Bachelor of Arts (BAEcon)

BAEcon Economics and Philosophy

Develop specialist knowledge and your own response to current economic issues.
  • Duration: 3 or 4 years
  • Year of entry: 2025
  • UCAS course code: LV15 / Institution code: M20
  • Key features:
  • Study abroad
  • Industrial experience

Full entry requirementsHow to apply

Course unit details:
Introduction to Mathematical Economics

Course unit fact file
Unit code ECON20192
Credit rating 10
Unit level Level 2
Teaching period(s) Semester 2
Available as a free choice unit? Yes

Overview

This course introduces the mathematical tools essential to study advanced topics in economic theory and mathematical economics. First part of the semester is dedicated to studying real analysis concepts relevant to economists. Emphasis is placed on how mathematical results are proved, how to use these results, and studying situations where the results cannot be applied. Rest of the semester is dedicated to applying these tools to study the theorems underlying unconstrained and constrained optimisation. Students will be provided with detailed material through lectures, tutorials, course notes, textbook references, and other resources. Regular feedback is provided through discussion boards and feedbacks from problem sets.

Pre/co-requisites

Unit title Unit code Requirement type Description
Advanced Mathematics ECON10071A Pre-Requisite Compulsory
Advanced Mathematics ECON20071 Co-Requisite Compulsory
ECON20192 Pre-requisites: ECON10071 or ECON20071

ECON10071 OR ECON20071

Aims

The aim of this course is to help students develop the mathematical techniques to analyse advanced topics in economic theory. Topics covered in this course provide a foundation for many results in microeconomics and mathematical economics.

Learning outcomes

By the end of the course, you will:

  1. Understand the concepts of proof and counter examples.
  2. Develop the toolbox of real analysis for economics.
  3. In-depth knowledge of constrained optimisation theory and comparative statics

Syllabus

  • Logic and proof
  • Metric spaces, Open & closed sets, Sequence & convergence
  • Continuity, Compactness, Differentiability
  • Concavity, Taylor’s theorem, Unconstrained Optimisation
  • Constrained Optimisation and Envelope theorem.

Teaching and learning methods

Synchronous activities (such as Lectures or Review and Q&A sessions, and tutorials), and guided self-study.

Employability skills

Analytical skills
Problem solving
Other
Logical reasoning

Assessment methods

70% Exam

15% Coursework (Weekly Online Quizzes)

15% Coursework (Problem Set)

Feedback methods

  • Solution and Feedback to Problem Sets and Quizzes
  • Tutorial feedback and solutions
  • Piazza Discussion Board
  • Office Hours
  • Weekly Open Study Sessions

Recommended reading

  1. Simon, C. and Blume, L. (2010) Mathematics for Economists, International Student Edition, Norton, NY.
  2. Derek G. Ball (2014) An Introduction to Real Analysis, Pergamon.

Teaching staff

Staff member Role
Shomak Chakrabarti Unit coordinator

Additional notes

For every 10 course unit credits we expect students to work for around 100 hours. This time generally includes any contact times (online or face to face, recorded and live), but also independent study, work for coursework, and group work. This amount is only a guidance and individual study time will vary.

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