Global Statistics - Composite Indices for International Comparisons

4.55

Updated on

Course overview

Provider
Coursera
Course type
Free online course
Level
Intermediate
Deadline
Flexible
Duration
16 hours
Certificate
Paid Certificate Available
Course author
Stefan Andreas Sperlich

Description

The number of composite indices that are constructed and used internationally is growing very fast; but whilst the complexity of quantitative techniques has increased dramatically, the education and training in this area has been dragging and lagging behind. As a consequence, these simple numbers, expected to synthesize quite complex issues, are often presented to the public and used in the political debate without proper emphasis on their intrinsic limitations and correct interpretations. In this course on global statistics, offered by the University of Geneva jointly with the ETH Zürich KOF, you will learn the general approach of constructing composite indices and some of resulting problems. We will discuss the technical properties, the internal structure (like aggregation, weighting, stability of time series), the primary data used and the variable selection methods. These concepts will be illustrated using a sample of the most popular composite indices. We will try to address not only statistical questions but also focus on the distinction between policy-, media- and paradigm-driven indicators.

Similar courses

Foundations: Data, Data, Everywhere
  • Flexible deadline
  • 20 hours
  • Certificate
Ask Questions to Make Data-Driven Decisions
  • Flexible deadline
  • 18 hours
  • Certificate
Introduction to Statistics
  • Flexible deadline
  • 15 hours
  • Certificate
Global Statistics - Composite Indices for International Comparisons
  • English language

  • Recommended provider

  • Certificate available