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Computing for Economists
(2 credits) Instructor: Vu Tuan Khai1. Course Description
This course introduces to the student basic knowledge of computing and how to work with data in economic analysis using Excel and Eviews.
2. Course Method
Basically lectures are provided, but presentations of students may be required on occasion.
3. Course Outline
Day 1 (lecture)
1. Introduction (Questionnaire, self-introduction, about the course etc)
2. The role of computing in economics and in doing economic research
Day 2 (lecture)
3. Economic data and descriptive statistics and computing them using Excel
4. Using logical functions in Excel Day 3
(lecture)
5. Using other functions in Excel
6. Drawing graphs in Excel and applications in economics Day 4
(lecture)
7. Introduction to Eviews I 8. Introduction to Eviews II Day 5
(lecture)
9. Introduction to programming in Eviews I 10.Introduction to programming in Eviews II Day 6
(presentations by students)
11.Learning regression I 12.Learning regression II Day 7
(lecture)
13.Running regression in Eviews I 14.Running regression in Eviews II Day 8
(lecture)
15.Applications of regression in economics: panel data 16.Applications of regression in economics: time series data
4. Course Objective
The objective of this course is to help the student get used to using data and computers
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for economic analysis, get used to various data sources, and develop computing and data manipulating skills, which will be helpful in doing their research. We will learn how to use Excel and Eviews for computing tasks.
In each period, the first part will be lecture given by the instructor, and the rest of the time will be used for practicing with the computer. The student will sometimes be asked to answer questions raised by the instructor, to discuss a topic, or to give a presentation.
5. Method of Assessment
Assessment is based on class attendance, homework and report submission as follows. Class attendance: 20%
Homework: 30% Report: 50%
6. Required Texts and References
Handouts are provided in class, and related materials are introduced if necessary.
7. Related Subjects
Microeconomics, Macroeconomics, Mathematics for Economists, Statistics, Applied Econometrics.
8. More information (a) About the instructor
Affiliation: Faculty of Economics, Hosei University.
Languages: Vietnamese (native), Japanese (fluent), English (fluent).
E-mail: vu.tuankhai@hosei.ac.jp.
Family name: Vu, given name: Tuan Khai (In Vietnam I am called Khai (more precisely Khải) whether at home or at school or anywhere else. By the way, students in my university call me “Khai sensei”.)
(b) Course’s webpage: I have created a webpage for this class on which materials of the course may be uploaded: https://sites.google.com/site/vutuankhai/mainpage/ynu_mpecfe.
