EC310
Behavioural Economics
This information is for the 2021/22 session.
Teacher responsible
Dr Matthew Levy 32L3.21
Availability
This course is available on the BSc in Econometrics and Mathematical Economics, BSc in Economics, BSc in Economics with Economic History, BSc in Mathematics and Economics, BSc in Mathematics with Economics, BSc in Mathematics, Statistics and Business, BSc in Philosophy and Economics and BSc in Psychological and Behavioural Science. This course is available as an outside option to students on other programmes where regulations permit. This course is not available to General Course students.
Students taking the course as an outside option are required to meet the pre-requisites as detailed below.
Pre-requisites
Ideally, students will have completed EC202 (or equivalent). A highly motivated student who has done well in EC201 -- as a guideline 65 or better – is welcome on the course, if he or she finds handling economics mathematically comes naturally. If in doubt, students may see Dr Levy before the course starts. Fluency in calculus is essential, and some knowledge of methods of mathematical proof, including those using sets, is necessary.
Course content
The course will expose students to a number of major topics in Behavioural Economics, and will link theory with empirical applications. The first half of the course will focus on departures from neoclassical preferences, while the latter half will cover departures from rational expectations. The particular topics to be covered include: • Reference Dependent Preferences and Loss Aversion • Social Preferences • Hyperbolic Discounting • Naiveté and Self-Control • Projection Bias • Happiness and Adaptation • Heuristics and Biases • Inattention and Shrouding • Nudging and Framing • Behavioural Welfare Analysis
Teaching
15 hours of lectures and 10 hours of classes in the MT. 15 hours of lectures and 10 hours of classes in the LT.
This course is delivered through a combination of classes and lectures totalling a minimum of 50 hours across Michaelmas Term and Lent Term. This year, some or all of this teaching will be delivered through a combination of virtual classes, live streamed (recorded) lectures, and some flipped content delivered as short online videos.
Formative coursework
At least four exercises or pieces of written work will be required and assessed by class teachers.
Indicative reading
Congdon, William, Jeffrey Kling, and Sendhil Mullainathan. Policy and Choice: Public Finance Through the Lens of Behavioral Economics (selected chapters). Brookings Institution Press: Washington, D.C. 2011
[Free eBook download at http://www.brookings.edu/press/Books/2011/policyandchoice.aspx]
Rabin, Matthew. ‘Psychology and Economics’, Journal of Economic Literature, 36(1), 1998: 11-46.
DellaVigna, Stefano. ‘Psychology and Economics: Evidence from the Field’, Journal of Economic Literature, 47(2), 2009: 315-372.
Fehr, Ernst and Simon Gachter. ‘Fairness and Retaliation: The Economics of Reciprocity’, Journal of Economic Perspectives, 14(3), 2000: 159-181.
Laibson, David. ‘Golden Eggs and Hyperbolic Discounting’, The Quarterly Journal of Economics, 112(2), 1997: 443-477.
Camerer, Colin, Linda Babcock, George Loewenstein, and Richard Thaler. ‘Labor Supply of New York City Cabdrivers: One Day at a Time’, The Quarterly Journal of Economics, 112, 1997: 407-441.
Gabaix, Xavier and David Laibson. ‘Shrouded Attributes, Consumer Myopia, and Information Suppression in Competitive Markets’, The Quarterly Journal of Economics, 121(2): 505-540.
Bernartzi, Shlomo and Richard Thaler. ‘Save More Tomorrow: Using Behavioral Economics to Increase Employee Saving’, Journal of Political Economy, 112(1), 2004: S164-S187.
Kahneman, Daniel and Amos Tversky. ‘Prospect Theory: An Analysis of Decision under Risk’, Econometrica, 47(2), 1979: 263-292.
Assessment
Exam (100%, duration: 3 hours, reading time: 15 minutes) in the summer exam period.
Course selection videos
Some departments have produced short videos to introduce their courses. Please refer to the course selection videos index page for further information.
Important information in response to COVID-19
Please note that during 2021/22 academic year some variation to teaching and learning activities may be required to respond to changes in public health advice and/or to account for the differing needs of students in attendance on campus and those who might be studying online. For example, this may involve changes to the mode of teaching delivery and/or the format or weighting of assessments. Changes will only be made if required and students will be notified about any changes to teaching or assessment plans at the earliest opportunity.
Key facts
Department: Economics
Total students 2020/21: 42
Average class size 2020/21: 14
Capped 2020/21: No
Value: One Unit
Personal development skills
- Self-management
- Problem solving
- Application of numeracy skills