Development Economics

The primary goal of this course is to equip students with essential mathematical tools that are crucial for a comprehensive understanding of the foundations and methodologies in modern economic analysis. These tools will prove particularly beneficial in subsequent courses, with a specific emphasis on Microeconomics.During Week 1, we will conduct a thorough review of calculus and linear algebra, concurrently introducing the concept of a fixed point. Moving into Week 2, our focus will shift to the study of optimization—the fundamental mathematical framework economists employ to model the decision-making process among agents faced with various alternatives.Week 3 will be dedicated to exploring difference and differential equations, essential tools economists utilize to depict the dynamic evolution of economic phenomena over time. Shifting our attention to Weeks 4 and 5, we will delve into the calculus of probability, serving as the mathematical foundation for the examination of risk. This understanding is particularly critical in fields like finance. In Week 6, we will study a more advanced topic in optimization, dynamic optimization, useful for macroeconomics.By the end of this course, students will have acquired a robust mathematical toolkit that forms the basis for a good comprehension of economic theories and practices.This course is part of the "Market Analysis" Program. If you wish to follow this course, you need to enrol via the Program at this link. 

WELCOME TO THE ONLINE MASTER IN ECONOMICS AND FINANCEThe online Master's degree in Economics and Finance (MEF) provides students with theoretical knowledge in economics and finance. It also equips them with the tools for data analysis and model simulation used in both industry and academia.This program offers a diverse range of graduate-level courses encompassing finance, microeconomics, macroeconomics, mathematics, and econometrics. Elective courses are categorized into two distinct tracks: Financial Markets and Economic Policy.The fully online format provides the flexibility to balance your studies with work commitments, and fosters connections with instructors and peers from the convenience of your chosen location.Drawing on 30 years' experience and expertise delivering an on-campus master's program in Economics and Finance at the Department of Economics and Statistics, University of Naples Federico II, our online program promises a rich and enriching educational experience.Enrolment for the Master’s program is now closed.If you are already enrolled, please log in using your credentials.      

The course covers the pillars of data analysis and statistical modeling, focusing on applications in social sciences, particularly economics and finance, and exploring the main ingredients of econometrics at an intermediate level. Emphasis is put on conceptual issues as well as technical and practical issues. All methods are shown from both the methodological and the computational perspectives. Computing is performed using the R computing language. Practical strategies are constantly introduced and motivated based on rigorous methodological and mathematical treatment. Estimation and inference are based on the least square method. In addition, the finite sample inference is covered based on the Gaussian error assumption. Both classical and modern model validation techniques are explored with a particular emphasis on the predictive viewpoint, which is central to modern data science. 

The objective of the course is to equip the students with the analytical tools to understand Microeconomics: the study of economic activity including individuals and firms from the point of view of individual decision-making units. The course is foundational for a broad range of other subjects in Economics and as such highly abstract and fairly demanding from a mathematical point of view.This course will begin with the analysis of individual preferences, and then proceed to models of consumer behavior, including labor supply decisions. Multiple individual consumers will then be considered to form a “pure exchange economy.” The existence of equilibrium in these economies will then be discussed, together with their welfare and distributional properties.This course is part of the "Market Analysis" Program. If you wish to follow this course, you need to enrol via the Program at this link.