diff --git a/matlab/utilities/dates/date2string.m b/matlab/utilities/dates/date2string.m
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..bc3233925
--- /dev/null
+++ b/matlab/utilities/dates/date2string.m
@@ -0,0 +1,51 @@
+function s = date2string(varargin)
+ 
+% Returns date as a string.
+%
+% INPUTS 
+%  o varargin{1}     + dynDates object with one element, if nargin==1.
+%                    + 1*2 vector of integers (first element is the year, second element is the subperiod), if nargin==2.
+%  o varargin{2}     integer scalar equal to 1, 4, 12 or 52 (frequency).
+%
+% OUTPUTS 
+%  o s               string.
+    
+% Copyright (C) 2013 Dynare Team
+%
+% This file is part of Dynare.
+%
+% Dynare is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+% it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
+% the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or
+% (at your option) any later version.
+%
+% Dynare is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+% but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+% MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+% GNU General Public License for more details.
+%
+% You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
+% along with Dynare.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+    
+if isequal(nargin,1) 
+    if ~(isa(varargin{1},'dynDates') && isequal(length(varargin{1}),1))
+        error(['dynDates::format: Input argument ' inputname(1) ' has to be a dynDates object with one element!'])
+    else
+        time = varargin{1}.time;
+        freq = varargin{1}.freq;
+    end
+end
+
+if isequal(nargin,2)
+    if ~(isvector(varargin{1}) && isequal(length(varargin{1}),2) && all(isint(varargin{1})) && isscalar(varargin{2} && ismember(varargin{2},[1 4 12 52])))
+        error(['dynDates::format: First input must be a 1*2 vector of integers and second input must be a scalar integer (1, 4, 12 or 52)!'])
+    else
+        time = varargin{1};
+        freq = varargin{2};
+    end
+end
+
+s = [num2str(time(1)) freq2string(freq)];
+if freq>1
+    s = strcat(s, num2str(time(2)));
+end
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/matlab/utilities/dates/freq2string.m b/matlab/utilities/dates/freq2string.m
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..2ef00da9f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/matlab/utilities/dates/freq2string.m
@@ -0,0 +1,37 @@
+function s = freq2string(freq)
+
+% INPUTS 
+%  o freq     scalar integer,  equal to 1, 4, 12 or 52 (resp. annual, quaterly, monthly or weekly)
+%
+% OUTPUTS 
+%  o s        character, equal to Y, Q, M or W (resp. annual, quaterly, monthly or weekly)
+    
+% Copyright (C) 2013 Dynare Team
+%
+% This file is part of Dynare.
+%
+% Dynare is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+% it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
+% the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or
+% (at your option) any later version.
+%
+% Dynare is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+% but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+% MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+% GNU General Public License for more details.
+%
+% You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
+% along with Dynare.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+
+switch freq
+  case 1
+    s = 'Y';
+  case 4
+    s = 'Q';
+  case 12
+    s = 'M';
+  case 52
+    s = 'W';
+  otherwise
+    error('dynDates::freq2string: Unknown frequency!')
+end
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/matlab/utilities/dates/string2freq.m b/matlab/utilities/dates/string2freq.m
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..f0b46bc3b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/matlab/utilities/dates/string2freq.m
@@ -0,0 +1,37 @@
+function freq = string2freq(s)
+
+% INPUTS 
+%  o s        character, equal to Y, Q, M or W (resp. annual, quaterly, monthly or weekly)
+%
+% OUTPUTS 
+%  o freq     scalar integer,  equal to 1, 4, 12 or 52 (resp. annual, quaterly, monthly or weekly)
+    
+% Copyright (C) 2013 Dynare Team
+%
+% This file is part of Dynare.
+%
+% Dynare is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+% it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
+% the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or
+% (at your option) any later version.
+%
+% Dynare is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+% but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+% MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+% GNU General Public License for more details.
+%
+% You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
+% along with Dynare.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+
+switch s
+  case 'Y'
+    freq = 1;
+  case 'Q'
+    freq = 4;
+  case 'M'
+    freq = 12;
+  case 'W'
+    freq = 52;
+  otherwise
+    error('dynDates::freq2string: Unknown frequency!')
+end
\ No newline at end of file