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MATH-S400

Mathematics and economic modelling



BROCHURE

academic year

2025-2026

2026-2027

Course teacher(s)

Thomas DEMUYNCK (Coordinator), Bram DE ROCK and Luca Paolo MERLINO

ECTS credits

Language(s) of instruction

english

Course content

The course covers some important theoretical results/concepts in Economics:

Arrows impossibility theorem
Gibbard Satterthwaite theorem
Theorem of the alternative (and applications)
Bargaining solutions
NTU Matching
TU Matching
House allocation

Objectives (and/or specific learning outcomes)

The main goal of this course are:

Provide the student with some necessary mathematical skills and tools to pursue more advanced courses in economics.
Show how mathematical modelling can be used to analyze economic questions
Make sure students are able to understand, verify and construct proofs.

Prerequisites and Corequisites

Required and Corequired knowledge and skills

The course is self containt but has sometimes a rapid pace. It is adviced that students have some prior knowledge in terms of mathematics.

Teaching methods and learning activities

Lectures
Group work.

References, bibliography, and recommended reading

Chiang, A.C. and K. Wainwright, "Fundamental Methods of Mathematical Economics", Economic series, McGraw-Hill.
MasCollel, A., M. Whinston and J. Green, "Microeconomic theory", Oxford university press. (Appendix)
Simon, C.P. and L. Blume, "Mathematics for economists", Norton.
Vohra, R., "Advanced Mathematical Economics" Routledge advanced texts in economics and finance.

Course notes

Syllabus
Université virtuelle

Contribution to the teaching profile

Mastering the theoretical tools used in economics such that the student can use them for his/her own research. Knowledge of the essential mathematical tools used in contemporary economic research. Select and apply the theoretical tools of economics to specific problems in order to provide relevant solutions. Be able to understand and follow a proof.
The learning objectives relevant for the MATH-S400 course are:

LO1.2: Identify and apply the relevant analytical tools and scientific knowledge to analyse an economic problem in depth
LO2.1: Adopt a scientific approach to data collection, research and analysis and communicate results with clear, structured and sophisticated arguments

Other information

Contacts

Thomas Demuynck (thomas.demuynck@ulb.be)

Campus

Solbosch

Evaluation

Method(s) of evaluation

written examination
Oral presentation
Group work
Other

written examination

Oral presentation

Group work

Other

Grading consists of 2 parts:

14/20 of the grade is based on a written exam (open book).
6/20 of the grade is based on an individual or group work (find an interesting economic result. Write note and oral defense)

The instructor reserves the right to invite any student to an additional oral examination in order to verify their personal mastery of the content of the submitted examination, particularly where inconsistencies identified in the examination prevent the instructor from properly assessing the student’s level of mastery of the knowledge and skills targeted by the course.