HARVARD UNIVERSITY

SUMMER SCHOOL 2007

ECONOMICS S-110
QUANTITATIVE METHODS IN ECONOMICS AND BUSINESS

Reading List
Professor: Subramanian Swamy
e-mail: swamy@post.harvard.edu
mobile: 857 222 4373

(i) MAIN TEXT: HOY,MICHAEL ET AL: Mathematics for Economists (MIT Press)
(ii) OPTIONAL ADDL TEXT: SCHAUM’S OUTLINE SERIES on Set Theory, Linear
Algebra and Advanced Calculus (McGraw Hill).
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Date Topic No. of Lectures
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June 26-28 I. Elementary Set Theory 2
1. Sets, Relations, and Orderings
2. Ways of representing functions,
Elementary functions, Function of
functions, Inverse functions,
Special functions: Convex and Concave;
Homogenous and Homothetic
3. Applications in economics; Revealed Preference
(HOY ET AL; CHAP 2; PP. 11-66)

July 3-5 II. Limits and Continuity 2

1. Real Numbers; Sequences
2. Theory of Limits; Concept of Infinitesimal
3. Continuity
(HOY ET AL; CHAPS 3-5; PP 67-278)

July 10-12 III. Elementary Linear Algebra 2

1. Vector Space
2. Matrices, Determinants, Eigenvalues, and
Quadratic Forms
(HOY ET AL; CHAPS 7-10; PP. 279-454)
 ..2..

July 17-19 IV. Multivariate Differential Calculus 3

1. Partial Derivatives
2. Implicit Function Theorem; Jacobian
3. Mean Value Theorems; 1’Hospital Rule
4. Taylor series and theory of approximations
5. Euler’s Theorem
6. Applications in Economics.
(HOY ET AL; CHAP 11; PP.455-544)

July 24 Mid-Term Test [One hour on I, II & III above)

July 26-31 V. Optimization Theory 2

1. First and Second Order Conditions in
Unconstrained Optimization
2. Classical Constrained Optimization;
Lagrange Multipliers
4. Samuelson’s Theorems of Comparative Statics
5. Concept of Duality
(HOY ET AL; CHAPS 12-14; PP. 455-676)

August 2-6 VI. The Integral 2

1. Lower and Upper Integral sums
2. Definite Integral as a Limit. Basic properties
3. Fundamental Theorem of Calculus
4. Methods of integrating indefinite integrals
5. Applications in economics; Introductory
Multiple Integrals
(HOY ET AL; 16; PP. 701-752)
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