Econometrician

By
Adam Hayes
Full Bio

Adam Hayes, Ph.D., CFA, is a financial writer with 15+ years Wall Street experience as a derivatives trader. Besides his extensive derivative trading expertise, Adam is an expert in economics and behavioral finance. Adam received his master's in economics from The New School for Social Research and his Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in sociology. He is a CFA charterholder as well as holding FINRA Series 7, 55 & 63 licenses. He currently researches and teaches economic sociology and the social studies of finance at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem.

Learn about our editorial policies
Updated September 28, 2021
Reviewed by
Michael J Boyle
Michael Boyle
Reviewed by Michael J Boyle
Full Bio
Michael Boyle is an experienced financial professional with more than 10 years working with financial planning, derivatives, equities, fixed income, project management, and analytics.
Learn about our Financial Review Board
Fact checked by
Yarilet Perez
Yarilet Perez
Fact checked by Yarilet Perez
Full Bio

Yarilet Perez is an experienced multimedia journalist and fact-checker with a Master of Science in Journalism. She has worked in multiple cities covering breaking news, politics, education, and more. Her expertise is in personal finance and investing, and real estate.

Learn about our editorial policies

What Is Econometrician?

An econometrician is an individual who uses statistics and mathematics to study, model, and predict economic principles and outcomes. They rely on statistical and other quantitative measures and mathematical formulas to produce objective results in the study of economics.

Key Takeaways

  • Econometricians are quantitative economists trained in statistical and mathematical methods.
  • Econometricians analyze data sets to model outcomes or make predictions using techniques such as linear regression.
  • Econometricians may be employed at universities as academic economists or else work in financial firms such as investment banks or hedge funds, where they go by the term "quants."
1:39

Watch Now: What Is Econometrics?

Understanding Econometricians

An econometrician is a type of quantitative economist who integrates statistics and mathematics into economic analysis.

Econometricians use highly specialized math and statistics to generate quantifiable results. Individuals employed as econometricians typically have advanced degrees in statistics and economics, although some universities do offer specific degrees in econometrics. When employed at financial firms such as hedge funds or high-frequency trading (HFT) shops, econometricians are known as "quants."

Demand for advanced data analysis capabilities is fueling a boom for workers with econometrician skills. Beyond core data manipulation capabilities, many econometricians are also well versed in designing and sharing data-backed business and economic theories. Those capable of selling research-based ideas that meet business objectives are in short supply.

Econometrics

Econometrics is the application of statistical methods to economic data and is described as the branch of economics that aims to give empirical content to economic principles. Statistical methods such as OLS regression are used to evaluate data sets. Econometricians practice the science of econometrics.

More precisely, it is the quantitative analysis of actual economic phenomena. Econometricians are those capable of leveraging this growing body of social and data sciences.

The basic tool for econometrics is the multiple linear regression model. The econometric theory stresses statistical theory and mathematical statistics when analyzing and manipulating econometric methods. Econometricians try to find estimators that have desirable statistical properties, including unbiasedness, efficiency, and consistency—different data sets will test an econometrician's experience in recognizing these common data management biases.

The main academic journals that publish research on econometrics are Econometrica, the Journal of Econometrics, the Review of Economics and Statistics, Econometric Theory, the Journal of Applied Econometrics, among numerous other industry and academic publications.

Increasingly, universities and industry practitioners are expecting econometricians to take their analysis the extra mile by giving it context, which is more approachable for non-technical disciplines. It's not uncommon for econometricians to study information design as well.