Econ 4999: Logic and Mathematics in Economics
Student projects:
The purpose of the project is to demontrate how the mathematical techniques and theory you have learned (and will learn) in class, and elsewhere, can be used to address an economic problem or issue that you find of interest. You are encouraged to do one of the following: build a simple mathematical model of economic behavior; critique a journal article that utilizes a mathematical model to analyze economic behavior; write a survey article for the class that expands on one of the topics we discussed in class, or write a survey article for the class on a topic in mathematical economics or mathematics that is of interest to you (and relevant to economics), but that we did not have time to cover in class. Your project could be a web project and or a Mathematica project.
Please discuss your paper topic with me before you write your paper. The final copy of your paper will be due in my office around at the time of the final. If you get a “final” draft of your project to me 10 days or more before that date, I will give you comments that, hopefully, you can use to improve the paper. Some of your short assignments will have to do with your project. I will consider group projects, but they better be good.
One way to find a topic is to take some topic or issue that your are interested in and frame it in an economic/mathematical/logical structure. For example, I am into studying the enviroment so might pick a topic like species preservation or the efficient level of pollution. One student is planning on writing on gambling. I suggested that he begin by learning about economic theories of decision making under uncertainty. The place to start would be his intermediate micro theory book.
Another approach would be to take a mathematical tool you are interested in (e.g. game theory, integration, statistitics, etc) and look for an economic application.
Or, think back to what interested in you in other economics courses; for example, some theory, concept, or empirical result. Then think about it from a theory/mathematical perspective.
Have you recently read a book or magazine article that while not written by an economist relates to economics and could be discussed in those terms?
First assignment with respect to the project:
Before you turn in this assignment, discuss your proposed topic with me.
For this first assignment list the topic on which you plan to write. If you have not narrowed it down, provide a few possibilities.
Include a brief description of your project. As part of this description, list the relevant economic theories and concepts. For example, if it is an optimization problem for a consumer, tell the reader that what you are doing is a topic in consumer theory and choice. Be as specific as possible. I expect that you will have read a cited the relevant sections in your intermediate microtheory book. That is, I want to know how what you plan to do relates to economic theory.
This first assignment should reference what you have read and future readings.
If your paper relates to a topic that we will cover in class, but haven't yet, make sure you are familiar with the relevant notes
I would like a working "title" and abstract.
I am thinking in terms of 2 to 5 pages for this assignment.
Next paper assignment
There will be at least one more.
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Last Update: 03-06-02 14310visitors since March 6, 2002.