Örebro University School of Business

Course Syllabus

General aims for second cycle education

Second-cycle courses and study programmes shall involve the acquisition of specialist knowledge, competence and skills in relation to first-cycle courses and study programmes, and in addition to the requirements for first-cycle courses and study programmes shall
- further develop the ability of students to integrate and make autonomous use of their knowledge
- develop the students' ability to deal with complex phenomena, issues and situations, and
- develop the students' potential for professional activities that demand considerable autonomy, or for research and development work.

(Higher Education Act, Chapter 1, Section 9)

Upon completion of the course, the students are expected to
- show broad knowledge concerning forecasting within the main fields of the course,
- understand central problems regarding modelling, forecasting and forecast evaluation,
- be able to derive essential properties of fundamental models,
- be able to conduct empirical analysis of economic data based on relevant quantitative methods and motivate the choices of both data and methods and,
- be able to discuss, with a scientific approach, questions within the field of macroeconomic forecasting.

During the course, the students will work with relevant tools within the field of macroeconomic forecasting. The focus is on objective methods based on statistical models and concepts. This includes:

- ARIMA modelling
- VAR models
- Cointegration
- Point, interval and density forecasts
- Forecast evaluation

Seeing the macroeconomic forecasts in practice rarely are based on objective methods alone, the topic of judgemental forecasting will also be covered.

Teaching is in form of lectures and computer laboration.

Students who have been admitted to and registered on a course have the right to receive tuition and/or supervision for the duration of the time period specified for the particular course to which they were accepted (see, the university's admission regulations (in Swedish)). After that, the right to receive tuition and/or supervision expires.

For further information, see the university's local examination regulations (in Swedish).

According to the Higher Education Ordinance, Chapter 6, Section 18, a grade is to be awarded on the completion of a course, unless otherwise prescribed by the university. The university may prescribe which grading system shall apply. The grade is to be determined by a teacher specifically appointed by the university (an examiner).

According to regulations on grading systems for first- and second-cycle education (vice-chancellor's decision 2010-10-19, reg. no. CF 12-540/2010), one of the following grades is to be used: fail, pass, or pass with distinction. The vice-chancellor or a person appointed by the vice-chancellor may decide on exceptions from this provision for a specific course, if there are special reasons.

Grades used on course are Fail (U), Pass (G) or Pass with Distinction (VG).

For the final grade Pass (G), the grade Pass (G) is needed on the written examination and Pass (G) or Pass with distinction (VG) on all assignments. For the final grade Pass with distinction (VG), the grade Pass with distinction (VG) is needed on the written exam and Pass with distinction (VG) on the last assignment, as well as at least the grade Pass (G) on the other assignments.

For further information, see the university's local examination regulations (in Swedish).

75 credits of economics courses on the first cycle, as well as Statistics, Basic Course, 15 credits. Alternatively 75 credits of business administration courses on the first cycle, as well as Statistics, Basic Course, 15 credits, and Economics, Basic Course, 30 credits. Alternatively 75 credits of statistics courses on the first cycle, as well as Economics, Basic Course, 30 credits. In addition, the applicant must have completed an independent project of 15 credits in the main field of study as well as Statistics, Econometrics, Intermediate Course, 7.5 credits, and Statistics, Time Series Analysis and Forecasting, Intermediate Course, 7.5 credits or Economics, Financial econometrics 15 credits. The applicant must also have qualifications corresponding to the course "English B"/"English 6" from the Swedish Upper Secondary School.

For further information, see the university's admission regulations (in Swedish).

Students who have previously completed higher education or other activities are, in accordance with the Higher Education Ordinance, entitled to have these credited towards the current programme, providing that the previous studies or activities meet certain criteria.

For further information, see the university's local credit transfer regulations (in Swedish).

The course will be given in English.


Reading List and Other Teaching Materials

Required Reading

På kursen kommer utöver huvudboken även ett antal artiklar och annat skriftligt material att behandlas och specificeras i för kursen utarbetade anvisningar.

Apart from the main textbook, a number of articles and other material will be used during the course. These will be specified in the course instructions.

See this Course Syllabus as PDF