An engaging and practical introduction to econometrics, Real Econometrics: The Right Tools to Answer Important Questions provides thorough coverage of the most frequently used methods of analysis and a diverse array of examples and case studies. Grounded in contemporary understandings of causal inference, the text invites students to see how econometric tools can help answer interesting questions ranging from whether police reduce crime, to how drinking affects students' grades, and to whether or not tall people make higher wages. This emphasis on practical applications, combined with a lively and conversational narrative, provides students with a solid foundation in the analytical tools they will use throughout their academic and professional careers.
Bailey's writing is remarkably engaging, but at times is absolutely cracked. On several occasions, I stared in bewilderment at the page wondering how exactly parts of this were published. Bailey simply can't resist making a quip here and there, and on occasion are so jarring that they actually distract from the course material. Real Econometrics doesn't function particularly well as a reference guide either, though it most certainly isn't written as one.
Despite this, however, Real Econometrics is extremely well-presented and well-written, and I would recommend it for any introductory econometrics course. Overall, this textbook is a good introduction to economic research, if perhaps a little shocking at times. One star is deducted for the absence of an ebook or pdf version.