As an economist who was once a physicist, I have to say that there is quite a lot of difference between the kinds of math economics and physics typically use. Sure, they both use calculus, but beyond that the similarities are scarce.
Differential equations across space and time dominate physics, but have almost no place in economics. In physics one almost always knows the specific form of a function or differential equation, while in economics one typically does not know the specific functional forms, and so must reason in terms of "convexity" etc., concepts that are foreign to most physicists. Math of maximization dominates economics, but has only a side supporting role in physics. When physicists do maximize, they almost never deal with non-interior solutions. While some basic concepts of information and probability are used in thermodynamics, economists deal with these issues in far more detail. Robin Hanson [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://hanson.gmu.edu Asst. Prof. Economics, George Mason University MSN 1D3, Carow Hall, Fairfax VA 22030-4444 703-993-2326 FAX: 703-993-2323
