Python for Economists

Data analysis is a key part of modern economics; economic theories must be tested with data to be accepted. As such, it is critically important for economists to learn some data science. UC Berkeley’s Economics 148: Data Science for Economists helps economics student learn the skills they need. This online textbook is written by a teaching assistant for that course in an attempt to help make the transition to data science easier. However, the textbook itself is accesible to everyone, not just the students of economics 148.

A note on Python vs Stata

This book teaches data science concepts using Python and Jupyter. However, until recently, Stata was the primary language used for economic research. The first chapter compares the two languages from various points of view, while the subsequent chapters help beginner economists learn Python.

Acknowledgements

Textbook Author: Rohan Jha

Acknowledgements: Eric Van Dusen, as well as several other economics and data science courses/teachers at UC Berkeley and elsewhere which helped inspire the content of this book