Which classes to take?

[asianeconomist]

Originally Posted by Harry Lime

There's a very similar class to this that is offered at my school that I was considering taking next semester because I can fit it into my schedule and I'd like to take any math rather than nothing.

Can anyone tell me if these topics are useful in ANY way down the line? Not even in economics, but just in general math thinking?

You're not joking, right !

I haven't come across any Econ papers that utilize any of the aforementioned techniques, but then again What do I know ?

[buckykatt]

Originally Posted by Harry Lime

Can anyone tell me if these topics are useful in ANY way down the line? Not even in economics, but just in general math thinking?

For economics, no. For general math thinking & as a signal, yes, though not better than a more applicable course such as real analysis. My take on it is that if you're the sort of person who enjoys math enough to want to do an econ PhD, then you might enjoy the course and, as you say, any math is better than no math.

[Harry Lime]

Originally Posted by asianeconomist

I haven't come across any Econ papers that utilize any of the aforementioned techniques

Then maybe I'll be the first.

[Harry Lime]

Originally Posted by buckykatt

For economics, no. For general math thinking & as a signal, yes, though not better than a more applicable course such as real analysis. My take on it is that if you're the sort of person who enjoys math enough to want to do an econ PhD, then you might enjoy the course and, as you say, any math is better than no math.

I love math, but I wonder if this kind of class is full of junk that's so applied it's not even math anymore. It's not even in the math department at my school, it's in computer science.

[asianeconomist]

Originally Posted by Harry Lime

Then maybe I'll be the first.

LOL. To boldly go where no economist has gone before.

[buckykatt]

Originally Posted by Harry Lime

I love math, but I wonder if this kind of class is full of junk that's so applied it's not even math anymore. It's not even in the math department at my school, it's in computer science.

Hmm.. then perhaps you're right to be suspicious. And I don't see the words "vector space" anywhere in that description, so...

I'd probably still enjoy it, but I'm a computer geek.