AØKK08129U Seminar: Behavioral Economics in Action

Volume 2017/2018
Education

MSc programme in Economics

The seminar is primarily for students at the MSc 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 use behavioral economics to change people behavior. Emphasis will be on presenting and discussing specific topics in this literature: for instance, applications on health, education, dishonesty, environment, charitable giving, voting, saving and spending.

Learning Outcome

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

Knowledge:

  • review the most recent findings of behavioral economics and how to apply them to public policy.

 

Skills:

  • identify the causes of a specific irrational behavior and analyze the consequences of this behavior for the society.

 

Competencies:

  • design (or conduct) experiments and policy interventions aiming at ameliorate societal well-being and improve people’s life.
Literature

Books (some more technical than others):

Ariely, D. (2010). The upside of irrationality.

Cialdini, R. B. (2006). Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion.

List, J., & Gneezy, U. (2014). The why axis: Hidden motives and the undiscovered economics of everyday life.

Dhami, S. (2016). The Foundations of Behavioral Economic Analysis.

Kling, J. R., Congdon, W. J., & Mullainathan, S. (2011). Policy and choice: public finance through the lens of behavioral economics.

Kahneman, D. (2011). Thinking, fast and slow.

Thaler, R. H., & Sunstein, C. R. (2008). Nudge: Improving decisions about health, wealth, and happiness.

Articles/reports:

Ly, K., Mazar, N., Zhao, M., Soman, D.; (2013) A Practitioner's Guide to Nudging; Research Report Series, Rotman School of Management.

Madrian Brigitte C. (2014) Applying Insights from Behavioral Economics to Policy Design. Annu. Rev. Econ. 2014. 6:30.1–30.26

Egan M. (2013) Nudge Database. Stirling Behavioural Science Blog.

Note: More specific papers will be suggested once the students have decided the topic of their seminar paper.

It is recommended to have followed the course Science of Behavior Change before or at the same time as the seminar.
The student should have a sound knowledge of Behavioral and Experimental Economics.
The students should also have a basic knowledge of microeconomics, statistics and econometrics (basic courses taught at BA level).
Kick-off meeting, research and writing process of the seminar paper, sessions with presentation of own paper and critical evaluation/feedback to another student´s paper, actively participating in discussions at class.

Before the session a "so-finalized-as-possible"-draft of the paper must be uploaded in Absalon. After the presentations, the student submit an edited version of the paper in the Digital Exam portal as the final exam paper. The aim is that students use the presentation sessions as an opportunity to receive and use the constructive feedback to improve the paper.
Schedule:
Autumn 2017:
• Kick-off meeting: September 8, 2017, from 13:00 to 15:00
• Deadline of commitment paper: not later than October 1 at 10 AM
• Deadline of pre-paper upload in Absalon: A week before the presentations
• Presentations/Workshops: November 21-23

Students have the possibility to attend a weekly meeting where they can interact with other students and scholars interested in behavioral economics (more info here: https:/​/​sites.google.com/​site/​tribecopenhagen).

Spring 2018:
• Kick-off meeting: February 5, 2018, from 13:00 to 15:00
• Deadline of commitment paper: not later than March 1 at 10 AM
• Deadline of pre-paper upload in Absalon: A week before the presentations
• Presentations/Workshops: May 22-24, 2018

Students have the possibility to attend a weekly meeting where they can interact with other students and scholars interested in behavioral economics (more info here: https:/​/​sites.google.com/​site/​tribecopenhagen).
  • Category
  • Hours
  • Project work
  • 186
  • Seminar
  • 20
  • Total
  • 206
Credit
7,5 ECTS
Type of assessment
Written examination
- a seminar paper in English that meets the formal requirements for written papers stated in the curriculum and at KUNet for seminars.
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Exam registration requirements

Attendance in all activities at the seminar as stated in the formal requrements in the Curriculum and at the KUnet for seminars (UK) and Kunet for seminars (DK) is required to participate in the exam.

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Aid
All aids allowed
Marking scale
7-point grading scale
Censorship form
External censorship
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Exam period

Autumn 2017:

Deadline for uploading the final seminar exam paper to DE: 1st of December 2017 before 10:00 AM

 

Spring 2018:

Deadline for uploading the final seminar exam paper to DE: 1st of June 2018 before 10:00 AM

 

Exam information:

For enrolled students more information about examination, rules, exam schedule etc. is available at the intranet for master students (UK) and  master students (DK)

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Re-exam

The reexam is a written paper as stated in the  Master curriculum and at the KUnet for seminars for master students (UK) and master students (DK). 

 

Exam information:

For enrolled students more information about re-examination, rules, re-exam schedule etc. is available at the intranet for  master students (UK) and  master students (DK)

Criteria for exam assesment

Students are assessed on the extent to which they master the learning outcome for the seminar and the objectives stated in the Curriculum.

To receive the top grade, the student must with no or only a few minor weaknesses be able to demonstrate an excellent performance displaying a high level of command of all aspects of the relevant material and can make use of the knowledge, skills and competencies listed in the learning outcomes.