UNIVERSITY
OF COLORADO
Microcomputer (Java) Applications in Economics ECON4838-002
Summer 2006
Jay Kaplan
Office: Economics Room 4C
Office Telephone: 492-2651
e-mail: kaplan@Colorado.edu
Class Introduction
This class assumes that students have no prior computer programming experience. By the end of the class, the student should have a good concept of programming basics using the Java language and the ability to code complex programs in Java. This class will not make the student an expert programmer in Java, but students will gain enough knowledge to build on if they desire.
Fundamentally, this is a programming class and to learn programming, you should expect to spend the majority of time writing computer programs for a PC. Lectures will be minimal and used to cover the basics that can then be used to develop functional programs. Economic theory will be integrated into the class as students will develop Java programs that relate to topics presented in
other Economics courses.
Course
Materials
The course textbook is:
- Java, Intro to Computer Science and Programming, by Savitch, Prentice Hall, 2005.
Useful Links
To download the Java SDK for your home PC
Choose the Download J2SE v 1.4.2 and the SDK (most students will select Windows (all languages, including English)). Be sure to choose the SDK and not the JRE.
- Steps: click on the Download button -> Accept license -> Click to Download (Windows Installation, Multi-language (j2sdk-1_4_2_04-windows-i586-p-iftw.exe, 356.00 KB) and choose Open.
This starts the installation process and you will soon see a custom setup menu. You must install the Development Tools, but you will probably want to skip the Demos and Source Code.
The programs will be installed to the C:\j2sdk1.4.2 directory on your PC.
To verify that you have installed the program correctly, you should find a file named C:\j2sdk1.4.2\bin\javac.exe (and many other files and directories as well)
Eclipse - Java programming environment. Choose Downloads from the left menu.
e.g. Download now: Eclipse SDK 3.1
Programmer's File Editor - free download of a useful utility to write programs and save as .java files in text format.
Note: This comes in a .zip file. Unzip to a directory such as c:\Program Editor. You will want to use the PFE32.exe file to run from Windows. When you unzip, no shortcut will be included on your desktop, so you may want to place one to access PFE32.exe
Grading
There are no exams.
The student's grade will be based on the effort put into the class throughout the semester, the ability to learn basic programming (in Java) concepts and programming assignments, including a final project.
The final project requires each student to program a detailed economic model in Java. The model can be based on theory learned in Macro and Micro theory courses, International Trade, Money and Banking, or any other class in economics that the student is familiar with.
You may work individually or in pairs on this project. The first step is to identify the economic or financial market theory that you want to cover. It is best to select a theory that you can represent with a fairly simple mathematical model. Examples include a stock valuation model, a game theory model of the interaction of two parties, the HO model from international trade, the IS/LM model, an options pricing model and many others of course. Give me a brief description of your project for approval. I am expecting something fairly complex but also practical. I want you to demonstrate that you can work with the basic elements of Java programming that we covered in the class. At a minimum you should include methods that make calls to other classes from your main program. Feel free to add bells and whistles as you want once you have the program completed.
Program the model. See me or e-mail me when you are having trouble with the theory or the programming.
The due date is the last day of classes. I expect an e-mail containing your code and a short description of your project.
Grade Determination:
C - a student must complete all required class assignments (units 1 through 9). In addition, the class project will use basic programming concepts (unit 2 or unit 8). The project will cover a simple economic model and this can be a variation of a model covered in the nine class units.
B - a student must complete all required class assignments (units 1 through 9). In addition, the class project will use more advanced programming concepts. The project will cover a model consistent with an intermediate macro or micro class or an advanced theory class.
A - a student must complete all required class assignments. In addition, the class project will use advanced programming concepts. The project will cover a complex model consistent with an intermediate macro or micro class or an advanced theory class.
Class Outline
Java basics. Each day we will cover a basic concept of Java programming. Class materials will be complemented with short programming applications.
Applications. This will emphasize the development of more complex programs that relate specifically to Economic materials. Some class time will be used to discuss Java and Economic concepts. Students will work on relatively small projects dealing with statistical, financial and other applications.
Student Project. The emphasis will be on a single project that each student will work on. Students are required to select their own projects (and it should relate to Economic theory or applications) and program it through to completion. Some class time may be used to discuss Java and Economic concepts. Students should expect to spend the majority of their class time programming and helping each other work through problems.