BEHAVIORAL AND EXPERIMENTAL ECONOMICS
- Overview
- Assessment methods
- Learning objectives
- Contents
- Full programme
- Delivery method
- Teaching methods
- Contacts/Info
Basic knowledge of microeconomic theory and the key concepts of game theory.
Written exam. There are two ways of taking the exam.
A) TWO MIDTERM EXAMS
You can take the first midterm exam at the end of the first part of the course. The first midterm exam is a written exam and covers only the topics discussed by Moscati. Structure of the first midterm exam: 4 open questions and exercises, 1 hour.
If you pass the first midterm (grade ≥ 18), you can take the second midterm exam at the end of the second part of the course. The second midterm exam is a written exam and covers only the topics discussed by Gamba. Structure of the second midterm exam: 4 open questions and exercises, 1 hour.
If you pass also the second midterm (grade ≥ 18), your exam grade is the average of the two mid-terms.
If you fail either the first or the second midterm exam, you must take the general exam (see below). If you take the first or both midterm exams, but are dissatisfied with your grades, you can “play it again”, that is, you can forget about the first (and second) midterm and take the general exam.
B) GENERAL EXAM
You can also take a general written exam, which is divided into two parts corresponding, respectively, to the topics covered by Moscati and Gamba.
Structure of general exams: 3 open questions and exercises on the first part, 3 open questions on the second part; overall time: 1.5 hour.
The grade is the average of the grades on the two parts, and you pass the exam if this average is at least 18. The first general exam will take place around mid-June. The exact dates of the first and the following general exams will be posted shortly.
Behavioral and experimental economics are two flourishing research programs in recent economic analysis.
Generally speaking, behavioral economics studies the effects on economic behavior of psychological factors that were neglected by traditional economic analysis, and advance a series of new models that capture those psychological factors.
Experimental economics test the validity of economic theories, traditional or behavioral they may be, by using experimental methods. Economic experiments may be conducted in artificially designed environments (laboratory experiments) or in natural settings (field experiments).
In the first part of the course (20 hours), Moscati introduces the main concepts, findings, and models of behavioral economics. In the second part of the course (20 hours), Gamba introduces the methodology of experimental economics, discusses some important laboratory and field experiments, and teaches how to design a simple economic experiment.
At the end of this course, the student will be able to:
1. master the main concepts, findings, and models of behavioral economics.
2. understand the existing experimental literature, discuss an experimental research study, and design a simple economic experiment.
Part I (Moscati):
Behavioral models for decision making: (i) in riskless situations, (ii) under risk or uncertainty; (iii) over time.
Part II (Gamba):
Experimental methodology: (i) the relation between economic theory and experiments; (ii) advantages and limitations of the experimental method; (iii) laboratory versus field experiments.
Applications of experimental economics: (i) survey of some important laboratory and field experiments; (ii) focus on experiments on social preferences; (iii) how to design a simple economic experiment.
See E-learning.
Lectures by instructors, class discussion conducted by instructors, laboratory classes.
Relevant teaching materials are available in the e-learning webspace of the course.
Office hours:
Moscati: by appointment; to arrange an appointment, please write an email to ivan.moscati@uninsubria.it
Gamba: by appointment; to arrange an appointment, please write an email to astrid.gamba@uninsubria.it