UCL - Dynamical Methods in Economics

[ECON2600]

[30h] 5 credits

Teacher(s): Raouf Boucekkine

Language: English

Level: Second

Aims
Main themes
Content and teaching methods
Other information (prerequisite, evaluation (assessment methods), course materials recommended readings, ...)

Aims

This course is designed to rigorously present the main methods needed to analyze the standard models of eco-nomic dynamics. It principally emphasizes three major sets of methods : those needed for a proper study of sta-bility of dynamic systems, those usually applied to detect complex dynamics, and finally the optimization techniques in dynamic frameworks (specially optimal control). The final assessment will require the assimila-tion of both the theoretical foundations and the applied aspects related to these methods.

Main themes

The lectures start with a short characterization of the dynamic systems encountered in economics (differential or difference systems, discrete and continuous time systems, stochastic or deterministic), and introduce to the reso-lution techniques, with a special emphasis on differential systems. Stability theory is then developed in detail, including some advanced materiel (Lyapunov theory, local and global stability, linearization and the Hartman-Grobman theorem, Barbashin-Krasovskii theorem, Barbalat lemmaetc). The lack of stability may give rise to irregular and even strange dynamics, and the third part of the course precisely develops the techniques al-lowing to detect such complex dynamics (bifurcation theory mainly). The last lectures are devoted to dynamic optimisation tools: calculus of variations and optimal control, plus some elementary notions on dynamic pro-gramming.

Content and teaching methods

See previous outlines.

Other information (prerequisite, evaluation (assessment methods), course materials recommended readings, ...)

Mathematics and Statistics for Economists

Written

A Detailed bibiography will be given for each theme tackled along the way.

By the professor, no assistant assigned.