Computational Tools for Economics and Management

Computational Tools for Economics and Management

Course of Business Administration and Management

Programme of a.y. 2017-2018

Contents of the course

This course aims at providing:

(a) better understanding of theory, techniques, and problems encountered in your math, stat management and economics courses.

(b) the ability to "translate" a problem into workable R code, get a numerical solution and provide insights on the relevant issues of the problem. Virtually all the models and exercises of your previous, loosely quantitative, courses are of interest.

(c) practical knowledge of the R programming environment (see alsohttp://cran.r-project.org/). Basic programming skills will be acquired, together with ideas on how to formally handle and use tools as functions, derivatives, integrals, estimates, graphs, optimization, utility, stationay points)

Specific issues of the Programme are as follows:

1.  Introductory material: basics on the course, basics on R (download, install, preliminary commands and standards).

2.  Graphics and plots in R

3.  Functions with R

4.  Computation of derivatives and integrals with R

5.  Solution of linear systems and Root-finding with R

6.  Extremal points

7.  Unconstrained and Constrained Optimization (basics) with one unknown, using R

8.  Unconstrained and Constrained Optimization (basics) with two unknowns, using R

9.  Solution and Generalized Solution of linear systems with R

10.  (notes on) Simulation

Active participation at lesson (taking PC) is welcome, as well as experiencing all the concept investigated during the lessons.

Reference Texts

1)  Afternotes by the teacher distributed during the course and available on http://venus.unive.it/~fasano and on https://moodle.unive.it/

2)  Additional material from the previous years (…thanks to both Prof. Paolo Pellizzari and Prof. Shira Fano) downloadable athttp://virgo.unive.it/paolop/ct2012/notesCT.pdf

3)  “Using R for Scientific Computing” by Karline Soetaert (ZIP): lecture notes, reference card for R beginners and exercises at

http://cran.r-project.org/doc/contrib/Soetaert_Scientificcomputing.zip

4)  “The R Guide” (version 2.5) by Jason Owen at

http://cran.r-project.org/doc/contrib/Owen-TheRGuide.pdf

5)  “The R book” by Michael J. Crawley, 2007, Wiley.

Exam Rules

Each call may include several days for the exam.

·  Students will join a/the call by registering (on the standard unive website) for a time slot in one of the days of the call (the first available).

·  Each time slot lasts 1h30’, which is used in the following way: 1 hour represents the time for student to solve the exercises, 30’ are used by the teacher.

·  The exam will include multiple computations and written tests with short answers, to be solved at the PC (exams take place at Palazzo Moro, S.Giobbe).

·  Exercises will cover only the current programme of the course.

·  Each multiple choice exercise has the following grading:

i.  2 points for each correct answer

ii.  0 points if blank

iii.  -0.5 points for each mistake

·  Final grades will be communicated by the teacher in the end of the last day of each call.

·  Sample exams+solutions have been released by the teacher on both http://venus.unive.it/~fasano and Moodle, during the period of lessons.

·  Students joining the call must have their own USERNAME + PASSWORD (by UNIVE) to use the PC, a valid document with photo, and a pen to write.