MA Seminar: Behavioral Economics & Policy

In the past decade, behavioral economics have played an increasingly important role in achieving public policy objectives, in domains as distinct as health, environment, finance, and education. Behavioral economics studies the ways in which decision-making deviates from classical economic theory--how psychological, cognitive, emotional, cultural and social factors affect how economic agents make decisions, how this affects their outcomes, and what this implies for social welfare. 

In this seminar course, we study the role of behavioral economics in public policy from empirical, theoretical, and philosophical perspectives, where students conduct an in-depth analysis of a topic or research question of their choice. They give a presentation on the current state of the scientific literature and policy landscape of their topic, and then write a seminar paper that makes a contribution. The paper can take the form of a (1) literature review and analysis of a specific subfield or policy area, or an (2) an analysis and extension of the empirical results of a published paper using statistical software. There is also room to adapt the framework of the paper depending on the students' own research interests.  

Grading:

seminar paper (60%), presentation (30%), active participation (10%).

Dates:

We will meet in person.

Kick-off meeting: Tuesday, 25.10.2022, 13:30-15:00
Presentations: Friday, 21.01.23 and Saturday, 22.01.23.