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Unit name |
Behavioural Economics |
Unit code |
EFIM30027 |
Credit points |
20 |
Level of study |
H/6
|
Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24)
|
Unit director |
Dr. Koenig |
Open unit status |
Not open |
Pre-requisites |
EFIM20033 Intermediate Microeconomics AND EFIM20011 Econometrics 1 OR EFIM20038 Microeconomic Analysis AND EFIM20010 Applied Quantitative Research Methods
|
Co-requisites |
None
|
School/department |
School of Economics |
Faculty |
Faculty of Social Sciences and Law |
Description including Unit Aims
Modern economics has started to use models where economic decision making and action is not completely rational. This unit will consider theories of and evidence for such behaviour. The main topics covered in this course are: Prospect Theory, Time-Inconsistency, Non-standard beliefs, Economics of Happiness, Framing, Heuristics, Neuroeconomics, Emotions.
Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit a student will be able:
- to analyse and discuss a wide range of issues in behavioural economics;
- to learn about the conceptual problems in modelling and describing such behaviour;
- to have an overview of the empirical evidence for such behaviours;
- to understand the policy implications of boundedly rational behaviour.
Teaching Information
Teaching will be delivered through a combination of synchronous and asynchronous sessions such as online teaching for large and small group, face-to-face small group classes (where possible) and interactive learning activities
Assessment Information
Online piece of assessment over 4 days (held during the assessment period)
Reading and References
Specific readings – mainly journal articles – are provided at the beginning of the course. Some useful background readings on Behavioural Economics are:
- Hal Varian (2014) Intermediate Microeconomics: A Modern Approach, ninth edition, chapter 31
- The Behavioral Economics Guide 2015 edited by Alain Samson
- Edward Cartwright (2014) Behavioral Economics, second edition, Routledge
- Wolfgang Pesendorfer (2006) Behavioral Economics Comes of Age review of Advances in Behavioral Economics editors Colin F. Camerer, George Loewenstein and Matthew Rabin, Princeton University Press
- Richard H. Thaler (2015) Misbehaving: The making of behavioural economics, Allen Lane
- Sanjit Dhami (2016) The Foundations of Behavioral Economic Analysis, Oxford
- Daniel Kahneman (2012) Thinking, Fast and Slow, Penguin
- Stefano DellaVigna (2009) Psychology and Economics: Evidence from the Field. Journal of Economic Literature, 47(2): 315-372