Data processing systems for the economy

Provide future economists knowledge of methods and tools for collection, analysis and advanced interpretation of economic datasets, including very large ones (Big Data). The didactic model is aimed at providing students with theoretical and practical knowledge of specific platforms and algorithms currently available on the market. Students will learn how to manage the typical data management process: from data ingestion to the analysis of the final results.

During the course, use will be made of real datasets and real cases in order to provide the student with new competitive skills today requested by the market. The setting of the course is aimed at facilitating the understanding of the analytical and application potential of the different techniques discussed to achieve the right balance between technical rigor and illustration of their application potential. Excel will mainly be used for the analysis of small and medium-sized structured databases. Knowledge of database management systems (DBMS) will also be provided for the analysis of larger datasets. Finally, concepts of basic Machine Learning algorithms will be introduced.

Module I - Introduction to Computer Science

History of computer science. Digital representation of information. Conversion from analog to digital. Computer architecture.

Module II - Introduction and use of Excel

Introduction to spreadsheets and the Excel environment; Basic functionality (search, find, find and replace, sort, etc.); Formulas (implementation, main formulas); Macros for data analysis; Data sets and dialogue between sheets; frequency distributions, creation of contingency tables and statistical distributions; Graphical analysis and synthesis functions for data analysis.

III Module - Introduction to the concepts of Big Data and Artificial Intelligence

Slides provided by the teacher.

Excel per gli studenti di economia e Finanza. Massimo Ballerini, Maurizio De Pra, Alberto Clerici.

Informatica e Cultura dell’Informazione, Luca Mari, Giacomo Bonanno e Donatella Sciuto

Il computer come macroscopio, Davide Bennato, Franco Angeli editore

Machine Learning: The Art and Science of Algorithms That Make Sense of Data, Peter Flach, Cambridge University Press

Big data. Una rivoluzione che trasformerà il nostro modo di vivere e già minaccia la nostra libertà. Viktor Mayer-Schönberger, Kenneth N. Cukier e R. Merlini

La patente del computer, Federico Tibone, Zanichelli