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EC989: Behavioural Economics

  • Alexander Dobson

    Module Leader
  • Matthew Ridley

    Module Lecturer
15 CATS - Department of Economics
Summer Module
Spring Module

Principal Aims

EC989-15 Behavioural Economics

Principal Learning Outcomes

Subject Knowledge and Understanding:...demonstrate knowledge of the main theoretical and empirical debates in Behavioural Economics. The teaching and learning methods that enable students to achieve this learning outcome are: Lectures, independent study. The summative assessment methods that measure the achievement of this learning outcome are: Exam.

Subject Knowledge and Understanding:...demonstrate an understanding of concepts including prospect theory, other-regarding preferences, hyperbolic discounting, the economics of happiness, behavioural finance and neuroeconomics. The teaching and learning methods that enable students to achieve this learning outcome are: Lectures, independent study. The summative assessment methods that measure the achievement of this learning outcome are: Exam.

Subject Knowledge and Understanding:...understand the way in which Behavioural Economics has developed and how it can be related to traditional rational agent-based models in Economics. The teaching and learning methods that enable students to achieve this learning outcome are: Lectures, independent study. The summative assessment methods that measure the achievement of this learning outcome are: Exam.

Subject Knowledge and Understanding:...assess the strengths and weaknesses of different theories of Economic Behaviour. The teaching and learning methods that enable students to achieve this learning outcome are: Lectures, independent study. The summative assessment methods that measure the achievement of this learning outcome are: Exam.

Subject-specific skills/Professional Skills:...demonstrate an ability to use empirical tools to analyse problems in Behavioural Economics. The teaching and learning methods that enable students to achieve this learning outcome are: Lectures, independent study. The summative assessment methods that measure the achievement of this learning outcome are: Exam.

Syllabus

The syllabus may cover, but is not limited to, the following areas:

• Effect of reference dependent preferences, loss aversion, present bias and social preferences, in the labour, in the financial and in other important markets.

• The relationship between choice utility and subjective wellbeing.

• Effect of macroeconomic variables on subjective wellbeing.

The course will have an emphasis on the empirical identification of the different models, but it does not require an advanced econometric knowledge.

Context

Optional Module
C8P7 - Year 1, C8P8 - Year 1, L1P7 - Year 1, L1P6 - Year 1
Pre or Co-requisites
Basic knowledge of econometrics and microeconomics theory.

Assessment

Assessment Method
Online Examination (100%)
Coursework Details
Online Examination (100%)
Exam Timing
May

Exam Rubric

Time Allowed: 2 Hours

Read all instructions carefully - and read through the entire paper at least once before you start entering your answers.

There are TWO sections in this paper. Answer ONE of the TWO questions in Section A and ONE of the TWO questions in Section B (50 marks each).

Approved pocket calculators are allowed.

You should not submit answers to more than the required number of questions. If you do, we will mark the questions in the order that they appear, up to the required number of questions in each section.

Previous exam papers can be found in the University’s past papers archive. Please note that previous exam papers may not have operated under the same exam rubric or assessment weightings as those for the current academic year. The content of past papers may also be different.