Information on Econ 500 / Fin 580
This section of Econ 500 / FIN 580 is intended for, among others, students in PhD programs in the College of Business. As this is a required course and, in my opinion, necessary part of their training to become future researchers in applied economics and related fields, I am going to teach it at the PhD level. Although other students are welcome to take this course, the level and coverage will be dictated by the needs of those for whom this is a required course.
Here are some things that might be helpful if you are considering taking this course:
- The required text for the course will be Microeconomic Theory by Mas-Colell, Whinston and Green. This is a very mathematical text, and the couse will not make full use of its most mathematical parts, but it will be at the same basic level.
- I have written a series of notes for the first part of the course that can be accessed here. You should take a look at them to see if you feel like you have the appropriate background.
- Mathematics background: The course makes use of multivariate calculus, basic probability theory and mathematical optimization theory. Real analysis and linear algebra are helpful, but certainly not necessary.
- A useful mathematics reference is Mathematics for Economsts by Simon and Blume.
- Often, people make use of other references in addition to the required text. Here are some other reference you might find useful: (first part of course; second part of course)
December 2011: Syllabus (Fall 2011)
In general, students considering taking this course should have taken (1) math through multivariate calculus, (2) microeconomics (preferably a calculus-based intermediate microeconomics course). However, even for students with a strong background, there is often a considerable leap between undergraduate-level microeconomics and this course.
