The Mathematics for Doctoral Economics I course is designed to help students be prepared for the mathematical material typically found in the economics (especially microeconomics) and statistics courses associated with doctoral programme in economics.

The contents of this course include:

  1. constrained optimization with inequality constraints
  2. the envelope theorem
  3. calculus rules involving logs and exponentials
  4. addition, multiplication, and inversion of matrices; vector spaces; solving sets of simultaneous equations using matrices; and eigenvalues and eigenvectors
  5. unconstrained and constrained multivariable optimization
  6. Taylor series expansion
  7. the derivation of statistical functions and measures from continuous probability density functions
  8. concavity, convexity, quasi-concavity, and quasi-convexity characteristics of functions
  9. topological definitions and theorems, in particular fixed point theorems

You are welcome to register for the course if you are admitted to a doctoral programme in economics or a related subject of a recognized business school or university.

Schedule for the course:

Sept. 11, 9-10: Introduction
Sept. 15, 13-17: Units 1-2
Sept. 17, 13-16: Unit 3
Sept. 18, 9-12: Unit 4
Sept. 24, 13-16: Unit 5
Sept. 26, 12-15: Unit 6
Sept. 29, 10-12: Unit 7
Sept. 29, 13-16: Unit 8
Oct. 1, 9-12: Units 9-11
Oct. 3, 12-15 Unit 12
Oct. 8, 12-16 midterm exam
Oct. 10, 12-15: Unit 13
Oct. 13, 10-12: Unit 14
Oct. 13, 13-16: Unit 15
Oct. 15, 9-12: Unit 16
Oct. 23, 11:30-16:30 final exam

The course has a maximum of 15 places. The seats are accessible via the "first come, first served" principle. The last day to apply is September 4, 2025.

Application form Word, 58.8 kB.

Course syllabus Pdf, 105 kB.

If you have any questions, please contact the course coordinator:

Professor Scott Hacker, JIBS
scott.hacker@ju.se