article from: Journal of Economic Issues

Average customer rating:

The Fed: The Inside Story of How the World's Most Powerful Financial Institution Drives the Markets. (Book Reviews).(Book Review) (book review): An article from: Journal of Economic Issues
Eric Tymoigne
Manufacturer: Association for Evolutionary Economics
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital
ASIN: B0008DAZXQ
Release Date: 2005-07-31

Book Description

This digital document is an article from Journal of Economic Issues, published by Association for Evolutionary Economics on March 1, 2003. The length of the article is 1444 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: The Fed: The Inside Story of How the World's Most Powerful Financial Institution Drives the Markets. (Book Reviews).(Book Review) (book review)
Author: Eric Tymoigne
Publication: Journal of Economic Issues (Refereed)
Date: March 1, 2003
Publisher: Association for Evolutionary Economics
Volume: 37 Issue: 1 Page: 217(3)

Article Type: Book Review

Distributed by Thomson Gale

Customer Reviews:

Swedish economic historians are morons.......2003-11-14

Most economic historians still believe that "history happens." This is most obvious in contemporary Swedish writings on mercantilism. Axelaxe must not have read this book -- it offers evidence (which real economic historians use) that mercantile states WERE rent-seeking societies. Perhaps the success of this idea is what upsets Axelaxe!

Economic history at its worst.......2003-08-22

If you really want to show historians how useless economic history is, write a book like this one. To Ekelund and Tollison, the mercantile era is the rent seeking model, and nothing more. If you get the model, you get 200 years of history in a graph. If you are unconvinced, you must be a moron, according to these gentlemen. Ignorance about history is a virtue, one suspects.

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