Economic Statistics is an applied branch of statistics that focuses on the collection, organization, analysis, and interpretation of economic data. Using statistical methods, it seeks to uncover patterns in economic phenomena, understand the functioning of complex economic systems, and support sound economic and managerial decision-making. In this sense, economic statistics is not merely a technical tool, but a systematic approach to investigating social and economic realities through quantitative evidence.
This course introduces the fundamental principles of economic statistics with a particular emphasis on China’s economic development. Drawing on both macroeconomic and micro-level data, students will learn not only how to analyze China’s economic growth, but also how to measure broader aspects of development, including income distribution, consumption, employment, and social welfare. Through carefully selected Chinese case studies, the course demonstrates how numerical data can be used to describe economic conditions, identify structural changes, and evaluate policy outcomes.
A key objective of the course is to help students understand where authoritative data on China’s development come from—such as official statistical agencies and large-scale micro surveys—and how to use these data appropriately. Students will be guided in selecting suitable statistical methods, interpreting results critically, and recognizing the limitations and uncertainties inherent in empirical analysis.
Conceptually, economic statistics examines the quantitative dimension of socio-economic phenomena while remaining closely connected to their qualitative characteristics. Its distinctive features include: (1) Quantitative reasoning, using data to describe objective facts and to draw logical, evidence-based inferences; (2) A population perspective, focusing on overall patterns and regularities rather than isolated cases; (3) Context specificity, analyzing economic phenomena within particular institutional, spatial, and temporal settings.
As a foundational course in economic statistics, the curriculum is organized into four main modules:(1) an overview of basic statistical concepts; (2) descriptive statistics; (3) inferential statistics; and (4) simple regression analysis.
By the end of the course, students will have developed a solid statistical framework for understanding China’s development and will be equipped with practical tools to analyze economic data and make informed judgments in academic, professional, and policy contexts.
