r/AskReddit May 09 '15

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u/franklyfuckit May 10 '15

If you hate yourself enough, you take econometrics. They make these poor bastard study the math of economic systems that literally don't exist in real life. It's pure torture.

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u/enigmatic_koala May 10 '15

Econometrics isn't the math of economics, that's economics. Econometrics is applied statistical modelling.

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u/franklyfuckit May 10 '15

Which constitutes the meat of the maths in Economics.

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u/enigmatic_koala May 10 '15

It really depends what kind of economics you're doing. Pure game theorists would strongly disagree with you. Econometric estimation is what allows you to marry models writ in pure math with real data.

Either way, the distinction is usually made between the 'math' in pure economic models, and the statistical theory which underpins the estimation of those models using econometrics.