Not available in 2021/22
PB453 Half Unit
Corporate Behaviour and Decision Making
This information is for the 2021/22 session.
Teacher responsible
TBC
Availability
This course is available on the MSc in Behavioural Science. This course is available as an outside option to students on other programmes where regulations permit.
Course content
The course provides the opportunity for students to learn how the tools of behavioural science can help to improve the outcomes of the firm. Specifically, behavioural science lessons for search and hiring, diversity and inclusion, firm culture, conduct, and high stakes decision making are covered.
Each topic starts with equipping students with the predictions from traditional economic models. We then proceed to consider the individual biases which distort the decision making process, and how this distorts outcomes. We consider interventions and solutions to these problems with a specific emphasis on : 1. is there a problem, 2. menu of solutions for the problem 3. quantifying if the solutions worked.
Teaching
10 hours of lectures and 15 hours of seminars in the LT.
Formative coursework
Students will be expected to produce 1 case study in the LT.
Case study with short questions that matches the style of the summative assessment
Indicative reading
Bertrand Marrianne and Duflo Ester. Field Experiments on Discrimination. in Handbook of Economics Field Experiments. Volume 1, pages 309 - 393 2017.
MLA: Gneezy, Uri, Kenneth L. Leonard, and John A. List. "Gender differences in competition: Evidence from a matrilineal and a patriarchal society." Econometrica 77.5 (2009): 1637-1664.
Johnston, David W. and Lordan, Grace (2016) Racial prejudice and labour market penalties during economic downturns European Economic Review, 84. 57-75
Lordan, Grace and Pischke, Jorn-Steffen (2016) Does Rosie like riveting? Male and female occupational choices NBER working paper, 22495. National Bureau of Economic Research, Cambridge, USA.
Kandasamy, Narayanan, et al. "Cortisol shifts financial risk preferences." Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 111.9 (2014): 3608-3613.
Shiller, Robert J. Finance and the Good Society, Princeton: Princeton University Press, 2012.
Fama, Eugene, “Market Efficiency, Long-Term Returns, and Behavioral Finance,” Journal of Financial Economics.
Assessment
Coursework (100%, 4000 words) in the ST.
Two case studies with short questions
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: Psychological and Behavioural Science
Total students 2020/21: Unavailable
Average class size 2020/21: Unavailable
Controlled access 2020/21: No
Value: Half Unit
Personal development skills
- Leadership
- Self-management
- Team working
- Problem solving
- Communication
- Application of numeracy skills
- Specialist skills
