256 Math course info
Steven Tschantz
1/8/09
Basic data
This is course information for Math 256 - Spring 2009 Mathematical Models in Economics Prof. Steven Tschantz Office: SC1507 Office hours: TTh 1-2 and by appt. Office phone: [phone] Email: [e-mail] Course homepage: http://www.math.vanderbilt.edu/~tschantz/m256/
Policies
This course is about applying mathematics, defining and experimenting with mathematical models, with particular emphasis on applications in economics. I will assume some basic economics and calculus. Some statistics experience would also be helpful. We will be using the computer program/language Mathematica to document the models, program the experiments, and evaluate the results. No background in Mathematica is assumed, but an interest in programming is valuable. Initially, we will be spending a good deal of time working through the basics of Mathematica, considering simple economic problems and mathematical models Assignments will be weekly Mathematica notebooks to complete and submit by e-mail. There will be a term project where you may work in small teams to research a question, formulate and program a model, presenting your results to the class during the last one or two days of class. There will be no final exam. The term project will count for approximately 25% of your final grade. Class will include lectures on the math and instruction econ, in Mathematica, and a significant amount of lab time where you will practice Mathematica, working on the assignments, with immediate assistance available. Assignments will be posted Tuesdays, generally to be due the following Tuesday. We will start out slowly, but assignments should soon include more challenging and open ended questions. I have been involved in part-time economics consulting with Luke Froeb of the Owen graduate school of management here at Vanderbilt, devising and programming mathematical models to help understand various economic questions. This course reflects the kind of work I have been doing. Treat this course as a part-time job. It is important not only that you keep up with posted assignments, but you should go beyond, applying the tools you will learn to better your understanding of questions that interest you.
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m256courseinfo.nb I have been involved in part-time economics consulting with Luke Froeb of the Owen graduate school of management here at Vanderbilt, devising and programming mathematical models to help understand various economic questions. This course reflects the kind of work I have been doing. Treat this course as a part-time job. It is important not only that you keep up with posted assignments, but you should go beyond, applying the tools you will learn to better your understanding of questions that interest you.