"Judd's book is a masterpiece which will help transform the way economic
theory is done. It harnesses the computer revolution in the service of
economic theory by collecting together a whole array of numerical
methods to simulate and quantify models that used to be purely algebraic
and qualitative." -- Avinash K. Dixit, Sherrerd University Professor of
Economics, Princeton University
To harness the full power of computer technology, economists need to use
a broad range of mathematical techniques. In this book, Kenneth Judd
presents techniques from the numerical analysis and applied mathematics
literatures and shows how to use them in economic analyses.
The book is divided into five parts. Part I provides a general
introduction. Part II presents basics from numerical analysis on
Rn, including linear equations, iterative methods, optimization,
nonlinear equations, approximation methods, numerical integration and
differentiation, and Monte Carlo methods. Part III covers methods for
dynamic problems, including finite difference methods, projection
methods, and numerical dynamic programming. Part IV covers perturbation
and asymptotic solution methods. Finally, Part V covers applications to
dynamic equilibrium analysis, including solution methods for perfect
foresight models and rational expectation models. A web site contains
supplementary material including programs and answers to exercises.
Kenneth L. Judd is a Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution.