Introduction

Since 2006, IREEP has established, in partnership with the University of Abomey Calavi, an international program of a Masters in Public Economics and Applied Statistics (MEPSA). Through this Masters degree, the Institute offers high level theoretical and practical training to students from different francophone countries. This multi disciplinary training is a two year program that aims at giving students the necessary techniques to applying mathematics to social sciences and in strengthening their analytical capabilities to understand major debates on sustainable development and public policy. The highlight of the MEPSA program is based on courses in probability, statistics, applied mathematics, as well as micro and macroeconomics. Emphasis is given on methodology of causal inference, which allows to rigorously assess hypotheses with the use of the most efficient software in statistics. The rationale of this program is to associate research in empirical political economy to issues specifically pertinent to challenges to development. As a result, the program includes rigorous teaching in analytical comparative politics, history of African societies and political institutions.