module specification

This module is concerned with providing students with quantitative skills and a foundation in mathematical and statistical concepts and techniques so they can solve economic problems and understand economic analysis. Students will understand how mathematical and statistical methods relate to economic theory.

The main aims of the module are to:

1. provide an introduction to mathematical techniques required in economics;
2. introduce descriptive and inferential statistics;
3. apply mathematical and statistical techniques to economic problems;
4. provide opportunity for students to collect and analyse real data;
5. use appropriate spread sheet software to apply concepts learned. 

A. Mathematical Foundations
Arithmetic foundations
Introduction to algebra
Linear equations and applications to economics
Non-linear functions and applications to economic problems
Logarithmic and exponential function and their applications
Optimisation with one variable and applications to economics: Identifying maximum, minimum, and inflection points. Applications such as marginal cost, marginal revenue and elasticity. Maximising profit, total revenue and minimising average cost
Mathematics of finance and growth: compounding, discounting, net present values and internal rates of return
Optimisation with more than one variable and economic applications: Non- constrained and constrained optimisation
Integration and application to economics: Consumer and producer surplus
Matrix Algebra: vectors, matrices, matrix operations, solution of simultaneous equations
Index numbers: price, quantity and expenditure index numbers of single and multiple commodities
Using IT software to present mathematical concepts and relations.

B. Statistical Foundations
Data issues: collection, selection and sources. Use IT to access sources of relevant economic and financial information, and transform into usable information relevant to the analysis of business economics and finance.
Graphical data presentation using different techniques such as frequency distributions, pie and bar charts, and histograms
Summarising data using measures of average, dispersion and skew
Probability theory
Discrete probability distribution: Binomial probability distribution
Continuous probability distribution: Normal probability distribution
Sampling probability distribution
Point and interval estimation, small and large samples
Hypothesis testing, significance levels, errors
Using IT software to present statistical concepts and relations.

Teaching is centred around three hours of weekly contact in lectures, seminars and workshops. The lecture workshop will involve presentation of the material in an interactive way allowing periods of reflection by students. Students will go through problem sheets provided in the module book and on Weblearn in seminars. Seminars will be used to develop IT skills and support weaker students. A virtual learning environment (Weblearn) will support learning and teaching activities in the module, containing lecture slides, seminar questions, past test papers, data sets and other learning materials.

On successful completion of this module students will be able to:

1. understand some of the main mathematical tools employed in the subject areas of introductory economics, business and finance;
2. understand some of the main statistical tools employed in subject areas of introductory economics, business and finance
3. understand, collect, interpret, evaluate, manipulate, synthesise, represent and analyse quantitative data in a subject context;
4. apply and critically assess a range of different models and methodologies employed in undertaking quantitative analysis in the areas of economics, business and finance;
5. appropriately interpret and report results from an empirical exercise;
6. use IT quantitative software including spreadsheets to apply mathematical and statistical concepts.

The assessment strategy is developed in order to test the module's learning outcomes and to provide students with regular feedback as they progress through the module.  At the beginning of the module there will be a diagnostic test to identify the degree of diversity amongst students in terms of mathematical knowledge.   Some workshops are designed to provide greater support to weaker students.
Assessment components are designed to test students’ knowledge and understanding of mathematical and statistical concepts and theories and applications to economics and business. The coursework is designed to test students’ ability to apply statistical techniques and IT software to real data. Students will be required to collect, present, analyse and interpret data and write a 1000 word report.

 

Bradley, T.  (2008) Essential Mathematics for Economics and Business, 3rd ed., John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
Bradley, T (2007) Essential Statistics for Economics, Business and Management, John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
Chiang, A. C. and Wainwright, K. (2005) Fundamental Methods of Mathematical Economics, 4th ed., McGraw-Hill.
Jacques, I. (2009) Mathematics for Economics and Business, 6th ed., FT Prentice Hall.
Oakshott, Les (2009) Essential Quantitative Methods for Business, Management and Finance, 4th ed., Palgrave Macmillan.
Renshaw, G. (2009) Mathematics for Economics, 2nd ed., Oxford University Press
Swift, L. (2010) Quantitative Methods for Business, Management and Finance, 3rd ed., Palgrave-Macmillan.
Sydsaeter, K. and Hammond, P. (2008) Essential Mathematics for Economic Analysis, 3rd ed., FT Prentice Hall.