Course 2024-2025 a.y.

20136 - ADVANCED MATHEMATICS FOR ECONOMICS AND SOCIAL SCIENCES

Department of Decision Sciences

Course taught in English

Student consultation hours
Class timetable
Exam timetable
Go to class group/s: 20 - 21
DES-ESS (8 credits - I sem. - OB)
Course Director:
SIMONE CERREIA VIOGLIO

Classes: 20 (I sem.) - 21 (I sem.)
Instructors:
Class 20: SIMONE CERREIA VIOGLIO, Class 21: MASSIMO MARINACCI


Mission & Content Summary

MISSION

Mathematics is the language in which most modern economics is written. This course aims to provide the basic mathematical tools that students need to complete their economics studies. Moreover, it develops the analytical thinking skills that students will need later in their academic careers.

CONTENT SUMMARY

  • Linear algebra
  • Metric Spaces
  • Normed Vector Spaces
  • Contractions and Fixed Points
  • Convex Analysis
  • Dynamic Programming

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILO)

KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING

At the end of the course student will be able to...
  • Carry out a formal mathematical proof
  • Recognize the abstract mathematical structures that underlie modern economic theories
  • Master vector spaces techniques
  • Solve complex dynamic optimization problems

APPLYING KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING

At the end of the course student will be able to...
  • Apply to economics and to the social sciences the techniques of contemporary mathematics
  • Work out both the quantitative and the qualitative perspectives
  • Solve dynamic optimization problems which are key in Macroeconomics
  • Command topological arguments which are important in Game Theory and Microeconomics

Teaching methods

  • Lectures
  • Practical Exercises

DETAILS

Every one/two weeks there is a problem session where mathematical problems concerning the topics taught in class are discussed and solved.


Assessment methods

  Continuous assessment Partial exams General exam
  • Written individual exam (traditional/online)
  x x

ATTENDING AND NOT ATTENDING STUDENTS

The students' assessment is based on a written exam that consists of mostly open questions which aim to measure the learning outcomes of the students:

  • In particular, some questions are more theoretical, requiring statements, and/or proofs of theorems, while other questions are more "practical", like open exercises or problems. All these questions test the students' understanding of the mathematical ideas and techniques presented in the course as the language of economic modelling.
  • The written exam could be taken as a general exam at the end of the course or splitted in two partial exams. Each of them has the structure described above. In the two partial exams the final grade is the average of the two marks; it is necessary to get a grade greater than or equal to 12 in both the partial exam and the average has to be greater than or equal to 18. Also, the general exam is passed with a grade greater than or equal to 18

Teaching materials


ATTENDING AND NOT ATTENDING STUDENTS

Lecture notes

Last change 01/06/2024 23:44