Current instructor
Original student reviews · all captured dates
Nothing special of a professor. Pretty hard class, and he does what he can to explain topics. Midterms are VERY hard, but he posts past midterms + practice on Canvas; use those to study. Homework + stata are easy. Midterms are 30% of your grade, but you can drop 1 (there's 2). Hard class, but manageable with enough work put in. Final was grueling.Rate My Professors ↗
The homework for the class was easy but the exams were incredibly difficult. However, they are graded on a generous curve, so studying does pay off. Hansen is unfortunately a boring lecturer and does not make the content easier in instances where I felt he could have. Not a bad prof, just very average and teaching a boring, mandatory class.Rate My Professors ↗
This course is pretty challenging and Hansen does little to alleviate that. Lectures are pretty hard to follow and you will have to teach yourself many concepts outside of class. Exams are very challenging. Attendance is taken in lecture through tough TopHat problems. However, lectures are all recorded and the curve is very generous.Rate My Professors ↗
What would have otherwise been a pretty well-structured and essential course was kind of ruined by this guy's inability to teach and straight up stupid grading criteria, and don't get me started on the ridiculous tests.Rate My Professors ↗
The grading is extremely poor! This course is very difficult. And I heard that another professor's course consists entirely of multiple-choice questions, while this professor requires continuous calculations throughout the course.Rate My Professors ↗
Very difficult course. Dr. Hansen is super kind. Several chapters of the textbook are covered in any given lecture. This is super difficult as the topics are conceptually very hard to grasp; it was not uncommon for me to attend a lecture and leave without retaining any information. TIP: Peter Dalley on YouTube has phenomenal videos for this class.Rate My Professors ↗
Personal experiences, not a representative survey. Profile matching and captured coverage are shown in the source details.
ECON 310 introduces the analysis of economic data using descriptive statistics and statistical inference techniques like hypothesis testing and estimation.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
David Hansen is described as polite and helpful in office hours, though his lectures are frequently called dry, boring, or overly technical. While some students find his explanations clear and effective, others report that the material is difficult to comprehend without significant independent study. Reviewers disagree on his teaching quality, ranging from useless to really kind.
historical GPA · grades
Spring 2022–Spring 2026ECON 699 is a directed study allowing advanced undergraduates to arrange independent research or topic study with a faculty member.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
historical GPA · grades
Spring 2022–Fall 2024 · limited sampleECON 700 teaches mathematical techniques for Master-level economics analysis, including proof, optimization, topology, and functional analysis.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
David Hansen is described as simply difficult with a low quality rating. This single review suggests a challenging experience for students taking his course.
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2022–Fall 2025Teaching history may be incomplete. Course pages contain course-specific feedback and citations.
{
"instructor_uid": "instructor_6d8ed43593a4bb5cb78abdf1",
"source": "enrollment",
"source_instructor_id": "drhansen3",
"identity_basis": "netid",
"identity_status": "source_identified",
"name": "David Hansen",
"email": "DRHANSEN3@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": 73,
"quality": 2.78,
"difficulty": 4.27,
"quality_count": 73,
"difficulty_count": 73,
"profile_id": "rmp:1904025",
"source_url": "https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/1904025",
"match_basis": "exact_name",
"observed_at": "2026-09-07 16:45:03.564653+00:00",
"courses": {
"course_e104fb600738e5af6d58c4dd": {
"review_count": 54,
"quality": 2.69,
"difficulty": 4.28,
"quality_count": 54,
"difficulty_count": 54
},
"course_c1d62f93b6bc2a4cab189b27": {
"review_count": 4,
"quality": 3,
"difficulty": 4.25,
"quality_count": 4,
"difficulty_count": 4
},
"course_5f0d7265bac8703e26c7163e": {
"review_count": 1,
"quality": 3,
"difficulty": 3,
"quality_count": 1,
"difficulty_count": 1
},
"course_bbffbd8eaca63432913620af": {
"review_count": 11,
"quality": 3.36,
"difficulty": 4.36,
"quality_count": 11,
"difficulty_count": 11
},
"course_10ec8d2be1b1642752c20ec2": {
"review_count": 1,
"quality": 1,
"difficulty": 5,
"quality_count": 1,
"difficulty_count": 1
}
},
"bayesian_quality": 2.9691797383971172,
"prior_mean": 3.6596857835465957,
"prior_weight": 20
},
"current": true,
"courses": [
{
"course_uid": "course_10ec8d2be1b1642752c20ec2",
"course_id": "ECON 700",
"title": "MATHEMATICS FOR ECONOMISTS",
"credits_min": 3,
"credits_max": 3,
"gpa": 3.613
},
{
"course_uid": "course_db8e8fb9ddfebf0e0789b275",
"course_id": "ECON 699",
"title": "DIRECTED STUDY",
"credits_min": 1,
"credits_max": 4,
"gpa": 4
},
{
"course_uid": "course_e104fb600738e5af6d58c4dd",
"course_id": "ECON 310",
"title": "STATISTICS: MEASUREMENT IN ECONOMICS",
"credits_min": 4,
"credits_max": 4,
"gpa": 3.028
}
],
"revision": "e243353dcb7d79b7247ced91d69443ef4c2a6349",
"instructor_url": "/instructors/DAVID_HANSEN"
}