Introducing the

Cool Economics Pack

Introduction

This notebook and collection of packages provide for an introduction to the Cool Economics Pack.

This software has proven its usefulness many times over. The Pack has been written in the course of some five years of research, teaching and practical decision support. Covered are various areas of economics, related to the projects that I was enrolled in. Often the need was felt to also provide for some general extensions in econometrics, statistics and system enhancement. The Pack now collects and integrates more than 50 Mathematica packages and more than 100 explanatory notebooks. The software is of a basic rather than grand nature, but it provides a working environment that many will enjoy to have.

A review of the Pack was published in The Economic Journal, July 1 1998, v 108 n 449, page 1229-1234, authored by Ron Shone. There have been more improvements since then.

On the internet, the Pack sells at http://www.can.nl/~cool and at http://store.wolfram.com/view/coolecon/.

Freely available selection

The following packages are made freely available:

1) The fully operational packages Common`, Context`, Declare`, `Manager`, List`, Tool` and Graphics` - i.e. the packages that always are loaded when using the Pack.
2) The usage statements and usage structure of the other packages that can be loaded optionally.

By making this selection freely available, prospective users can better judge on the design, functionality and interdependence of the packages.

Also, as the circle of users widens, everybody will benefit from knowing what software there is. You may be saved from creating 'name conflicts' (that you might want to avoid also for the users of your own software), or you may be saved from re-inventing the wheel. (By re-inventing I also mean that while Mathematica makes wonderful programming, producing a functional finished product still is hard work.)

The file

The file included is a GZip file. Windows and Macintosh users need to have an uncompression utility such as WinZip, Stuffit Deluxe, or Stuffit and DropStuff with Expander Enhancer.
It should be expanded in Mathematica's AddOns/Applications directory.

Getting started

Needs["Cool`Common`"]

$ContextPath

Fully functional are:

$Cool

?Contents

Contents /@ $Cool

Usage statements are provided for the other packages:

CoolPack

Cool[AGE]

Please note

Please note that this selection of files is just introductory. The proper Pack also comes with an extensive help function and with example notebooks. Again, see the internet here.

Author & Copyright

Thomas Cool
Rotterdamsestraat 69
2586 GH Scheveningen
Holland
http://www.can.nl/~cool
September 6 1998