Tools for quantitative trade policy analysis

This course, part of the MSc in International Trade Policy and Trade Law, equips participants with essential quantitative tools for analyzing trade policy. Delivered through a combination of pre-session assignments, intensive on-site instruction at the trapca/ESAMI campus in Arusha, Tanzania, and post-session evaluations, the course emphasizes both theoretical understanding and practical application. Topics include descriptive trade statistics, statistical inference, econometric modeling, and the use of specialized tools such as the SMART model and gravity models for trade analysis. Students engage with real-world trade data, learning to interpret and apply regression techniques, binary models, panel data, and time series analysis. The course draws on leading texts in econometrics and trade policy, fostering analytical skills crucial for evidence-based trade policymaking in developing country contexts.