ECO 531 - Introduction to Computational Methods in Economics

A first course in the computational and graphical techniques for finding numerical solutions to a set of economic models (from more elementary models such as Edgeworth Box to a more general competitive equilibrium model to finding the policy function of a dynamic growth model) based on concepts and constructs presented in the 1st year graduate theory courses. Includes the foundations of programming (using a symbolic algebra language), and finding maxima of functions, finding equilibria of markets, and exploring and fitting functions graphically and through finite difference and projection methods. Emphasis is put on understanding the connections between the concepts, the algebra, the algorithm of the computation and the graphical presentation of economic models and on using the numerical models to perform experiments.

3 credits

Prerequisite(s): ECO 500, ECO 590, limited to Economics Department MA students

Grading Letter graded (A, A-, B+, etc.)

Offered Spring