Stochastic models for finance and insurance - Lezione (2007/2008)

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Course code
4S00539
Name of lecturer
Marco Minozzo
Number of ECTS credits allocated
8
Academic sector
MAT/05 - MATHEMATICAL ANALYSIS
Language of instruction
Italian
Location
VERONA
Period
1° sem lez dal Oct 1, 2007 al Dec 21, 2007.

To show the organization of the course that includes this module, follow this link * Course organization

Lesson timetable

Learning outcomes

The course provides to students in economics and finance an overview of the theory of probability at an intermediate level.
Prerequisite to the course is an elementary knowledge of probability at the level of an undergraduate first or second year introductory course in probability and statistics.
In particular, a basic knowledge of the following topics is recommended: most common univariate discrete and continuous distributions; weak law of large numbers; central limit theorem.
The final objective of the course is to give an introduction to the advanced theory of conditional expectation, of stochastic processes in the discrete and continuous time domains and to stochastic integration.

Syllabus

Finite probability spaces: sample spaces; events; algebras and probability spaces; event trees; elementary conditional probability; independence; random variables; conditional probability and conditional expectation with respect to a finite partition.

Discrete time martingales on finite probability spaces: martingales and stopping times; betting strategies and impossibility of a winning betting strategy.

Infinite probability spaces and Kolmogorov’s axioms: infinite probability spaces; sigma-algebras; random variables: discrete, absolutely continuous and singular; conditional expectation with respect to a sigma-algebra.

Multidimensional random variables: multidimensional discrete and continuous random variables; joint distribution function; joint density function; marginal and conditional distributions; marginal and conditional densities; independence; covariance; coefficient of correlation of Bravais; Cauchy-Schwarz inequality; joint moment generating function.

Distributions of functions of random variables: transformations of random variables; method of the distribution function; distribution of the minimum and the maximum; method of the moment generating function; transform ; probability integral transform; transformations of vectors of random variables.

Limits of random variables: infinite series of random variables; convergence in probability, in distribution, with probability one (almost surely) and in mean; weak law of large numbers and law of large numbers of Bernoulli for relative frequencies; central limit theorem; Borel’s lemma and Borel’s strong law of large numbers; order statistics; empirical distribution function.

Discrete time Markov chains: Markov processes and Markov chains; homogeneous Markov chains; transition probabilities and marginal probabilities; Chapman-Kolmogorov equations; equivalence classes and irreducible chains; classification of states: transient, persistent, periodic and ergodic states; stationary distribution and ergodic theorem; Markov chain Monte Carlo and the Metropolis algorithm.

Continuous time stochastic processes: definitions and finite-dimensional distributions; filtrations; adapted processes; filtrations generated by a stochastic process; stationary processes; processes with stationary increments and with independent increments; counting processes and Poisson processes; Gaussian processes and Wiener processes (Brownian motions); Wiener process as a limit of a random walk; properties and irregularities of the sample trajectories (non derivability and infinite variation); Markov processes, transition probabilities and Chapman-Kolmogorov equations; continuous time martingales.

Stochastic integrals: overview of Riemann-Stiltjes integral; definition and properties of Itô’s integral; Itô’s formula, properties and applications; martingales associated to a Wiener process; diffusions; geometric Brownian motion and Ornstein-Uhlenbeck processes.


The course consists of a series of lectures (48 hours) and exercise classes (20 hours).
All classes are essential to a proper understanding of the topics of the course.
The working language is Italian.

Assessment methods and criteria

For the official examination both written and oral sessions are mandatory.
The course is considered completed if the candidate has done the written test and passed the oral exam.
Students that has received at least 15 out of 30 in the written exam are allowed to attend the oral exam.

Teaching aids

Documents

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