Universität Wien

040789 UK Topics in Behavioral Public Economics (2012W)

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

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. 15 participants
Language: English

Lecturers

Classes (iCal) - next class is marked with N

  • Wednesday 03.10. 11:30 - 14:30 (Seminarraum 2 Hohenstaufengasse 9 1.Stock)
  • Wednesday 10.10. 11:30 - 14:30 (Seminarraum 2 Hohenstaufengasse 9 1.Stock)
  • Wednesday 17.10. 11:30 - 14:30 (Seminarraum 2 Hohenstaufengasse 9 1.Stock)
  • Wednesday 24.10. 11:30 - 14:30 (Seminarraum 2 Hohenstaufengasse 9 1.Stock)
  • Wednesday 31.10. 11:30 - 14:30 (Seminarraum 2 Hohenstaufengasse 9 1.Stock)
  • Wednesday 07.11. 11:30 - 14:30 (Seminarraum 2 Hohenstaufengasse 9 1.Stock)
  • Wednesday 14.11. 11:30 - 14:30 (Seminarraum 2 Hohenstaufengasse 9 1.Stock)
  • Wednesday 21.11. 11:30 - 14:30 (Seminarraum 2 Hohenstaufengasse 9 1.Stock)
  • Wednesday 28.11. 11:30 - 14:30 (Seminarraum 2 Hohenstaufengasse 9 1.Stock)
  • Wednesday 05.12. 11:30 - 14:30 (Seminarraum 2 Hohenstaufengasse 9 1.Stock)
  • Wednesday 12.12. 11:30 - 14:30 (Seminarraum 2 Hohenstaufengasse 9 1.Stock)
  • Wednesday 09.01. 11:30 - 14:30 (Seminarraum 2 Hohenstaufengasse 9 1.Stock)
  • Wednesday 16.01. 11:30 - 14:30 (Seminarraum 2 Hohenstaufengasse 9 1.Stock)
  • Wednesday 23.01. 11:30 - 14:30 (Seminarraum 2 Hohenstaufengasse 9 1.Stock)
  • Wednesday 30.01. 11:30 - 14:30 (Seminarraum 2 Hohenstaufengasse 9 1.Stock)

Information

Aims, contents and method of the course

This seminar offers a fresh perspective on Public Economics by asking how Behavioral (and Experimental) Economics promotes our knowledge and understanding of Public Economics.
Public Economics traditionally addresses issues like government taxation and spending and efficiency-based reasons for government intervention. In a broader perspective, public economics also covers all aspects of public policy and political economy. Behavioral Economics incorporates insights from neighboring disciplines like psychology, social psychology, sociology to make economics a more powerful science of human behavior.
The purpose of the seminar is to critically discuss new developments in Behavioral and Experimental Economics as applied to Public Economics in a small group of advanced students. The course educates students to become critical consumers of current research in behavioral public economics and aims at inspiring students for their own research projects.
Participants need to have taken a class providing a introduction to Public Economics, for example my lecture "Grundzüge der Finanzwissenschaft". Students with comparable backgrounds can also be admitted but need to provide evidence that their knowledge is comparable (provide handout and grade of classes taken elsewhere). Preference is given to students who have in addition taken courses on behavioral economics, for example my lecture "Behavioral and Experimental Economics" (UK 040832). In addition, a sound knowledge of microeconomics and game theory is required.
Successful completion of this course earns students 8 ECTS credits.

Assessment and permitted materials

a) "Pole of competence": Students are graded on their performance in navigating the group through the paper and their ability to answer questions of fellow students (and the instructor) (40% of final grade)
b) Students are requested to read all papers and to actively participate in discussion (20%). As grading is based on your active participation in the course, you must not miss more than one session.
c) Hand in questions to at least 2 papers (max. 3 questions per paper). Briefly comment on your question (i.e. provide a short motivation why the question may be relevant or interesting to discuss, max. 1 page each). Deadline: 11:00 of the day of the seminar (20%)
d) Hand in an extended abstract (about 1 page) of at least 1 paper. The abstract may be followed by the student's comments and own thoughts (max. 3 pages each). (20%)

Minimum requirements and assessment criteria

Examination topics

I propose readings on selected topics (tba). In the first session, I briefly present the topics and the papers. Each student selects one (or two shorter) papers. All students read all selected papers, but each student is a "pole of competence" on one particular paper or topic. These papers are then discussed in detail (2-4 hours per text or topic). The discussion is organized as follows: The pole of competence provides a succinct summary of the paper (max. 5' - no slides), all participants provide a short statement on the paper (1' - 2') and we then go through the paper page by page (or line by line, where necessary).
The "pole of competence" should be able to summarize each section/paragraph in his own words at any time during the discussion, guide the discussion and be able to answer most of the participants' questions. Competent navigation is particularly important when discussing long articles (e.g. surveys).
Participants are expected to prepare questions, contribute their own thoughts and views on the text/topic. Active participation is essential.

Reading list

Association in the course directory

Last modified: Mo 07.09.2020 15:29