Introduction to Computing Resources

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Introduction to Computing Resources

• Research Student Seminar
• 22 October 2009, 4418
• Satoshi Miyamura (sm97_at_soas.ac.uk)
• http//mercury.soas.ac.uk/users/sm97/rss_computing
  .htm

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1. Open access computers

• Economics Research Computers (log-on restricted
  to Economics research students) moved to R301
• EViews, Stata, SPSS available in open access
  computers in L62 and V121
• For other computer labs see IT guide

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2. Departmental Courses.

• Computer Applications For Economists (Ourania
  Dimakou), term 1 weeks 1-5.
• Eviews 6 Tue, Wed, Thu, 9.00-11.00, L62.
• Stata 9 Friday 11.00-13.00, L62.
• Quantitative Methods I II (Graham Smith)
• Research Methods for Political Economy I (Satoshi
  Miyamura), term 1.

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3. Computer Courses outside of the Department.

• The IT Department runs a number of introductory
  courses in computing, the details of which are to
  be found at
• http//mercury.soas.ac.uk/it/training/ittraining.
  htm
• The courses include downloadable training manuals
  from Software Made Simple and courses run here at
  SOAS. The courses at SOAS cover Basic Computing,
  Internet and Email, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and
  Endnote. The courses are free, a 5 deposit
  being returned once you have attended the course.
• The Library runs courses on the various on-line
  bibliographic databases. Details of these will
  be published later in the term.

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4. The Economics Department Website.

• The Departmental Website
• http//www.soas.ac.uk/economics
• Course details, reading lists and additional
  resources are available from here.

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5. The IT Department Website.

• The IT Department Website is an essential source
  of information on IT services in the School.
• http//mercury.soas.ac.uk/it/index.htm
• Documentation on the rules covering the use of
  computers in the School and a range of other
  information is available from
• http//mercury.soas.ac.uk/it/docs/docindex.htm
• Of particular interest is the Quick Guide to IT
  Services for Students which sets out the basic
  information how to log on location of computer
  rooms file storage etc.
• The Guide to Printing in the Computer Labs is
  useful.
• http//mercury.soas.ac.uk/it/docs/guides/printin
  g.pdf
• The cogent points are
• Printing costs 5p per sheet, whether it is
  printed on both sides or one side. The obvious
  conclusion is for all work other than that to be
  handed in print out both sides.
• MSc Students receive an initial credit of 250
  pages, postgraduate research students receive an
  initial credit of 400 pages, after which accounts
  must be credited using the Net Print Stations in
  the Library and main Foyer.

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4. Software.

• Students can download copies of SPSS for their
  own use by following the links at
• http//mercury.soas.ac.uk/it/download/software.ph
  p
• Details are also available on software deals
  negotiated by the IT Department, such as
  bibliographic software.
• Of interest to Economists is the offer to
  students
• A student version of EViews 6 for 39.95 for a
  2-year licence
• A full version of Stata IC (version 11) in
  perpetuity for 125 http//www.timberlake.co.uk/s
  tata/index.html

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5. Data.

• Time Series Data
• Survey Data

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5.1 Time Series Data.

• Economic and Social Data Service (ESDS)
• Datastream
• World Bank Africa Database
• United Nations Common Database
• National Statistical Offices
• A list of data sources by country (University of
  Auckland)
• The Department for International Development
• The Swedish International Development Agency
• USAID

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Economic and Social Data Service (ESDS)

• ESDS International Annual Conference
• 30 November 2009, Institute of Materials,
  London
• http//www.esds.ac.uk/international/news/conf.asp
• Also ESDS presentation at SOAS scheduled in early
  2010.

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5.2 Survey Data.

• The International Household Survey Network.
• Demographic and Health Surveys (USAID).
• Living Standard Measurement Studies (World Bank).
• Firm Level Data.
• Firm Analysis and Competitiveness Surveys for the
  World Bank
• The Centre for the Study of African Economies
• Linking Macro and Micro Data (ESDS)
• Practical Exemplars and Survey Analysis (PEAS).

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6. General Internet Resources.

• The Economics Network of the Higher Education
  Academy.
• The Internet Economist.
• Search Engines.
• Intute
• Google Scholar

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Software guides

• SPSS and STATA guides by the Academic Technology
  Services Department of UCLA
• StatSoft Inc (STATISTICA)
• Statnotes by Prof G.David Garson

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7. The Careers Department.

• Career Service at SOAS
• Overseas Development Institute (ODI) fellowship
  scheme
• Government Economic Service
• Working in Development
• information of major employers of graduate
  economists in development.

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8. Library Resources.

• Federation/ Shibboleth Access.
• On-Line Journals.
• Bibliographic Databases.
• Economics Subject Guide.
• Exam papers.

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9. Miscellaneous.

• Economics Jokes.
• Bad Science.
• Dynamic Presentations of Descriptive Statistics.