GAUSS and MATLAB: A Comparison.

I compare two high-level matrix programming languages with built-in function libraries and graphics routines. Their interactive nature and convenient syntax makes them ideal for use in econometric applications. The languages are remarkably similar in terms of their features and performance. MATLAB's chief advantage is that it runs on a wider array of hardware and operating systems than GAUSS. GAUSS's main advantage is that it has better coverage of statistical and econometric routines. Overall, MATLAB's features seem best suited for analyzing time-series data and other macroeconometric applications, while GAUSS is ideal for analyzing panel data and other microeconometric applications. Copyright 1993 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.