Competencies and objectives

 

Course context for academic year 2025-26

This course is an introduction to behavioral economics, and is well suited for students who have never studied this subject before. However, because we will cover many topics, and there are opportunities for self-directed study, the course is also valuable for those who have had a basic training in behavioral economics and would like to expand their knowledge.
This course can be taken by students who are not doing research in behavioral economics (but instead macro, IO, public finance, etc.) but have an interest for the field, and would like to learn more and to incorporate some of the acquired knowledge into their research. Because people’s psychology is crucial to understand the decisions they make, understood in this broad sense, all economics is behavioral. If this is your case, you are welcome and encouraged to take the class! Of course, the course is also designed for those who want to do research in behavioral economics, or to apply behavioral economics in the field.

 

 

Course competencies (verified by ANECA in official undergraduate and Master’s degrees) for academic year 2025-26

Skills/Skills

  • RA03 : Critically analyze research articles in Economics, identifying their essential contributions and weaknesses
  • RA05 : Understand how technical problems in research articles have been addressed and be able to replicate the empirical analysis and simulation experiments on which they are based

 

Conocimientos/Contenidos

  • RA01 : Understand the fundamental theoretical framework of economics at a rigorous formal level

 

Skills/Competences

  • RA02 : Deeply understand and apply descriptive, causal, and predictive analysis methods applied to economics
  • RA04 : Formulate relevant economic problems precisely and provide appropriate solutions using theoretical, empirical, or simulation-based analysis
  • RA06 : Master effective communication of research findings, using clear and precise approaches to convey complex information in an accessible and comprehensible way
  • RA14 : Be able to develop and learn autonomously about topics related to Economics and Data Science

 

 

 

Learning outcomes (Training objectives)

  • Identify situations where traditional economic models fall short, and recognize which behavioral elements may improve them.
  • Apply behavioral economics concepts to other areas of economics, especially those relevant to the student’s specialization.
  • Apply data science tools to behavioral economics.

 

Identify occasions in which the traditional economic models are not satisfactory, as well as identify which appearance of the Economy of the Behaviour can be used to improve them, depending of the specific context
Apply concepts of the Economy of the Behaviour to other areas of the economy, and in particular to the areas of specialisation of the student
Know apply tools of science of data to the Economy of the Behaviour

 

 

Specific objectives stated by the academic staff for academic year 2025-26

The objectives of the course are:

To gain enough knowledge in behavioral economics to serve as a starting point for research in the area, or to apply behavioral economics to research in other areas.
Learning how to read articles in behavioral economics proficiently. Reading papers in behavioral economics is necessary for obtaining a good sense of how research is done in this area.
To learn the key models in behavioral economics, and to be able to apply them appropriately.
Gaining a broad overview of behavioral economics and adjacent fields, to be able to connect them with future research projects.
Applying behavioral economics "in the field", to applied problems.

 

 

General

Code: 49171
Lecturer responsible:
Bleichrodt, Han
Credits ECTS: 3,00
Theoretical credits: 0,80
Practical credits: 0,40
Distance-base hours: 1,80

Departments involved

  • Dept: FOUNDATIONS OF ECONOMIC ANALYSIS
    Area: FOUNDATIONS OF ECONOMIC ANALYSIS
    Theoretical credits: 0,8
    Practical credits: 0,4
    This Dept. is responsible for the course.
    This Dept. is responsible for the final mark record.

Study programmes where this course is taught