How to Use Data to Design Better Macro Policies

Description from DukeHub

Recent increases in computational power and the availability of 'big data' have been transformational in empirical macroeconomics and macro policy. This course shows how large datasets and macro theory can be used to understand and make progress on some of the most important social and economic problems of our time. Topics include debt forgiveness and student debt, trends in inequality and market power, and how to address financial fragility (UI/minimum wage/UBI). For each class, we will read and discuss empirical papers on each topic, learn the relevant econometric techniques needed to understand them and then discuss how to best interpret this evidence using relevant macro theory.

Skills

• data and statisticsdescription: "datasets" and 1 more
• designtitle: "design"
• policy and lawtitle: "policies"

AI-resilient: 1 of 5 1/5

• No: Physical, lab or field work
• No: Live work with people
• ✓Yes: Judgment someone is accountable for · "policies"
• No: A craft you practice with your hands or body
• No: Small, in-person format

The checks lean on Microsoft Research, Working with AI (2025), which found generative AI applies least to physical work and hands-on work with people. A signal, not a promise. How the score works

More in ECON

• Economic Principles ECON 101CCD
• Statistical Foundations of Econometrics and Data Science ECON 104D
• Uncertainty, Risk, and Society ECON 140CN
• Financial Accounting ECON 174
• Intermediate Microeconomics I ECON 201D
• Econometrics and Data Science ECON 204D

All ECON courses · All of Undergraduate