Universität Wien

040122 KU Topics in Behavioral and Experimental Economics (MA) (2023W)

8.00 ECTS (4.00 SWS), SPL 4 - Wirtschaftswissenschaften
Continuous assessment of course work
ON-SITE
Moodle

Registration/Deregistration

Note: The time of your registration within the registration period has no effect on the allocation of places (no first come, first served).

Details

max. 50 participants
Language: English

Lecturers

Classes (iCal) - next class is marked with N

  • Thursday 05.10. 16:45 - 18:15 Hörsaal 5 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 Erdgeschoß
  • Friday 06.10. 13:15 - 14:45 Hörsaal 7 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 1.Stock
  • Thursday 12.10. 16:45 - 18:15 Hörsaal 5 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 Erdgeschoß
  • Friday 13.10. 13:15 - 14:45 Hörsaal 7 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 1.Stock
  • Thursday 19.10. 16:45 - 18:15 Hörsaal 5 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 Erdgeschoß
  • Friday 20.10. 13:15 - 14:45 Hörsaal 7 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 1.Stock
  • Friday 27.10. 13:15 - 14:45 Hörsaal 7 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 1.Stock
  • Friday 03.11. 13:15 - 14:45 Hörsaal 7 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 1.Stock
  • Thursday 09.11. 16:45 - 18:15 Hörsaal 5 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 Erdgeschoß
  • Friday 10.11. 13:15 - 14:45 Hörsaal 7 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 1.Stock
  • Thursday 16.11. 16:45 - 18:15 Hörsaal 5 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 Erdgeschoß
  • Friday 17.11. 13:15 - 14:45 Hörsaal 7 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 1.Stock
  • Thursday 23.11. 16:45 - 18:15 Hörsaal 5 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 Erdgeschoß
  • Thursday 23.11. 18:30 - 20:00 Hörsaal 3 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 Erdgeschoß
  • Friday 24.11. 13:15 - 14:45 Hörsaal 7 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 1.Stock
  • Thursday 30.11. 16:45 - 18:15 Hörsaal 5 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 Erdgeschoß
  • Friday 01.12. 13:15 - 14:45 Hörsaal 7 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 1.Stock
  • Thursday 07.12. 16:45 - 18:15 Hörsaal 5 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 Erdgeschoß
  • Thursday 14.12. 16:45 - 18:15 Hörsaal 5 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 Erdgeschoß
  • Friday 15.12. 13:15 - 14:45 Hörsaal 7 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 1.Stock
  • Thursday 11.01. 16:45 - 18:15 Hörsaal 5 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 Erdgeschoß
  • Friday 12.01. 13:15 - 14:45 Hörsaal 7 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 1.Stock
  • Thursday 18.01. 16:45 - 18:15 Hörsaal 5 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 Erdgeschoß
  • Friday 19.01. 13:15 - 14:45 Hörsaal 7 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 1.Stock
  • Thursday 25.01. 16:45 - 18:15 Hörsaal 5 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 Erdgeschoß
  • Friday 26.01. 13:15 - 14:45 Hörsaal 7 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 1.Stock

Information

Aims, contents and method of the course

Behavioral and experimental economics is a vibrant field of research which sheds new light on many old and important issues in economics. Broadly speaking, behavioral and experimental economics tries to incorporate insights from psychology (and other fields) to better explain human behavior in economic interaction. The goal of the course is to give students an overview of this area.
We will look both at questions of basic research and more applied investigations that directly speak to issues that are currently in the political debate. Regarding basic research, we will consider two main topics: Fairness and bounded rationality. Related questions, we try to answer are:
Fairness/Altruism: Are people generally altruistic or selfish? Given some evidence for altruism, how robust is this kind of behavior? Do people really want to help others or do they only want to be seen as altruistic?; bounded rationality: How rational are people? Why are people making plans they cannot fulfill? Will people vote for a rational policy change if the benefits are in the future?
Regarding more applied behavioral research, a broader range of topic will be considered. Among them: global warming, populism and anti-migration sentiments, corona crisis. Generally, we will ask whether behavioral economics can help us better understand the problems. Related questions:
Corona: How can the risk of a second wave be minimized? What strategies do behavioral scientist suggest to mitigate the problem? Environment: Why is it so difficult to combat global warming? Does behavioral economics have a solution how the underlying free-riding problem can be solved? Populism/Migration: Why has populism (e.g. Brexit, Trump) been on the rise lately? According to behavioral insights, how should (efficiency-enhancing) migration be organized to ensure that natives support it?

Assessment and permitted materials

Overall, there will be 24 “meetings” (either classroom or some online material). The general idea of the course is that we will read and discuss academic papers in most of these meetings. This will give you the chance to practice your presenting (and potentially writing) skills. In our first meeting, I will present a list of papers. Each student selects one (or more) papers that s/he reads more carefully and provides a short introductory presentation (about 15min). Afterwards, we discuss questions of methodology as well as questions on context and interpretation.
We will discuss grading during the first lecture. But the general idea is the following. There are three elements (with 1/3 weight each):
- 1) Participation: Attendance in class (with reasonable exceptions and depending on circumstances – see below) and contributions to the class discussion
- 2) Introductory presentation: of one paper of your choice (in classroom)
- 3) Performance criterion 3 will depend on the precise number of students participating (but the idea is to give those students who intend to write their Master thesis in the coming 1-2 semester a chance to do some preparations for that and to further foster the presenting/writing skills for others).
If you receive a passing grade in all three elements, you pass the course. If there is any need at all, there may also be a chance to do some further work (e.g. another presentation) to improve/substitute one of the three (sub)grades.

The use of AI tools (e.g. ChatGPT) is permitted for helping to prepare presentation slides.

Minimum requirements and assessment criteria

Some knowledge in basic game-theoretic concepts and basic microeconomics is desirable. While some knowledge in experimental and behavioral economics is also helpful, interest in one of those two areas will be sufficient.

Examination topics

As indicated above, there will not be a midterm or final exam. Students are mainly expected to learn to read and discuss a paper and, most importantly, improve their presenting (and possibly writing) skills.

Reading list

To be announced in the first meeting.

Association in the course directory

Last modified: Mo 06.11.2023 14:07