Program Language

[CSE2525]

Before I start a PhD program, hopefully in Finance, I was wondering what program language, if any, would be useful to learn. Or other skills such as that that will prove to be beneficial.

[zshfryoh1]

In the FE world, C/C++ are most commonly used, though there are people who use Java (or still use Fortran). However, this is for FE practicioners, and academics will often not need it depending on what type of research they are doing.

Generally speaking, for finance and econ you want to have a passing familiarity with one computer algebra system, usually Matlab, Maple or Mathematica, and the same for one statistical software package, usually Stata, R, SAS or SPlus, though some people use EViews or Gretl.

If you want to know a general purpose programming language, go with C++ or Java because they are the two most commonly used, but I doubt knowledge of either is necessary for academics since they are primarily used by FE practicioners though knowledge of a general purpose programming language never hurts.

[taxPhD]

C++ is certainly what I would recommend.

In terms of stats programs they have us learning SAS here at Arizona in Accounting. I had MATLAB experience in undergrad, but I am not sure how much I will use it in accounting.