Module ECON2141: BEHAVIOURAL AND EXPERIMENTAL ECONOMICS

Department: Economics

ECON2141: BEHAVIOURAL AND EXPERIMENTAL ECONOMICS

Prerequisites

• Principles of Economics (ECON1011) AND EITHER Economic Methods (ECON1021) OR Calculus I (MATH1061) AND Linear Algebra I (MATH1071) AND Probability I (MATH1597) AND Statistics I (MATH1617)

Corequisites

• None

Excluded Combination of Modules

• None

Aims

• To provide an understanding of theories in behavioural economics.
• To provide training and exposure to experimental economics
• Identify and understand the elements of experimental design
• Analyse and critique an experimental design
• Design and conduct an experiment

Content

• The course will expose students to theories of behavioural economics, and is likely to include:
• Shortcomings of the rational choice model and deviations from Expected Utility Theory
• Prospect theory and preference dependence
• Time preferences
• Social preferences and fairness
• The contribution of experimental economics to understanding the behavioural side of economics, mainly:
• What is an experiment?
• Why do experiments?
• Control in experiments
• Statistics and design
• Protocol and implementation
• Field experiments
• Additional topics may include:
• Experimental tests of game theory
• Social dilemmas and public goods
• Empirical application of experiments

Learning Outcomes

• At the end of the module students should be able to understand research contributions in behavioural and experimental economics.

• Be able to apply problem solving and analytical skills to behavioural economic issues.
• Be able to design experiments to test hypotheses that are related to economic theory.
• Ability to identify behavioural aspects (either divergence or convergence) of economic theory.

• Written communication - through formative and summative assessments.
• Oral communication - presenting of papers and participating in seminars.
• Planning, organising and time management - preparing for presentation, class discussions and examination.
• Problem solving and analysis - applying the necessary analytical and quantitative skills, as well as the ability to manipulate economics concepts in answering exam questions.
• Numeracy - by applying core mathematical and statistical skills to answer a range of exam questions.

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

• Teaching is by lectures and seminars supported by classroom experiments through the medium of a virtual online laboratory. Learning takes place through attendance at lectures, preparation for and participation in seminars, experiments and private study.
• Formative assessment to prepare for the examination.
• Summative assessment is by means of in-person examination to test students' knowledge and understanding of the subject-matter worth 100% of the module mark.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Summative Assessment

Formative Assessment:

One piece of work to prepare students for the summative examination, e.g. presentations.

■ Attendance at all activities marked with this symbol will be monitored. Students who fail to attend these activities, or to complete the summative or formative assessment specified above, will be subject to the procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University