AØKK08129U Seminar: Behavioral Economics in Action

Volume 2014/2015
Education
M.Sc, of Economics
(Only available for Master students at Department of Economics)
Content

Over the last 30 years, psychologists and economists have gained a deeper understanding of what motivates people, how they process information, and what non-economic features of the choice environment influence decisions. This seminar builds on this recent work of behavioral economics and allows the student to develop a hands-on approach and learn how the context can be modified to “nudge” choice. Emphasis will be on presenting and discussing a specific topics in this literature. The main themes which will be covered in the course are:

  • Cheating and unethical behavior
  • Willpower and self-regulation
  • Libertarian paternalism and choice architecture
Learning Outcome

The structure of the course will be the following:

  1. Introduction: The course will be introduced by 1-2 lectures which outline the main idea and the relevant literature.

Students are required to write a 12-page paper on a subject of their own choice within one of the course’s main themes. The paper can take various forms. One possibility is to do thorough analysis and discussion of a journal article published in a good economics journal. A second possibility is that students perform their own experimental intervention where they replicate and/or extend a published paper and/or propose alternative experimental design. In this case, the teacher will assist students with the experimental design.

  • Ariely Dan (2012). The (Honest) Truth About Dishonesty: How We Lie to Everyone–Especially Ourselves.
  • Roy Baumeister and John Tierney (2011). Willpower: Rediscovering the Greatest Human Strength
  • Sunstein, Cass and Thaler, Richard (2008). Nudge: Improving Decisions about Health, Wealth, and Happiness. Yale University Press.
  • A number of journal articles.
B.Sc. of Economics
This seminar does not require any previous knowledge of behavioral economics. The references reported above introduce to the topic. However, students should have some basic knowledge of microeconomics, statistics and econometrics (basic courses taught at BA level).
Planning meeting ind the begining of the semester,informed by the teacher, writing seminar paper during the semester and presentations at the end of the semester. More informations will be uploaded at Absalon by the teacher.
  • Category
  • Hours
  • Exam
  • 0,3
  • Seminar
  • 0
  • Total
  • 0,3
Credit
7,5 ECTS
Type of assessment
Written assignment
Oral examination, 20 min under invigilation
A written seminar paper and a oral presentation for the others participans at the seminar.
Exam registration requirements
Attendance on the seminar. The mandatory commitment paper and seminar paper have been handed in at deadline.
Aid

Al aids for the written seminarpaper.

For the oral presentation the slices for the presentation. The teather can specifiy what els is allowed.

Marking scale
7-point grading scale
Censorship form
External censorship
up to 20 % censorship at the seminarpaper
Exam period
Is decided and informed by the teacher at the compulsive planningmeeting.
Re-exam
As ordinary.
Criteria for exam assesment

The student must in a satisfactory way demonstrate that he/she has mastered the learning outcome of the course.