1.2 Basic steps of the analysis

  1. Model specification (econometric model should be correctly specified according to economic theory)
  2. Data collection and preparation (generate new variables or transform existing ones)
  3. Descriptive statistics of the sample data and examination of their properties
  4. Parameters estimation according to the chosen estimator, e.g. OLS
  5. Significance testing of estimated parameters
  6. Diagnostic checking if all assumptions are met and how well model fits the data
  7. Interpretation and forecasting (to explain and predict changes of actual economic phenomena)