Back
| Semester | spring semester 2022 |
| Course frequency | Every spring sem. |
| Lecturers | Dietmar Maringer (dietmar.maringer@unibas.ch, Assessor) |
| Content | The term "Computational Economics" covers a wide array of methods and concepts, ranging from "traditional" numerical techniques to advanced simulations of complex economic systems, and anything in between. Building and expanding on the course "Computating for Business and Economics", this course discusses a selection of further numerical methods and scientific computing techniques any economist should have in their "computational toolbox". Next, methods for Monte Carlo simulation will be introducing, including sampling, path generation, modelling uncertainty and risk, and evaluating simulations. This will be followed by methods for modelling and analysing complex and adaptive systems in an economic context. Real world situations often exhibit heterogeneity, butterfly effects, network-effects, self-organization or critical situations that are difficult to analyse with traditional economic approaches. Agent-based Modelling and agent-based simulation are increasingly used in this context, and the course addresses these topics. To deepen the participants' understanding of these methods, their practical application, their strengths and limitations, the course is very much hands-on, allowing for numerous own implementations and experiments. |
| Learning objectives | Successful participants will be familiar with fundamental numerical methods, necessary to approach and solve quantitative problems in economics and business. Also, they will acquire programming skills to implement economic / management models and the necessary methods. |
| Bibliography | Course material will be provided. To deepen the participants' understanding of these methods, their practical application, their strengths and limitations, the course is very much hands-on, allowing for numerous own implementations and experiments. *) Miranda, M. J. & Fackler, P. L. Applied Computational Economics and Finance The MIT Press, 2002 *) Brandimarte, P. Handbook in Monte Carlo Simulation. Applications in Financial Engineering, Risk Management, and Economics Wiley, 2014 *) Brandimarte, P. Numerical Methods in Finance and Economics, Wiley-Interscience, 2006 *) Gilli, M.; Maringer, D. & Schumann, E. Numerical Methods and Optimization in Finance, Academic Press, 2nd edition 2019. (or 1st ed., 2011) *) Kroese, D. P.; Taimre, T. & Botev, Z. I. Handbook of Monte Carlo Methods Wiley, 2011 *) Jones, O.; Maillardet, R. & Robinson, A. Introduction to Scientific Programming and Simulation Using R, CRC Press, 2009 *) Langtangen, H. P. A Primer on Scientific Programming Using Python Springer, 2014 *) Easley, D. & Kleinberg, J. Networks, Crowds and Markets. Reasoning about a Highly Connected World Cambridge University Press, 2010 *) Hommes, C. Behavioral Rationality and Heterogeneous Expectations in Complex Economic Systems Cambridge University Press, 2013 *) Jackson, M. O. Social and Economic Networks Princeton University Press, 2008 *) Tesfatsion, L. & Judd, K. J. (Eds.) Handbook of Computational Economics Vol. 2: Agent-Based Computational Economics North-Holland, 2006 Specific recommendations and additional literature to be announced during the course. |
| Comments | Throughout the course, we will use Python to implement methods and concepts. Prior programming skill help, but are not required; material and references will be provided for those new to Python. |
| Weblink | Weblink |
| Admission requirements | Completed Bachelor in Business and Economics |
| Course application | Registration: Please enrol in MOnA. EUCOR-Students and students of other Swiss Universities have to enrol at the students administration office (studseksupport1@unibas.ch) within the official enrolment period. Enrolment = Registration for the exam! |
| Language of instruction | English |
| Use of digital media | Online course |
| Interval | Weekday | Time | Room |
|---|---|---|---|
| wöchentlich | Friday | 10.15-14.00 | - Online Präsenz - |
| Date | Time | Room |
|---|---|---|
| Friday 25.02.2022 | 10.15-14.00 | - Online Präsenz -, -- |
| Friday 04.03.2022 | 10.15-14.00 | - Online Präsenz -, -- |
| Friday 11.03.2022 | 10.15-14.00 | Fasnachtsferien |
| Friday 18.03.2022 | 10.15-14.00 | - Online Präsenz -, -- |
| Friday 25.03.2022 | 10.15-14.00 | - Online Präsenz -, -- |
| Friday 01.04.2022 | 10.15-14.00 | - Online Präsenz -, -- |
| Friday 08.04.2022 | 10.15-14.00 | - Online Präsenz -, -- |
| Modules |
Module: Field Electives in Economics and Public Policy (Master's Studies: Economics and Public Policy) Module: Risk Analysis (Master's Studies: Actuarial Science) Module: Specific Electives in Data Science and Computational Economics (Master's Studies: Business and Economics) Specialization Module: Areas of Specialization in International and/or Monetary Economics (Master's Studies: International and Monetary Economics) Specialization Module: Quantitative Methods (Master's Studies: Business and Economics (Start of studies before 01.08.2021)) |
| Assessment format | record of achievement |
| Assessment details | Combination of active participation, assignment(s), and final exam. written exam: 22.04.22; 10:15-11:00. WWZ S15: A-Z. |
| Assessment registration/deregistration | Reg.: course registration, dereg: cancel course registration |
| Repeat examination | no repeat examination |
| Scale | 1-6 0,1 |
| Repeated registration | as often as necessary |
| Responsible faculty | Faculty of Business and Economics , studiendekanat-wwz@unibas.ch |
| Offered by | Faculty of Business and Economics |