AØKA08166U Behavioral Finance (F) (former Behavioral Economics and Finance)

Volume 2016/2017
Education

MSc programme in Economics – elective course

The course is part of the MSc programme in Economics (Financial line) symbolized by ‘F’.

Content

Traditional economic theory assumes that economic agents are fully rational with unlimited cognitive abilities and willpower. However, individuals frequently and systematically make decisions in contradiction with these standard presumptions. Against the background of this finding the course addresses e.g. the following questions:

  • What are the shortcomings of traditional theories in economics and finance?

  • How do the new concepts / theories in behavioral finance and behavioral economics address these shortcomings?

  • How do these new theories relate to the traditional theories and what are their strengths and limitations?

  • How do the new behavioral presumptions in behavioral finance and economics change the predictions of classical economic theories?

Learning Outcome

After completing the course, the student should be able to:

Knowledge:

  • be introduced to the field of behavioral finance.

  • understand how behavioral finance and economics attempts to understand the most important systematic behavioral departures from standard economic theories.

  • provide an in-depth overview of the most important seminal works in behavioral finance

  • be aware of the impact and relevance of the new concepts and theories presented in these seminal works.

Skills:

  • critically assess and relate the new concepts and the supporting empirical evidence put forward in the hitherto existing seminal works in behavioral finance.

  • present these new and often complex concepts in a simple / clear, but not superficial way.

Competencies:

  • apply the empirical and theoretical knowledge and the skills obtained in this course to understand real-world behavioral phenomena that lie beyond the scope of this course.

  • use their newly obtained knowledge and skills to solve decision problems that lie outside the scope of the course.

A list of required readings will be given to the students in the beginning of the course

A sound knowledge of microeconomics and game theory is required.
In the first week of the course there will be an opening lecture during which also all organizational issues are discussed. In all the following weeks there will be 2-hour lectures on different topics in behavioral finance and economics. There will be an assignment with exercises which has to be handed in the second part of the course.
Schedule:

The course consists of 2 hours of classes (lectures) every week and 2x2 hours every second week for 14 weeks.

Timetable and venue:
To see the time and location of classroom please press the link under "Se skema" (See schedule) at the right side of this page (16E means Autumn 2016).

You can find the similar information partly in English at
https:/​/​skema.ku.dk/​ku1617/​uk/​module.htm
-Select Department: “2200-Økonomisk Institut” (and wait for respond)
-Select Module:: “2200-E16; [Name of course]””
-Select Report Type: List
-Select Period: “Efterrår/Autumn – Weeks 30-3”
Press: “ View Timetable”
  • Category
  • Hours
  • Exam
  • 2
  • Lectures
  • 42
  • Preparation
  • 162
  • Total
  • 206
Credit
7,5 ECTS
Type of assessment
Written examination, 2 hours under invigilation
Individual written closed-book exam at the computers of Copenhagen University.
The exam assignment is in English and must be answered in English.
Exam registration requirements

One assignment must be approved for students to be able to sit the exam.

Aid
Without aids
Marking scale
7-point grading scale
Censorship form
External censorship
100% censorship
Exam period

The exam will take place December 14, 2016 at Peter Bangs Vej 36. 2000 Frederiksberg http:/​/​pc-eksamen.ku.dk/​pc_exam The exact time of the exam will be informed in the Self-Service at KUnet.

For enrolled students more information about examination, exam/re-sit, rules etc. is available at the student intranet for Examination (English) and student intranet for Examination (KA-Danish).

Re-exam

The written re-exam takes place February 20, 2017 at Peter Bangs Vej 36. 2000 Frederiksberg http:/​/​pc-eksamen.ku.dk/​pc_exam The exact time of the exam will be informed in the Self-Service at KUnet mid-July.

If only a few students have registered for the re-exam, the exam might change to an oral exam including the date for the exam, which will be informed  by the Examination Office.

 

Criteria for exam assesment

Students are assessed on the extent to which they master the learning outcome for the course.

To receive the top grade, the student must be able to demonstrate in an excellent manner that he or she has acquired and can make use of the knowledge, skills and competencies listed in the learning outcomes.