Universität Wien

040251 KU Behavioral Political Economy (MA) (2025W)

8.00 ECTS (4.00 SWS), SPL 4 - Wirtschaftswissenschaften
Continuous assessment of course work
Moodle
We 03.12. 16:45-18:15 Hörsaal 10 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 2.Stock

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

  • Monday 06.10. 13:15 - 14:45 Hörsaal 5 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 Erdgeschoß
  • Wednesday 08.10. 16:45 - 18:15 Hörsaal 13 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 2.Stock
  • Monday 13.10. 13:15 - 14:45 Hörsaal 5 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 Erdgeschoß
  • Wednesday 15.10. 16:45 - 18:15 Hörsaal 10 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 2.Stock
  • Monday 20.10. 13:15 - 14:45 Hörsaal 5 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 Erdgeschoß
  • Wednesday 22.10. 16:45 - 18:15 Hörsaal 10 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 2.Stock
  • Monday 27.10. 13:15 - 14:45 Hörsaal 5 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 Erdgeschoß
  • Wednesday 29.10. 16:45 - 18:15 Hörsaal 10 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 2.Stock
  • Monday 03.11. 13:15 - 14:45 Hörsaal 5 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 Erdgeschoß
  • Wednesday 05.11. 16:45 - 18:15 Hörsaal 10 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 2.Stock
  • Monday 10.11. 13:15 - 14:45 Hörsaal 5 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 Erdgeschoß
  • Wednesday 12.11. 16:45 - 18:15 Hörsaal 10 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 2.Stock
  • Monday 17.11. 13:15 - 14:45 Hörsaal 5 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 Erdgeschoß
  • Wednesday 19.11. 16:45 - 18:15 Hörsaal 10 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 2.Stock
  • Monday 24.11. 13:15 - 14:45 Hörsaal 5 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 Erdgeschoß
  • Wednesday 26.11. 16:45 - 18:15 Hörsaal 10 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 2.Stock
  • Monday 01.12. 13:15 - 14:45 Hörsaal 5 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 Erdgeschoß
  • Wednesday 10.12. 16:45 - 18:15 Hörsaal 10 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 2.Stock
  • Monday 15.12. 13:15 - 14:45 Hörsaal 5 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 Erdgeschoß
  • Wednesday 17.12. 16:45 - 18:15 Hörsaal 10 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 2.Stock
  • Wednesday 07.01. 16:45 - 18:15 Hörsaal 10 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 2.Stock
  • Monday 12.01. 13:15 - 14:45 Hörsaal 5 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 Erdgeschoß
  • Wednesday 14.01. 16:45 - 18:15 Hörsaal 10 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 2.Stock
  • Monday 19.01. 13:15 - 14:45 Hörsaal 5 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 Erdgeschoß
  • Wednesday 21.01. 16:45 - 18:15 Hörsaal 10 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 2.Stock
  • Monday 26.01. 13:15 - 14:45 Hörsaal 5 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 Erdgeschoß
  • Wednesday 28.01. 16:45 - 18:15 Hörsaal 10 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 2.Stock

Information

Aims, contents and method of the course

This course introduces students to the field of political economy. Specifically, the course offers a “behavioral” perspective on political economy, exploring how insights from behavioral economics can improve our understanding of political decision-making.

Aim
The aim of this course is for students to learn how to analyze political decision-making using modern economic methods. In particular, they will

- develop a solid understanding of theories in political economy,
- learn to critically evaluate these theories using empirical evidence,
- discover how causal inference methods (experimental & quasi-experimental) can be applied in practice,
- and explore research in the emerging field of behavioral political economy.

Contents

In the introductory sessions, students will be introduced to theories in political economy, discuss their assumptions, and learn about empirical results in behavioral economics. In the main part of this course, we will then discuss research papers on:

- voting behavior,
- redistributive politics,
- the moral foundations of political ideology,
- news media and social media,
- propaganda and persuasion,
- the causes and consequences of populism,
- the dynamics and impacts of protest movements.

Methods and Prerequisites:

The course is self-contained, but prior knowledge about methods in microeconomics, game theory, or behavioral and experimental economics can be an advantage.

Assessment and permitted materials

The evaluation is based on a mid-term exam, a presentation on a paper in behavioral political economy, and a final exam.

Minimum requirements and assessment criteria

Final Exam: 34%
Presentation: 33%
Mid-Term: 33%

To pass the course, students must reach at least 50% of all points.

Examination topics

Detailed information about the examination topics will be provided throughout the course.

Reading list

Persson, Torsten, and Guido Enrico Tabellini. (2002). Political economics: explaining economic policy. MIT Press.

Dhami, Sanjit. (2016) The foundations of behavioral economic analysis. Oxford University Press.

A more detailed reading list will be announced at the beginning of the course.

Association in the course directory

Last modified: Mo 06.10.2025 12:45