This is my contribution. I think Gretl is great for explaining econometrics for a non-technical audience. We used to teach "analytical tools" in a executive program (finance oriented). It is mostly time-series, but very-very intuitive. Yeah... almost no equation, yes! it may sound impossible but we have to keep students "alive". For example we make a huge shortcut explaining ARIMA modeling by saying that there are different kind of processes: (i) short-memory (MA), (ii) long-memory (AR), and (iii) integrated (I)... and our goal is to find the best fit, by either using in-sample techniques (we say that information criteria as some kind or adjusted-r2) or by out-of-sample performance (Gretl prints out several statistics when you make forecasts). All of this is done by using mouse... although we explain how to save models and graphs into a session. I think the key for doing all of this is to have useful examples, such as modeling an economic activity index or something that makes sense for your students. Sometime textbooks exercises are too narrow for their interests. Hoping this helps you. Best, Rodrigo.


2012/12/10 Logan Kelly <logan.kelly@uwrf.edu>

Lee,

 

Thank you. I use both your manual and the text book it is written for (POE4) in my Econometrics course. Both are very good. And I agree that the thumb drive feature is great.

 

Logan

 

From: gretl-users-bounces@lists.wfu.edu [mailto:gretl-users-bounces@lists.wfu.edu] On Behalf Of Lee Adkins
Sent: Monday, December 10, 2012 1:02 PM
To: Gretl list
Subject: Re: [Gretl-users] Gretl and MBA Statistics

 

I've used it in undergraduate classes (econometrics) and am currently using it in a Masters level class that includes a few MBA students.  As Allin states, it can be used at several levels and the GUI is quite intuitive.  Scripting is completely optional at this level, IMO.  Most of the basic statistics are easily available and graphs are easy to generate as well.  You may find the manual I wrote http://learneconometrics.com/gretl/using_gretl_for_POE4.pdf useful. Admittedly, the new version contains more complicated scripts than the previous one did, but the GUI is explained and illustrated as well, especially in the early chapters and the appendices on statistics and probability.  The book it is based on is an undergraduate/masters level book and, at least if your course is regression based, fairly easy to follow. 

I love it in class since I can install it on a thumb-drive and carry it around in my pocket to whatever classroom I'm using.  It has made teaching the computational aspects of statistics much easier for me and my students have responded very favorably to it (I used to use Stata, and before that E-Views and SAS). 

The scripting language makes it ideal for higher level courses as well.     

Cheers,
Lee

On Fri, Dec 7, 2012 at 4:07 PM, Logan Kelly <logan.kelly@uwrf.edu> wrote:

Hello all,

 

I am considering using Gretl for a Statistics class I teach in an executive MBA program. I am think about this because (i) Gretl is free for students to use, and (ii) it does not require admin rights to install. Point (ii) is the most important. My consern is that while Gretl is great for econometrics, it might require too much techinical skill for an MBA program. Does anyone have any thought and/or suggestions?

 

Thanks,

 

Logan

 


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--
Lee Adkins
Professor of Economics
lee.adkins@okstate.edu

learneconometrics.com


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