Lecture: Behavioral Public Economics

Final Exam

The final exam has been moved to G309. It will take place on Monday, July 17th, 15:45-17:15. Please arrive a few minutes early. 

Description

6 ECTS. This class will explore the intersection of economics, public policy, and human behavior, and how recent advancements in the field of behavioral economics have challenged traditional neoclassical economic theory. Because traditional economics assumes individuals are rational actors, it fails to account for cognitive biases and limitations. Behavioral economics has shown that individuals often act in ways that are not in their best interest due to these biases.

The emerging field of behavioral public economics takes these consumer mistakes into account when designing public policy. This class will explore the fundamental questions of policy evaluation and design from a behavioral perspective. We will study both the theoretical and empirical aspects of the field, including cutting-edge research in areas like retirement savings, energy conservation, and social media usage.

To fully understand the empirical research, we will also study the fundamentals of causal inference and research methods. Finally, the class will cover the critical skill of policy writing, where we will learn how to create short, persuasive pieces that translate scientific evidence into policy recommendations.

By the end of the class, you will have a deeper understanding of how behavioral economics challenges traditional economic theories, how policy might be designed to account for consumer mistakes, and the skills of policy writing.

Language

English.

Prerequisites

Students should have a solid background in microeconomics and econometrics.

Assessment

Final written exam at the end of the course.

Meeting Times:

• Lecture: 
  • Weekly, Tuesdays, 11:45-13:15 (Room D433)
• Tutorial: 
  • Fortnightly, Wednesdays, 13:30-15:00 beginning on 19.04 (Room D433)