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Microeconometrics

Modern Approaches to Difference-in-Differences

Master differences-in-differences analysis to accurately measure policy impacts and enhance decision-making with empirical evidence.

20h (10 days)

TBC

Online

English

Next edition: March 8-19, 2027

Early bird deadline: January 20, 2027

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Microeconometrics

Modern Approaches to Difference-in-Differences

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Who is this Course for?

Modern Approaches to Difference-in-Differences

Course overview

Difference-in-Differences (DiD) is one of the most widely used methods for evaluating the impact of public policies, economic interventions, and social programs. As the field has evolved, new research has highlighted both the strengths and limitations of traditional DiD approaches, leading to the development of more robust and flexible methods.

This course provides a comprehensive introduction to modern Difference-in-Differences techniques, combining the theoretical foundations of DiD with practical applications. Participants will begin by exploring the potential outcomes framework and the parallel trends assumption before progressing to advanced topics, including staggered adoption designs, event-study specifications, imputation estimators, stacked DiD, and synthetic control methods.

Using real data and contemporary software tools, participants will learn how to select appropriate methods, interpret results, and avoid common challenges in applied impact evaluation. The course also covers recent methodological advances, including the approaches developed by Callaway and Sant’Anna (2021), Sun and Abraham (2021), and Borusyak, Jaravel, and Spiess (2021), equipping participants with the skills needed to conduct credible policy evaluations in an increasingly data-driven environment.

This course can be taken as a standalone course or combined with Causal Inference for Economics and Policy Making. Together, these courses provide a broader toolkit for professionals who want to evaluate the effects of policies, programs, and interventions using modern empirical methods.

Faculty

Discover what makes this Difference-in-Differences a unique learning opportunity

1

Explore modern DiD methods: Cover the latest advances in Difference-in-Differences, including approaches developed by Callaway and Sant'Anna, Sun and Abraham, and Borusyak, Jaravel, and Spiess.

2

Go beyond traditional DiD: Learn when conventional methods fall short and how to address staggered treatment adoption, heterogeneous treatment effects, and other real-world challenges.

3

Combine theory and application: Build a strong methodological foundation while developing practical skills in impact evaluation.

4

Hands-on learning: Apply modern DiD methods using real data and contemporary software tools.

5

Designed for practitioners: Ideal for professionals and researchers working in policy, government, central banks, international organizations, firms, NGOs, and academia.

6

Evidence-based decision-making: Strengthen your ability to interpret, evaluate, and communicate empirical findings.

7

Flexible learning: Take the course as a standalone offering or combine it with related training in applied econometrics, causal inference, and policy evaluation.

8

Interactive Online Format: Flexible schedule, ideal for professionals.

Who is this course for?

This course is intended for professionals and researchers who use, commission, or interpret empirical policy evaluations. It is especially relevant for:

Academic and applied economists will find this course particularly beneficial as it enhances their ability to evaluate the impact of policies and interventions over time
Public policy analysts, working in sectors such as health, education, and labor markets, will gain essential tools for assessing the effectiveness of policy changes
Social scientists, including researchers in sociology and political science, will be equipped to study causal relationships and policy impacts with greater precision
Graduate students in economics, public policy, sociology, and related disciplines will deepen their understanding of causal inference methods
Statisticians and data scientists focusing on longitudinal data will benefit from advanced techniques to design and analyze experiments and observational studies
Program evaluators in NGOs, government agencies, and private firms will learn to assess intervention effectiveness more accurately
Business analysts in the private sector will acquire skills to evaluate the impact of business strategies, marketing campaigns, and operational changes over time

Learning outcomes

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

Understand the foundations of Difference-in-Differences analysis, including the potential outcomes framework and the parallel trends assumption
Explain the intuition, assumptions, and limitations of traditional DiD approaches, including two-way fixed effects models
Identify the challenges that arise in common empirical settings, especially when treatment is adopted at different points in time or when treatment effects vary across groups and over time
Understand and apply recent methodological advances in the field, including group-time specific estimators, fully saturated event-study specifications, imputation estimators, stacked DiD, and synthetic control methods, with reference to key contributions by Callaway and Sant’Anna, Sun and Abraham, Borusyak, Jaravel and Spiess, and Cengiz et al., among others.
Critically assess the validity of the parallel trends assumption and understand how different DiD specifications affect the interpretation of results
Implement modern DiD techniques using statistical software and real-world data
Strengthen practical skills in data preparation, model specification, estimation, interpretation, and presentation of results
Design more robust impact evaluations and identify potential sources of bias in applied empirical work
Interpret and evaluate empirical evidence based on DiD methods, whether as researchers, policy analysts, program evaluators, or decision-makers

By the end of the course, participants will be proficient in using contemporary DiD methodologies to conduct rigorous and credible policy evaluations, making them valuable assets in academic research, public policy analysis, and industry applications.

Key topics for Modern Approaches to Difference-in-Differences

Take a look at the themes covered in the next edition of Modern Approaches to Difference-in-Differences course.

Course topics

Basic setup – potential outcomes
Difference-in-differences and parallel trends assumption
Two-way fixed effects
Staggered DiD and the risky comparisons: Goodman-Bacon
Recent developments:
- Non-parametric group and time-specific estimator (Callaway and Sant’Anna, 2021)
- Fully saturated event study specification (Abraham and Sun, 2021).
- Imputation estimator (Borusyak, Jarvel and Spiess, 2021).
- Stacked DiD (Cengiz et al. 2019).
Synthetic control method

Course Materials and Software

STATA License

Every participant will receive a time-limited personal free license of STATA several days before the start of the course. Participants should install the STATA software on their computers for use during the practical sessions

Why should you attend BSE Executive Education courses?

All BSE Executive Education courses are taught to the same high standard as our Master’s programs.

1

Network with like-minded peers from around the world

2

Short courses allow you to learn without a big time commitment

3

Try something new and expand your knowledge and career prospects, or advance your thesis

Testimonials

GP

Giang Phung

As a Researcher in Finance and Accounting, staying at the frontier of econometric methodology is essential. This program excels by perfectly aligning theoretical frameworks with rigorous practical sessions. The transition from understanding the non-parametric foundations of Callaway and Sant’Anna (2021) to executing complex csdid and eventstudyinteract models in Stata was seamless. This course is an invaluable resource for senior faculty seeking to distill complex academic advances into robust, high-impact research designs.

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GC

Guillermo Cárdenas

The course provided an excellent balance between theory and practice. The professors demonstrated strong teaching skills, and the topics covered were highly relevant.

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Admissions

Considering taking part in BSE Modern Approaches to Difference-in-Differences Executive Education course? Check you meet the requirements below.

Next edition: March 8-19, 2027

Early bird deadline: January 20, 2027

Requirements

Candidates are assessed on an individual basis according to their professional or academic background

Prerequisites include:

A foundational understanding of econometrics, including ordinary least squares (OLS) and its underlying assumptions.
Familiarity with endogenous regressors and instrumental variables.
Knowledge of traditional causal inference methods. Participants without this background are encouraged to combine this course with the complementary causal inference course.
Basic experience with statistical software such as Stata, R, or Python is recommended. Practical sessions are hands-on and designed to support participants with limited experience

A solid grasp of these concepts ensures that students can effectively engage with the advanced methodologies taught in the course and apply advanced difference-in-differences techniques to real-world data.

Get up to speed with the latest developments in Microeconometrics in a short time.

Course schedule

The times listed are Central European Time (CET). Compare with your time zone on time.is.

Instructors, topics, and schedules are subject to change.

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Certificate and Fees

Certificate

Participants who attend at least 80% of the course will receive a Certificate of Attendance free of charge. Participants will not be graded or assessed during the course.

Fees

A 10% discount applies when the confirmation payment is completed on or before the announced Early Bird deadline.

Multiple course discounts are available. Find out more information in our Fees and Discounts pdf.

Fees for courses in other Executive Education programs may vary.

Course

Modern Approaches to Difference-in-Differences

Modality

Online

Total Hours

20

ECTS

0

Regular Fee

Reduced Fee*

* Reduced Fee applies for PhD or Master’s students, Alumni of BSE Master’s programs, and participants who are unemployed.

FAQ

Need more information? Check out our most frequently asked questions.

Are the sessions recorded?

Sessions will be recorded and videos will be available for a month once the course has finished.

How much does each Executive Education course cost?

Fees for each course may vary. Please consult each course page for accurate information.

Are there any discounts available?

Yes, BSE offers a variety of discounts on its Executive Education courses. See more information about available discounts or request a personalized discount quote by email.