The book presents the essential econometric tools to answer important questions: Do anti-poverty programs work? Does unemployment affect inflation? Do electoral campaign expenditures influence election outcomes? These and many other questions must be answered correctly if we want to support policies that are beneficial for individuals, countries, and the world as a whole.

Complex econometric tools are omitted, and emphasis is placed on a single unified framework. Readers have more opportunities to revisit and internalize the theory. Numerous examples from politics and economics are used.

The examples and case studies make it clear that the tools developed in this book are used in practice by contemporary researchers, who are indeed making a difference with their empirical work.