• A
  • A
  • A
  • ABC
  • ABC
  • ABC
  • А
  • А
  • А
  • А
  • А
Regular version of the site
Bachelor 2019/2020

Mathematics for Economists

Area of studies: Economics
When: 2 year, 1-4 module
Mode of studies: offline
Instructors: Щекочихина Елена Анатольевна, Kirill Bukin, Boris Demeshev, Daniil Esaulov, Peter Lukianchenko, Dmitry Davidovich Pervouchine, Stanislav Radionov, Pavel Zhukov
Language: English
ECTS credits: 12
Contact hours: 190

Course Syllabus

Abstract

Mathematics for Economists is a two-semester course for the second year students studying at ICEF. It is designed for all specializations at ICEF but for the “Mathematics and Economics” specialization the students of which follow a different course ‘”Mathematical Methods for Economists”. This course is an important part of the bachelor stage in education of the future economists. It has to give students skills for implementation of the mathematical knowledge and expertise to the problems of economics. Its prerequisite is the knowledge of the single variable calculus
Learning Objectives

Learning Objectives

  • Help students develop an understanding of basic algebraic concepts such as linear vector space, linear independence, bases, coordinate systems, dimension, matrix algebra, linear operators, dot product, orthogonality
  • Enable students to solve systems of linear equations, find fundamental system of solutions, invert matrices, find eigenvalues, and do orthogonal projections
  • Analyze simulated as well as real economic situations
  • Apply the knowledge of the differential and difference equations to analyze dynamics of the processes
Expected Learning Outcomes

Expected Learning Outcomes

  • Solve equations by Gaussian elimination method
  • Practice techniques of matrix operations
  • Be able to invert a matrix either by finding cofactors or by Gaussian elimination method
  • Be able to classify bilinear and quadratic forms
  • Explain orthogonality of vectors, properties of a dot product, Gram-Schmidt procedure, eigenvalues, eigenvectors
  • Classify the sets in n-dimensional space
  • Apply the notion of level curve to microeconomics
  • Be able to find a limit of a function at a point
  • Be able to handle derivatives
  • Explain and apply gradient and related directional derivative
  • Find derivatives of implicit functions
  • Apply IFT to microeconomic and macroeconomic problems
  • Apply FOC to an objective function and checking definiteness of Hessian
  • Apply Lagrange method for equality constrained type of problems
  • Explain the meaning of a multiplier and be ready to demonstrate the applicability of envelope theorems
  • Provide examples of differential equations especially in economics
  • Apply the basic techniques of solving first-order equations
  • Explain and apply Solow’s model
  • Use integration mostly dealing with the linear equations with constant coefficients and quasipolynomials in the right side
  • Outline complex numbers theory
  • Apply method of undetermined coefficients for the search of a particular solution
  • Apply difference equations to macroeconomics
  • Use techniques of solving first-order equations
  • Able to handle second-order difference equations
  • Apply Euler’s equation to microeconomics
  • Apply Kuhn-Tucker method for solving problems from primarily microeconomics
  • Explain and apply linear programming
  • Apply Nash equilibrium concept to economic problems
  • Use maxmin/minmax techniques
Course Contents

Course Contents

  • Linear Algebra
    Systems of linear equations in matrix form Linear space. Linear independence Linear subspace Matrix as a set of columns and as a set of rows Determinant of a set of vectors Inverse matrix Linear operator as a geometric object Eigenvalues, eigenvectors and their properties Bilinear and quadratic forms Dot product in linear spaces
  • Multi-dimensional calculus
    Main concepts of set theory. Operations on sets. Direct product of sets. Relations and functions. Level sets and level curves. Space . Metric in n-dimensional space. The triangle inequality. Euclidean spaces. Neighborhoods and open sets in , Sequences and their limits. Close sets. The closure and the boundary of a set. Functions of several variables. Limits of functions. Continuity of functions Partial differentiation. Economic interpretation, marginal products and elasticities. Chain rule for partial differentiation Total differential. Geometric interpretation of partial derivatives and the differential. Linear approximation. Differentiability. Smooth functions. Directional derivatives and gradient Higher-order derivatives. Young’s theorem. Hessian matrix. Economic applications Implicit functions. Implicit function theorem Vector-valued functions. Jacobian Implicit function theorem for the vector-valued functions Economic applications of the IFT for the comparative statics problems.
  • Optimization
    Unconstrained optimization of the multi-dimensional functions. Stationary points. First-order conditions Second differential. Quadratic forms and the associated matrices. Definiteness and semi-definiteness of the quadratic forms. Sylvester criterion. Second-order conditions for extrema Constrained optimization. Lagrangian function and multiplier. First-order conditions for constrained optimization Second differential for the function with the dependent variables. Definiteness of quadratic form under a linear constraint. Bordered Hessian. Second-order conditions for the constrained optimization Economic meaning of a multiplier. Applications of the Lagrange approach in economics. Smooth dependence on the parameters. Envelope theorem
  • Differential and difference equations
    Dynamics in economics. Simple first-order equations. Separable equations. Concept of stability of the solution of ODE. Exact equations. General solution as a sum of a general solution of homogeneous equation and a particular solution of a nonhomogeneous equation. Bernoulli equation. Qualitative theory of differential equations. Solow’s growth model. Phase diagram Second-order linear differential equations with constant coefficients Complex numbers and operations on them. Representation of a number. De Moivre and Euler formulae Higher-order linear differential equation with constant coefficients. Characteristic equation. Method of undetermined coefficients for the search of a particular solution. Stability of solutions. Routh theorem (without proof). Discrete time economic systems. Difference equations. Method of solving first-order equations. Convergence and oscillations of a solution. Cobweb model. Partial equilibrium model with the inventory Second-order difference equations Higher-order difference equations. Characteristic equation. Undetermined coefficients method. Conditions for the stability of solutions
  • Methods of optimization
    Homogeneous functions Optimization in 2 variables with the inequality constraints. First order conditions, generalization on the n-dimensional case Kuhn-Tucker formulation, applications from economics Meaning of Lagrange multipliers, envelope theorems (refreshment) Linear programming Introduction to the game theory. Bimatrix games. The notion of Nash equilibrium. Dominant and dominated strategies. Equilibrium in mixed strategies. Methods of finding equilibria in the zero sum games
Assessment Elements

Assessment Elements

  • non-blocking Homeworks
  • non-blocking midterm (LA)
  • non-blocking exam (LA)
  • non-blocking mid-term test (MCO)
  • non-blocking fall exam
  • non-blocking spring semester midterm
  • blocking UoL exam
    Экзамен проводится в письменной форме с использованием асинхронного прокторинга. Экзамен проводится на платформе https://hse.student.examus.net). К экзамену необходимо подключиться за 10 минут до начала. Проверку настроек компьютера необходимо провести заранее, чтобы в случае возникших проблем у вас было время для обращения в службу техподдержки и устранения неполадок. Компьютер студента должен удовлетворять требованиям: 1. Стационарный компьютер или ноутбук (мобильные устройства не поддерживаются); 2. Операционная система Windows (версии 7, 8, 8.1, 10) или Mac OS X Yosemite 10.10 и выше; 3. Интернет-браузер Google Chrome последней на момент сдачи экзамена версии (для проверки и обновления версии браузера используйте ссылку chrome://help/); 4. Наличие исправной и включенной веб-камеры (включая встроенные в ноутбуки); 5. Наличие исправного и включенного микрофона (включая встроенные в ноутбуки); 6. Наличие постоянного интернет-соединения со скоростью передачи данных от пользователя не ниже 1 Мбит/сек; 7. Ваш компьютер должен успешно проходить проверку. Проверка доступна только после авторизации. Для доступа к экзамену требуется документ удостоверяющий личность. Его в развернутом виде необходимо будет сфотографировать на камеру после входа на платформу «Экзамус». Также вы должны медленно и плавно продемонстрировать на камеру рабочее место и помещение, в котором Вы пишете экзамен, а также чистые листы для написания экзамена (с двух сторон). Это необходимо для получения чёткого изображения. Во время экзамена запрещается пользоваться любыми материалами (в бумажном / электронном виде), использовать телефон или любые другие устройства (любые функции), открывать на экране посторонние вкладки. В случае выявления факта неприемлемого поведения на экзамене (например, списывание) результат экзамена будет аннулирован, а к студенту будут применены предусмотренные нормативными документами меры дисциплинарного характера вплоть до исключения из НИУ ВШЭ. Если возникают ситуации, когда студент внезапно отключается по любым причинам (камера отключилась, компьютер выключился и др.) или отходит от своего рабочего места на какое-то время, или студент показал неожиданно высокий результат, или будут обнаружены подозрительные действия во время экзамена, будет просмотрена видеозапись выполнения экзамена этим студентом и при необходимости студент будет приглашен на онлайн-собеседование с преподавателем. Об этом студент будет проинформирован заранее в индивидуальном порядке. Во время выполнения задания, не завершайте Интернет-соединения и не отключайте камеры и микрофона. Во время экзамена ведется аудио- и видео-запись. Процедура пересдачи проводится в соотвествии с нормативными документами НИУ ВШЭ.
Interim Assessment

Interim Assessment

  • Interim assessment (2 module)
    0.15 * exam (LA) + 0.42 * fall exam + 0.17 * Homeworks + 0.14 * mid-term test (MCO) + 0.12 * midterm (LA)
  • Interim assessment (4 module)
    0.3 * Homeworks + 0.2 * Interim assessment (2 module) + 0.5 * UoL exam
Bibliography

Bibliography

Recommended Core Bibliography

  • Mathematics for economists, Simon, C. P., 1994

Recommended Additional Bibliography

  • Сборник задач и упражнений по математическому анализу : учеб. пособие для вузов, Демидович, Б. П., 2003