Training Program

All government officials are welcome to register. The course is particularly relevant for officials involved in developing forecasts that are used to design and implement macroeconomic policy. The course is offered in English.

Participants are expected to have a background in undergraduate statistics and basic econometrics. Access to a computer with a reliable Internet connection and a Google Chrome web browser is essential. Demonstrations and applications will be conducted using EViews-popular software for estimating and simulating forecasting models in Windows. Temporary licenses for EViews will be made available for the duration of the course.

This course, presented by the IMF Institute for Capacity Development, is designed to reinforce the macroeconomic forecasting and modeling skills of participants and their use of modern econometric techniques. Lectures discuss the underlying theory and demonstrations show how to conduct empirical analyses using EViews. The course focuses on four aspects of empirical model building and forecasting:

• data and model properties, such as stationarity/non-stationarity and co-integration;
• dynamic specifications, especially use of error correction models;
• model evaluation, design, and simulation; and
• forecast uncertainty and policy analysis