# ECON 726: Applications of Machine Learning in Economics | UW–Madison [View on UW Courses](https://uwcourses.com/courses/ECON_726) ## Dataset ### revision e243353dcb7d79b7247ced91d69443ef4c2a6349 ### repository twangodev/uwcourses ### schema version 6 ### importer version 7 ### projection id 52a78527ff09011d88cb04c7d43867d9fbfec2930bf1dd2ec359ebd2844e0b07 ### observed at 2026-09-07T15:55:43.033547+00:00 ### built at 2026-09-10T19:50:42.743001+00:00 ### courses 8951 ### current instructors 5754 ### limited false ### terms * 1272 * 1264 * 1262 * 1254 * 1252 * 1244 * 1242 * 1234 * 1232 * 1224 * 1222 * 1212 * 1204 * 1202 * 1194 * 1192 * 1184 * 1182 * 1174 * 1172 * 1164 * 1162 * 1154 * 1152 * 1144 * 1142 * 1134 * 1132 * 1124 * 1122 * 1114 * 1112 * 1104 * 1102 * 1094 * 1092 * 1084 * 1082 * 1074 * 1072 ### term 1272 ### departments | subject | count | | --------- | ----- | | AAE | 90 | | ABT | 20 | | ACCTIS | 36 | | ACTSCI | 14 | | AFAERO | 10 | | AFRICAN | 87 | | AFROAMER | 71 | | AGROECOL | 21 | | AMERIND | 53 | | ANAT\&PHY | 7 | | ANATOMY | 2 | | ANESTHES | 8 | | ANSCI | 57 | | ANTHRO | 95 | | ART | 125 | | ARTED | 10 | | ARTHIST | 121 | | ASIALANG | 129 | | ASIAN | 109 | | ASIANAM | 28 | | ASTRON | 38 | | ATMOCN | 69 | | BIOCHEM | 51 | | BIOCORE | 10 | | BIOLOGY | 14 | | BIOMDSCI | 18 | | BME | 66 | | BMI | 41 | | BMOLCHEM | 10 | | BOTANY | 69 | | BSE | 44 | | C\&ESOC | 73 | | CBE | 48 | | CHEM | 101 | | CHICLA | 52 | | CIVENGR | 133 | | CLASSICS | 47 | | CNP | 10 | | CNSRSCI | 50 | | COMARTS | 137 | | COMPBIO | 15 | | COMPLIT | 11 | | COMPSCI | 138 | | COUNPSY | 78 | | CRB | 19 | | CS\&D | 71 | | CSCS | 40 | | CURRIC | 193 | | DANCE | 93 | | DERM | 8 | | DS | 88 | | DYSCI | 35 | | ECE | 155 | | ECON | 145 | | EDPOL | 114 | | EDPSYCH | 97 | | ELPA | 70 | | EMA | 53 | | EMERMED | 17 | | ENGL | 206 | | ENTOM | 40 | | ENVIRST | 148 | | EP | 15 | | EPD | 67 | | ESL | 16 | | F\&WECOL | 60 | | FAMMED | 22 | | FINANCE | 50 | | FOLKLORE | 40 | | FOODSCI | 43 | | FRENCH | 63 | | GEN\&WS | 145 | | GENBUS | 72 | | GENECSLR | 17 | | GENETICS | 60 | | GEOG | 113 | | GEOSCI | 83 | | GERMAN | 82 | | GLE | 48 | | GNS | 38 | | GREEK | 27 | | HDFS | 41 | | HEBR-BIB | 13 | | HEBR-MOD | 10 | | HISTORY | 233 | | HISTSCI | 56 | | HONCOL | 13 | | ILS | 43 | | INFOSYS | 9 | | INTEGART | 7 | | INTEGSCI | 22 | | INTER-AG | 18 | | INTER-HE | 11 | | INTER-LS | 22 | | INTEREGR | 16 | | INTLBUS | 21 | | INTLST | 50 | | ISYE | 83 | | ITALIAN | 53 | | JEWISH | 56 | | JOURN | 88 | | KINES | 128 | | LACIS | 26 | | LANDARC | 61 | | LATIN | 24 | | LAW | 120 | | LEGALST | 48 | | LINGUIS | 35 | | LIS | 89 | | LITTRANS | 78 | | LSC | 52 | | M\&ENVTOX | 7 | | MARKETNG | 62 | | MATH | 153 | | MDGENET | 8 | | ME | 130 | | MEDHIST | 43 | | MEDICINE | 60 | | MEDIEVAL | 32 | | MEDPHYS | 39 | | MEDSC-M | 29 | | MEDSC-V | 41 | | MHR | 68 | | MICROBIO | 45 | | MILSCI | 16 | | MM\&I | 22 | | MOLBIOL | 6 | | MS\&E | 59 | | MUSIC | 165 | | MUSPERF | 126 | | NAVSCI | 20 | | NE | 44 | | NEURODPT | 11 | | NEUROL | 7 | | NEURSURG | 4 | | NTP | 11 | | NURSING | 111 | | NUTRSCI | 65 | | OBS\&GYN | 18 | | OCCTHER | 39 | | ONCOLOGY | 14 | | OPHTHALM | 5 | | OTM | 43 | | PATH | 34 | | PATH-BIO | 29 | | PEDIAT | 26 | | PHARMACY | 31 | | PHILOS | 77 | | PHMCOL-M | 11 | | PHMPRAC | 45 | | PHMSCI | 60 | | PHYASST | 37 | | PHYSICS | 88 | | PHYSIOL | 3 | | PHYTHER | 37 | | PLANTSCI | 52 | | PLPATH | 35 | | POLISCI | 192 | | POPHLTH | 58 | | PORTUG | 33 | | PSYCH | 101 | | PSYCHIAT | 22 | | PUBAFFR | 54 | | PUBLHLTH | 23 | | RADIOL | 11 | | REALEST | 41 | | RELIGST | 90 | | RHABMED | 9 | | RMI | 24 | | RP\&SE | 102 | | S\&APHM | 17 | | SCANDST | 73 | | SLAVIC | 89 | | SOC | 149 | | SOCWORK | 87 | | SOILSCI | 46 | | SPANISH | 83 | | SRMED | 21 | | STAT | 94 | | STDYABRD | 52 | | STS | 8 | | SURGERY | 25 | | SURGSCI | 33 | | THEATRE | 91 | | URBRPL | 60 | | UROLOGY | 5 | | ZOOLOGY | 89 | ## course ### run id 20260907T155543-ce3781c4 ### semester 1272 ### observed at 2026-09-07 15:55:43.033547+00:00 ### record version id 8026eebe713703aa31de29d834575bd6f848134c4ebfeb4bfc2b6d0a54aa33c0 ### course id ECON 726 ### course uid course\_01ccf4de474c3ea235009a48 ### catalog version id c9410cd1024195627205562c8cf697c186e37de37a052b68387ed646152c7f78 ### course number 726 ### subjects * ECON ### title APPLICATIONS OF MACHINE LEARNING IN ECONOMICS ### description Techniques of Machine Learning (ML) and the use of these tools in economics. Exploration of how economists are integrating ML tools with econometric techniques in current empirical research. Hands on experience in using these techniques to answer traditional questions of interest to economists. Topics include (i) an in-depth discussion of the differences and similarities in goals, empirical settings and tools between ML and econometrics, (ii) supervised learning methods for regression and classification, unsupervised learning methods, large data analysis and data mining, (iii) recent methods at the intersection of ML and econometrics, designed for causal inference, optimal policy estimation, estimation of counterfactual effects. The methods are taught with an emphasis on practical application. ### requirements text ECON 725 ### credits min 3 ### credits max 3 ### credit offering ids * 1272:296:027025 ### llm job id enrich-8b774950c2b6adfdc46d1b82 ### llm output id 7cea056c365766876c2c163944ba3c7f302a067302efe3e9e7a0ce8bfeea6db0 ### llm model nvidia/Qwen3.6-35B-A3B-NVFP4 ### llm model revision 1355db6a052410cfd62085d94b58866fd0f2c3c5 ### llm task version 14 ### llm search status valid ### llm summary ECON 726 teaches the application of machine learning techniques to economic research, focusing on causal inference and policy estimation. ### llm topics * Supervised and unsupervised learning methods, large data analysis, and data mining. * Comparison of goals, empirical settings, and tools between machine learning and econometrics. ### llm skills * Application of machine learning techniques in economic contexts. * Practical application of ML tools to answer economic research questions. * Use of ML methods for causal inference, optimal policy estimation, and counterfactual effect estimation. ### llm assumed background * Foundational knowledge of machine learning techniques and their integration with econometric methods. * Enrollment in an Economics graduate program. ### llm search phrases * machine learning economics * econometrics ML integration * causal inference machine learning * supervised learning regression classification * unsupervised learning economics ### llm requirements status valid ### llm student summary status valid ### llm experience status insufficient\_evidence ### catalog variants None recorded. ### student summary #### context hash 1901d5f90d0b72da7356e63b08a329368a2730ccac7a7f4e6e2dcf53cb2cc969 #### course id ECON 726 #### current instructors ```json [ { "instructor_uid": "instructor_73a0df33db132dd1c271a5a6", "message": "No course-specific reviews available", "name": "Jack Porter", "review_status": "no_course_reviews", "rmp_instructor_id": "rmp:1630460", "summary": [ { "citations": [ { "course_id": "ECON 726", "run_id": "20260907T155543-ce3781c4", "section_number": 2, "source_course_id": "21517da8-3824-3408-9f61-ab6007844749", "source_record": { "entity_id": "21517da8-3824-3408-9f61-ab6007844749", "file": "tables/observations.parquet", "kind": "grades", "source": "madgrades" }, "table": "section_grades_latest", "term_id": "1262", "type": "grade" } ], "text": "Recent recorded grades — Fall 2025: 4.00 GPA, 100.0% A/AB (n=8 letter grades). Includes jointly taught sections." } ] }, { "instructor_uid": "instructor_75734a5a4676964c7fc47878", "message": "No course-specific reviews available", "name": "Yong Cai", "review_status": "no_course_reviews", "rmp_instructor_id": "rmp:3066860", "summary": [] } ] ``` #### difficulty workload None recorded. #### errors None recorded. #### historical context None recorded. #### message No course-specific reviews available #### offered true #### profile hash 5cb4dabf887cdbcd8c00d5a1312e10828b95c63f30bc3ea76aea199565390d02 #### quick take Recent recorded grades — Fall 2025: 4.00 GPA, 100.0% A/AB (n=8 letter grades). ```json { "citations": [ { "course_id": "ECON 726", "run_id": "20260907T155543-ce3781c4", "source_record": { "entity_id": "21517da8-3824-3408-9f61-ab6007844749", "file": "tables/observations.parquet", "kind": "grades", "source": "madgrades" }, "table": "grades_latest", "term_id": "1262", "type": "grade" } ] } ``` #### student experience None recorded. #### task hash 74fb0997943e888960bbc9e47db8c4fd12e4292d55c20509d8d89db6a9910f68 #### teaching history JACK PORTER is recorded teaching in Fall 2025. Recorded history may be incomplete and does not establish a future schedule. ```json { "citations": [ { "course_id": "ECON 726", "run_id": "20260907T155543-ce3781c4", "section_number": 2, "source_course_id": "21517da8-3824-3408-9f61-ab6007844749", "source_record": { "entity_id": "21517da8-3824-3408-9f61-ab6007844749", "file": "tables/observations.parquet", "kind": "grades", "source": "madgrades" }, "table": "section_grades_latest", "term_id": "1262", "type": "grade" } ] } ``` #### term id 1272 #### term name 2026 Fall #### version 2 ### requirements #### nodes ```json [ { "children": [], "condition": null, "course": { "course_number": 725, "minimum_grade": null, "subjects": [ "ECON" ], "timing": "prior" }, "evidence": "ECON 725", "id": "n0", "kind": "course" } ] ``` #### notes None recorded. #### root n0 #### status parsed ### instructors ```json [ { "instructor_uid": "instructor_73a0df33db132dd1c271a5a6", "source": "enrollment", "source_instructor_id": "jporter1", "identity_basis": 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"offering_id": "1272:296:027025", "course_id": "ECON 726", "course_uid": "course_01ccf4de474c3ea235009a48", "term_id": "1272", "source_course_id": "027025", "source_subject_id": "296", "title": "Applications of Machine Learning in Economics", "credits_min": 3, "credits_max": 3, "typically_offered": "Not Applicable" } ] ``` ### sections ```json [ { "run_id": "20260907T155543-ce3781c4", "observed_at": "2026-09-07 15:55:43.033547+00:00", "section_uid": "uw-section:1272:32995", "term_id": "1272", "source_section_id": "32995", "identity_basis": "class_number", "section_number": "001", "section_type": "LEC", "instruction_mode": "Classroom Instruction", "capacity": 20, "enrolled": 17, "waitlisted": 0, "start_date": "2026-09-02 05:00:00+00:00", "end_date": "2026-12-09 06:00:00+00:00" } ] ``` ### grade instructors ```json [ { "instructor_uid": "instructor_99ae0cffe810678dcb712206", "source": "madgrades", "source_instructor_id": "3979885", "identity_basis": "source_id", "identity_status": "source_identified", "name": "XIAOXIA SHI", "email": null, "first_observed_at": "2026-09-06 23:14:58.172943+00:00", "last_observed_at": "2026-09-07 15:55:43.033547+00:00", "ratings": { "review_count": 3, "quality": 3.33, "difficulty": 3.33, "quality_count": 3, "difficulty_count": 3, "profile_id": "rmp:2210435", "source_url": "https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/2210435", "match_basis": "exact_name", "observed_at": "2026-09-07 15:58:33.638348+00:00", "courses": { "course_9fae615fe1db13e19e61a961": { "review_count": 2, "quality": 4.5, "difficulty": 2.5, "quality_count": 2, "difficulty_count": 2 }, "course_45144ea1ab61fccd3dc0a3f6": { "review_count": 1, "quality": 1, "difficulty": 5, "quality_count": 1, "difficulty_count": 1 } }, "bayesian_quality": 3.6166832900405175, "prior_mean": 3.6596857835465957, "prior_weight": 20 }, "grade_statistics": { "gpa": 3.436, "graded": 1614, "counts": [ 609, 410, 493, 52, 26, 13, 11 ], "sections": 45 }, "instructor_url": "/instructors/XIAOXIA_SHI--instructor_99ae0cffe810678dcb712206" }, { "instructor_uid": "instructor_eb955630f83768cd1e516946", "source": "madgrades", "source_instructor_id": "972790", "identity_basis": "source_id", "identity_status": "source_identified", "name": "JACK PORTER", "email": null, "first_observed_at": "2026-09-06 23:14:58.172943+00:00", "last_observed_at": "2026-09-07 15:55:43.033547+00:00", "ratings": { "review_count": 15, "quality": 3.4, "difficulty": 3.53, "quality_count": 15, "difficulty_count": 15, "profile_id": "rmp:1630460", "source_url": "https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/1630460", "match_basis": "exact_name", "observed_at": "2026-09-07 16:35:20.657291+00:00", "courses": { "course_78b5772073262a6a36ea493d": { "review_count": 3, "quality": 5, "difficulty": 2.33, "quality_count": 3, "difficulty_count": 3 }, "course_e104fb600738e5af6d58c4dd": { "review_count": 5, "quality": 3.4, "difficulty": 3.8, "quality_count": 5, "difficulty_count": 5 } }, "bayesian_quality": 3.54839187631234, "prior_mean": 3.6596857835465957, "prior_weight": 20 }, "grade_statistics": { "gpa": 3.439, "graded": 3002, "counts": [ 1044, 893, 856, 137, 51, 11, 10 ], "sections": 68 }, "instructor_url": "/instructors/JACK_PORTER--instructor_eb955630f83768cd1e516946" }, { "instructor_uid": "instructor_73a0df33db132dd1c271a5a6", "source": "enrollment", "source_instructor_id": "jporter1", "identity_basis": "netid", "identity_status": "source_identified", "name": "Jack Porter", "email": "JRPORTER@SSC.WISC.EDU", "first_observed_at": "2026-09-07 15:55:43.033547+00:00", "last_observed_at": "2026-09-07 15:55:43.033547+00:00", "ratings": { "review_count": 15, "quality": 3.4, "difficulty": 3.53, "quality_count": 15, "difficulty_count": 15, "profile_id": "rmp:1630460", "source_url": "https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/1630460", "match_basis": "exact_name", "observed_at": "2026-09-07 16:35:20.657291+00:00", "courses": { "course_78b5772073262a6a36ea493d": { "review_count": 3, "quality": 5, "difficulty": 2.33, "quality_count": 3, "difficulty_count": 3 }, "course_e104fb600738e5af6d58c4dd": { "review_count": 5, "quality": 3.4, "difficulty": 3.8, "quality_count": 5, "difficulty_count": 5 } }, "bayesian_quality": 3.54839187631234, "prior_mean": 3.6596857835465957, "prior_weight": 20 }, "instructor_url": "/instructors/JACK_PORTER" }, { "instructor_uid": "instructor_75734a5a4676964c7fc47878", "source": "enrollment", "source_instructor_id": "ycai247", "identity_basis": "netid", "identity_status": "source_identified", "name": "Yong Cai", "email": "YONG.CAI@WISC.EDU", "first_observed_at": "2026-09-07 15:55:43.033547+00:00", "last_observed_at": "2026-09-07 15:55:43.033547+00:00", "ratings": { "review_count": 1, "quality": 5, "difficulty": 2, "quality_count": 1, "difficulty_count": 1, "profile_id": "rmp:3066860", "source_url": "https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/3066860", "match_basis": "exact_name", "observed_at": "2026-09-07 15:57:37.608076+00:00", "courses": { "course_43ec9cdd7f32ec7681ab5d71": { "review_count": 1, "quality": 5, "difficulty": 2, "quality_count": 1, "difficulty_count": 1 } }, "bayesian_quality": 3.7235102700443767, "prior_mean": 3.6596857835465957, "prior_weight": 20 }, "instructor_url": "/instructors/YONG_CAI" } ] ``` ### grades ```json [ { "run_id": "20260907T155543-ce3781c4", "semester": "1272", "observed_at": "2026-09-07 15:55:43.033547+00:00", "course_id": "ECON 726", "course_uid": "course_01ccf4de474c3ea235009a48", "term_id": "1262", "term_name": "Fall 2025", "instructors": [ "Jack Porter", "XIAOXIA SHI" ], "a": 8, "ab": 0, "b": 0, "bc": 0, "c": 0, "d": 0, "f": 0, "satisfactory": 0, "unsatisfactory": 0, "credit": 0, "no_credit": 0, "passed": 0, "incomplete": 0, "no_work": 0, "not_reported": 0, "other": 0, "total": 8, "source_aliases": [ "ECON 726" ] } ] ``` ### statistics #### gpa 4 #### graded 8 #### counts * 8 * 0 * 0 * 0 * 0 * 0 * 0 ### grade conflicts None recorded. ### evidence #### history * [/data/e243353dcb7d79b7247ced91d69443ef4c2a6349/history/course\_01ccf4de474c3ea235009a48-0.json](https://uwcourses.com/data/e243353dcb7d79b7247ced91d69443ef4c2a6349/history/course_01ccf4de474c3ea235009a48-0.json) #### traces * [/data/e243353dcb7d79b7247ced91d69443ef4c2a6349/traces/course\_01ccf4de474c3ea235009a48-0.json](https://uwcourses.com/data/e243353dcb7d79b7247ced91d69443ef4c2a6349/traces/course_01ccf4de474c3ea235009a48-0.json) #### meetings * [/data/e243353dcb7d79b7247ced91d69443ef4c2a6349/meetings/course\_01ccf4de474c3ea235009a48-0.json](https://uwcourses.com/data/e243353dcb7d79b7247ced91d69443ef4c2a6349/meetings/course_01ccf4de474c3ea235009a48-0.json) #### results * [/data/e243353dcb7d79b7247ced91d69443ef4c2a6349/results/course\_01ccf4de474c3ea235009a48-0.json](https://uwcourses.com/data/e243353dcb7d79b7247ced91d69443ef4c2a6349/results/course_01ccf4de474c3ea235009a48-0.json) ### revision e243353dcb7d79b7247ced91d69443ef4c2a6349 ## context ### all #### term #### gpa 4 #### count 8 #### departments | subject | comparison | | ------- | ---------- | | ECON | | ### terms #### 1262 ##### term 1262 ##### gpa 4 ##### count 8 ##### departments | subject | comparison | | ------- | ---------- | | ECON | | ### benchmarks #### all ##### school ###### size 1320 ###### gpa 3.628825763035853 ###### top Share 80.21118846327654 ###### count 70 ##### ECON ###### size 40 ###### gpa 3.446407481735755 ###### top Share 68.17148103554868 ###### count 65.5 #### terms ##### 1262 ###### school ###### size 1320 ###### gpa 3.628825763035853 ###### top Share 80.21118846327654 ###### count 70 ###### ECON ###### size 40 ###### gpa 3.446407481735755 ###### top Share 68.17148103554868 ###### count 65.5 ## instructor Trends ```json [ { "uid": "instructor_99ae0cffe810678dcb712206", "name": "XIAOXIA SHI", "count": 8, "terms": [ { "term": "1262", "count": 8, "sections": 1, "gpa": 4 } ] }, { "uid": "instructor_eb955630f83768cd1e516946", "name": "JACK PORTER", "count": 8, "terms": [ { "term": "1262", "count": 8, "sections": 1, "gpa": 4 } ] } ] ``` ## following None recorded.