Introduction to Regression Analysis In this course regression analysis is introduced. The major focus is on quantifying relationships between economic variables. Multiple regression identifies the effect of several exogenous variables on an endogenous variable. After exploring the classical regression model, fundamental assumptions underlying this model will be relaxed, and further new techniques will be introduced. Methods for testing hypotheses about the regression coefficients are developed throughout the course. Both theoretical principles and practical applications will be emphasized. The course goal is for each student to employ regression analysis as a research tool and to justify and defend the techniques used. (MATH 0121; and ECON 0111, (formerly ECON 0210) ECON 0150 or ECON 0155) Please note: STAT 0211 may not be used to fulfill the ECON 0211 Regression requirement for the Economics major.

Posse Scholars Leadership Development This course is designed to promote the intellectual, social, and civic development of first-year Posse scholars, both individually and as a group. Students will attend weekly workshops drawing from the Posse Foundation’s leadership curriculum. Workshops will also draw on the instructor’s areas of expertise and will focus on topics most pertinent to students’ goals and needs. Some workshops will include guest lectures, experiential learning, and student-facilitated discussion.  Students will reflect on their learning in bi-weekly meetings with the instructor, as well as in writing.  They will also identify initiatives or projects they wish to promote on campus or in the local community, applying what they have learned. (This course is only open to sophomores.)

Economics and Gender Economics and Gender is an introduction to using the tools of economics to understand gender-related issues. In the first part of the course we will review economic models of the household, fertility, and labor supply and discuss how they help us interpret long-term trends in marriage and divorce, fertility, and women’s labor-force participation. In the second part of the course we will study economic models of wage determination and focus on explanations of, and policy remedies for, earnings differentials by gender. The final part of the course will focus on new research in economics on gender-related topics.   (ECON 0155) 3hrs. lect.

Economics and Racism: Economic Drivers and Consequences of Anti-Black Racism in the United States While racism is relevant for many groups in many places, this course will focus on the economic drivers and consequences of anti-Black racism in the United States. A primary text for the course will be The Color of Law: A Forgotten History of How our Government Segregated America, by Richard Rothstein. The course will also incorporate materials from The Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis’ seminar series entitled: Racism and the Economy: Understanding the implications of structural racism in America’s economy and advancing actions to improve economic outcomes for all. We will learn how to use data analysis and visualization to understand the economic past and present of racism in the US (no previous data experience required).

Population Economics In this course we will use an economic perspective to analyze changes in fertility, mortality, marriage, and household structure in both industrialized and developing countries.  We will explore how these changes interact with labor markets, poverty, inequality, urbanization, migration and the status of women using the theoretical and empirical tools of applied economic analysis.  Students will engage in data-driven projects to study demographic behavior.  Experience with statistical analysis is strongly encouraged.

Tanya Byker

Reviews and ratings for Tanya Byker at Middlebury College.Tanya Byker teaches Regression Analysis, Posse Leadership Development, Economics and Gender and more.  Explore top rated instructors and find the best for you.Is Tanya Byker good ? Find out on MiddCourses.

I think this course is very interesting and honestly quite valuable. Byker is a great professor who is generally fair and accommodating. Where this class is brutal is in the volume and medium of work. Expect substantial homework in the form of weekly problem sets. There is also significant use of STATA, which is doable, but certainly not enjoyable. The coursework isn't exceptionally difficult, but it's a major time commitment. 

I loved Professor Byker! She made the material accessible and did a great job explaining. This class was a problem set every week, and 2 written exams, a stata exam, and a final project. It was hard material, but Prof Byker was super cool and fun to learn it with.  

Love byker. she really cares about students and actual learning process. very homework heavy and most portion of the grade is from homework which is sometimes long. exam is also tough but manageable. overall great class