Useful software for Economists

Here is a list of useful software for economists. The purpose is to a) inform you about programs that you might want to use and b) give links to documentation. This is necessarily a limited selection, meant to reflect programs that I have actually seen being used. "Free", "semi-Free", and "free" software alternatives are highlighted (What I mean by Free, semi-Free, and free)!
If you would like to add something, please let me know (send me an email).


I want to write a paper: (back to top)
Often people use LaTeX or LaTeX-derived programs for writing papers. This is because LaTeX produces nice maths, and because it allows you (to some extent) to specify the structure and form of your document separately. Typically, you would specify the structure (this is a section, this is the title), and then use the format specified by someone else (e.g. the format used by a journal).

I want to do some econometrics: (back to top)
There are several options: You can try to use a program that already has a lot of functionality built in (either with a point-and-click interface, or a text interface). This will work, unless you have some non-standard procedures or tests that you want to carry out. You would then need to program, probably in a matrix programming language, to make things simpler. Many matrix programming languages will have modules or packages that can be loaded that allow you to carry out standard procedures (such as e.g. a panel regression).

I want to do algebra with the computer: (back to top)
Need to solve a large polynomial? To do a complicated derivative/ integral? You want a Computer Algebra System.

My program needs to be faster: (back to top)
Your code isn't running fast enough, and you have already optimized the algorithms? Try these (all cross-platform):



The distinction between "Free", "semi-Free", and "free": (back to top)
"free" (gratis): you don't have to pay to use this product (in some circumstances).
"Free" (libre): you don't have to pay to use this product. You can look at the source code. You can modify it. You can even distribute it to others (under some conditions). There are no restrictions on how people can use your modified code.
"semi-Free" (libre): you don't have to pay to use this product. You can look at the source code. You can modify it. You can even distribute it to others (under some conditions). There are restrictions on how people can use your modified code.
There are some very good arguments as to why "Free" is better than "semi-Free", which in turn is better than "free".

Here is a more careful discussion of Categories of Free and Non-Free Software.




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