This textbook teaches some of the basic econometric methods and the underlying assumptions behind them. It also includes a simple and concise treatment of more advanced topics in spatial correlation, panel data, limited dependent variables, regression diagnostics, specification testing and time series analysis. Each chapter has a set of theoretical exercises as well as an empirical illustration using a real economic application. These empirical exercises usually replicate a published article using Stata or Eviews.

The 4th edition updates identification and estimation methods in the simultaneous equation model. It also reviews the problem of weak instrumental variables and illustrates with an example on crime using Stata. Moreover, it updates panel data methods illustrating dynamic panel data methods with Stata using dynamic demand for cigarettes in US states. Other chapters that are updated with empirical examples include the limited dependent variable chapter.