AØKK08141U Seminar: Experiments in Economics

Volume 2015/2016
Education

MSc of Economics
The seminar is primary for students at the MSc of Economics

Content

To give the students hands-on experience with developing a testable hypothesis within their field of interest, with designing the data collection (i.e. experiment) that is necessary to test the hypothesis, and with communicating their insights and knowledge to others. The students will also get a feeling of the different types of experiments that are conducted in economics (e.g. lab, field, and natural experiments).

Learning Outcome

The students will get experience with:

  • Written and oral communication

  • Behavioral economics

  • Experimental design

  • Causal inference arguments

  • Hypothesis testing

  • Microeconometrics

  • Literature review

 

The students can work with a topic of their interest, for instance:

  • Nudging
  • Risk preferences

  • Time preferences

  • Other-regarding preferences

  • Discrimination

  • Auction theory

  • Trust attitudes

  • Law and economics

  • Matching mechanisms

  • Health economics

  • Finance

  • Environmental economics

  • Development economics

  • Economics of education

Charness, Gary, Uri Gneezy, and Michael A. Kuhn. 2012. “Experimental methods. Between-subject and within-subject design.” Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, 81(1): 1-8.

Charness, Gary, Uri Gneezy, and Michael A. Kuhn. 2013. “Experimental methods: Extra-laboratory experiments-extending the reach of experimental economics.” Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, 81(1): 1-8.

Cochrane, John H. 2005. “Writing Tips for Ph. D. Students.” Unpublished.

Fréchette, Guillaume R. 2011. “Laboratory Experiments: Professionals versus Students.” Unpublished.

Fréchette, Guillaume R. 2012. “Session‐Effects in the Laboratory.” Experimental Economics, 15(3): 485‐498.

Harrison, Glenn W., and John A. List. 2004. “Field Experiments.” Journal of Economic Literature, 42(4): 1009-1055.

Levitt, Steven D. and John A. List. 2007. “What Do Laboratory Experiments Measuring Social Preferences Reveal About the Real World?” Journal of Economic Perspectives, 21(2): 153–174.

List, John A. 2011. “Why Economists Should Conduct Field Experiments and 14 Tips for Pulling One Off.” Journal of Economic Perspectives, 25(3): 3–16.

Rubinstein, Ariel. 2001. “A theorist's view of experiments.” European Economic Review, 45(4-6): 615-628.

Zizzo, Daniel J. 2010. “Experimenter demand effects in economic experiments.” Experimental Economics, 13(1): 75-98.

It is a good idea to be familiar with hypothesis testing from courses in statistics and microeconomics. Students are also advised to have taken "Behavioral and Experimental Economics" (MA course) or similar, but it is not a requirement.
The course starts out with two introductory lectures before the students initiate their paper writing. They will present their work in progress for each other in mid-November where they will receive feedback before submitting their final paper in mid-December.

Schedule:
1st lecture: Tuesday 8 September 2015 16.15-18.00
2nd lecture: Thursday 10 September 2015 16.15-18.00
1st round of student presentations: Tuesday 17 November 2015 16.15-19.00
2nd round of student presentations: Thursday 19 November 2015 16.15-19.00


More information about seminars at
https:/​/​intranet.ku.dk/​economics_ma/​study_programme/​seminars/​Pages/​default.aspx
  • Category
  • Hours
  • Exam
  • 1
  • Project work
  • 195
  • Seminar
  • 10
  • Total
  • 206
Credit
7,5 ECTS
Type of assessment
Written assignment
Oral examination, 20 min under invigilation
A written seminar paper and a 20 minuts 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
All aids allowed

All aids are allowed for writing the final seminar paper.

For the presentation a slideshow is allowed.

Marking scale
7-point grading scale
Censorship form
External censorship
up to 20 % censorship at the seminarpaper
Exam period

Submission of commitment paper: Monday 21 September 2015 23.59

Submission of final paper: Monday 21 December 2015 23.59

Presentations the 17. and 19. of November 2015 16.15-19.00

 

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.