Mathematics for Economists II, is a course aiming at introducing students to basic mathematical concepts, linking them to sets of economic exercises that relate to real problems faced by economists. In this sense, the course forms the basis for the specific methodologies developed in individual curriculum courses (e.g. macroeconomics, microeconomics).

By the end of this course the student will be able to:

• Knowledge
• Understand basic mathematical theory (concepts, theorems, proofs).
• Recognize the theory-related mathematical formulas and describe how to solve them
• Skills
• Distinguish the different cases of mathematical problems and explain their use in relation to the mathematical problem posed.
• Calculate basic mathematical concepts (e.g. maximization of a function, partial derivative calculation).
• Specific skills
• Combine mathematical theory with economic problems.
• Rebuild the economic problem (e.g. Maximize profit in a perfectly competitive market) and explain the solution.
• Be able to evaluate, compare and support the solution.

• Functions of several variables: limits, continuity, partial derivatives,
• Differentiation,
• Maxima & minina, Lagrange multipliers,
• Difference equations, including: linear first order, second order with constant coefficients
• Introduction to linear algebra (matrix properties, matrix inversion) & linear systems, elasticity, partial elasticities,
• Economic applications

Lectures (4 hours per week) and Tutorials (1 hour per week x 13 weeks)

The overall course grade is the sum of a) the final exam grade plus b) 20 percent of the mid-term exam grade*

*The above student evaluation method is a pilot one and will be re-examined at the end of academic year 2018-2019.

Use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) (e.g. PowerPoint) in teaching. The lectures of each chapter are uploaded on the e-class platform, in the form of a series of ppt files, which the enrolled students can freely download.

Exercises and self-assessment through open-ended questions in e-class are also available.