SOAS University of London
FACULTY OF LAW AND SOCIAL SCIENCES
Department of Economics
MASTER’S DEGREES IN ECONOMICS 2017-2018
PRELIMINARY MATHEMATICS AND STATISTICS COURSES
Most of our MSc programmes, that is the MSc Economics, MSc Development Economics, MSc
Economics with reference to a Region, MSc International Finance and Development, MSc
Economics with reference to Environment and Development, MSc Research for International
Development, and MSc Political Economy of Development, begin on Wednesday 6th September
2017 with compulsory preliminary courses in Mathematics and Statistics. These are taught between
Wednesday 6th and Friday 22nd September 2017 with a compulsory exam on Monday 25th September
2017.
The teaching is in three parts:
The first part covers the mathematics component of the course and will run from 6th September to the
14th September. The second part covers the statistics component of the course and runs from 15th
September to 22nd September. The third is a computer workshop, in which each student attends a
three hour workshop.
On Monday 25th September 2017 there will be a three-hour examination.
The course is intended to be a refresher course: the material covered will be the mathematics and
statistics normally taught in the undergraduate programme of a BSc Economics degree. The course
will provide the essential foundation for the MSc modules in Quantitative Methods, Statistical
Research Techniques, Macroeconomics and Microeconomics.
It will be assumed that all students are familiar with elementary algebra, calculus and probability
theory, including:
 Functional relationships and graphs
 Equations and inequalities
 Solutions to linear and quadratic equations
 Solution of simple simultaneous equations
 The concept of a derivative and rules for differentiation
 Basic probability theory
 Random variables and distributions
Topics covered include the following:
Maths. Wednesday 6th to Thursday 14th Sept. inclusive (7 days) from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
1. Linear Algebra
2. Calculus
3. Exponential and Logarithmic Functions
4. Optimisation
5. Constrained Optimisation
Statistics: Friday 15th to Friday 22nd Sept. inclusive (6 days) from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
1. Descriptive Statistics
2. Probability theory and random variables
3. Probability models and distributions
4. Point and interval estimation
5. Small and large sample properties of estimators
6. Hypothesis testing
Computer Workshop: Monday 11th to Wednesday 13th Sept. inclusive 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. in G50.
1. Web based data sources (e.g. Datastream/Eikon, UK Dataservice)
2. Citation Indices (e.g. IBSS, Social Science Citations Index)
3. Electronic resources for full-text articles (e.g. JSTOR, EBSCOhost, EconLit)
4. Library induction
SOAS University of London
FACULTY OF LAW AND SOCIAL SCIENCES
Department of Economics
The following textbooks will also be useful for the course:
Mathematics:
 C. Chiang and K. Wainwright, Fundamental Methods of Mathematical Economics, 4th Edition,
McGraw-Hill, 2005.
 E. T. Dowling, Introduction to Mathematical Economics, 3rd Edition, McGraw-Hill, 2012.
 I. Jacques, Mathematics for Economics and Business, 7th Edition, Prentice Hall, 2013.
 R. L. Thomas, Using Mathematics in Economics, 2nd Edition, Addison-Wesley Longman, 1999
Statistics:
 D. Gujarati and D.C. Porter, Basic Econometrics, 5th Edition, Mc-Graw-Hill, 2009; Particularly
the Statistical Appendix.
 M. Barrow, Statistics for Economics, Accounting and Business Studies, 6th Edition, Prentice
Hall, 2013.
 R. L. Thomas, Using Statistics in Economics, McGraw-Hill, 2005.
CLASS ROOM SESSIONS WILL BE HELD IN (TBC). COMPUTER WORKSHOP SESSIONS WILL
BE HELD IN ROOM G50, GROUND FLOOR, IN THE PHILLIPS BUILIDNG (MAIN BUILDING).
DAY
DATE
TIME
MORNING
SESSION
ROOM
Wednesday
6th
10 - 1pm
Mathematics
TBC
Thursday
7th
10 -1pm
Mathematics
TBC
Friday
8th
10 -1pm
Mathematics
TBC
DAY
DATE
TIME
MORNING
SESSION
ROOM
TIME
ROOM
Monday
11th
10 - 1pm
Mathematics
TBC
Computer workshop
2-5pm
G50
Tuesday
12th
10 -1pm
Mathematics
TBC
Computer workshop
2-5pm
G50
Wednesday
13th
10 - 1pm
Mathematics
TBC
Computer workshop
2-5pm
G50
Thursday
14th
10 -1pm
Mathematics
TBC
Friday
15rd
10 -1pm
Statistics
TBC
DAY
DATE
TIME
MORNING
SESSION
ROOM
Monday
18th
10 - 1pm
Statistics
TBC
Tuesday
19th
10 - 1pm
Statistics
TBC
Wednesday
20th
10 - 1pm
Statistics
TBC
Thursday
21st
10 - 1pm
Statistics
TBC
Friday
22nd
10 -1pm
Statistics
TBC
DAY
DATE
TIME
MORNING
SESSION
ROOM
Monday
25th
10 - 1pm
Exam
TBC
AFTERNOON SESSION
If you have any queries please contact the Department of Economics at
[email protected]