Courses Master Display 2020-2021

Course Description To PDF
Course title Behavioural Economics (EFR)
Course code EBC4200
ECTS credits 6,5
Assessment Whole/Half Grades
Period
Period Start End Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri
1 31-8-2020 16-10-2020 X X
Level Advanced
Coordinator Jona Linde
For more information: j.linde@maastrichtuniversity.nl
Language of instruction English
Goals
Goals:
• Form an opinion on the why and how of modelling human behaviour, in particular as it deviates from the rational and selfish homo economics.
• Become acquainted with some of the most important behavioural economics models on a variety of topics.
• Understand, build and expand models of human behaviour.
• Understand the interplay between theory and data, including the ability to build a theory based on observed behavioural regularities, assess a theory based on observed behaviour, and conceive of possible empirical tests of a theory.
• Acquire intimate knowledge of the theoretical and empirical literature related to the chosen research topic.
• Design a research project related to behavioural economics.

Description
PLEASE NOTE THAT THE INFORMATION ABOUT THE TEACHING AND ASSESSMENT METHOD(S) USED IN THIS COURSE IS WITH RESERVATION. THE INFORMATION PROVIDED HERE IS BASED ON THE COURSE SETUP PRIOR TO THE CORONAVIRUS CRISIS. AS A CONSEQUENCE OF THE CRISIS, COURSE COORDINATORS MAY BE FORCED TO CHANGE THE TEACHING AND ASSESSMENT METHODS USED. THE MOST UP-TO-DATE INFORMATION ABOUT THE TEACHING/ASSESSMENT METHOD(S) WILL BE AVAILABLE IN THE COURSE SYLLABUS.

Description:
Starting from the observation that human behaviour often deviates from traditional homo economicus models, behavioural economists try to model how people actually behave. In this course we will discuss why they do that, how they do that and what the results of their efforts are. We start by discussing the reasons to build models of human behaviour and the challenges faced when trying to do so. Next we will critically examine different general approaches to this endeavour. Having set the stage we will study behavioural economics models of choice, belief updating, decision making under risk, intertemporal choice, strategic decision making, and social preferences. Finally we explore the implications of behavioural economics for policy making and macro-economic modelling. Although we discuss the interplay between theory and empirics we will focus on theories, rather than empirical observations, of human behaviour.

Literature
There is no one textbook that will cover the course. The literature will consist of a wide variety of readings including chapters from textbooks aimed at advanced graduates and contemporary research articles.
Prerequisites
Research masters students only: Microeconomics at a research Master’s level (e.g.: EBC4061 Microeconomics I and EBC4204 Microeconomics 2); exposure to experimental economics methodology (e.g. EBS4026 Experimental Economics Methods) is an advantage but not a formal requirement.
Teaching methods (indicative; course manual is definitive) PBL / Lecture
Assessment methods (indicative; course manual is definitive) Final Paper / Participation
Evaluation in previous academic year For the complete evaluation of this course please click "here"
This course belongs to the following programmes / specialisations
Master Business Research - No specialisation Year 2 Free Elective(s)
Master Business Research - Operations Research Year 1 Elective Course(s)
Master Business Research - Operations Research Year 2 Elective Course(s)
Master Economic and Financial Research - Econometrics Year 2 Elective Course(s)
Master Economic and Financial Research - No specialisation Year 2 Elective Course(s)