Syllabus
Registration via LPIS
Day | Date | Time | Room |
---|---|---|---|
Tuesday | 03/11/25 | 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM | TC.3.10 |
Tuesday | 03/18/25 | 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM | TC.3.10 |
Tuesday | 03/25/25 | 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM | TC.3.10 |
Tuesday | 04/01/25 | 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM | TC.3.10 |
Tuesday | 04/08/25 | 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM | TC.3.10 |
Tuesday | 04/22/25 | 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM | TC.3.10 |
Tuesday | 04/29/25 | 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM | TC.3.10 |
Tuesday | 05/06/25 | 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM | TC.3.10 |
Tuesday | 05/13/25 | 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM | TC.3.10 |
Tuesday | 05/20/25 | 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM | TC.3.12 |
Tuesday | 05/27/25 | 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM | TC.3.12 |
This class introduces the use of economic (field and lab) experiments as a methodological tool for understanding prosocial, or other-regarding behavior and designing policy interventions for behavioral change. Students will analyze how the design of economic incentives shape behavior in intended and unintended ways and how the use of experiments can assist the process of finding good solutions to economic problems.
The class covers recent applied microeconomic research on social preferences and prosocial behavior in a variety of domains including education, markets, charitable giving, and health. The first part of the lecture will cover an introduction into the experimental methodology and its ties to economic theory. The second part aims to broad students’ knowledge by discussing the advantages and pitfalls of different types of experiments to investigate practical policy questions. These discussions will be based on students reading and presenting recent research papers.
Students will acquire a deeper understanding of the advantages of using incentives to change behavior as well as common problems researchers face when designing economic incentives. They will reflect upon the advantages and pitfalls of economic (field and lab) experiments to find solutions to economic problems. Students will be able to propose an original research idea and design an experiment to test this idea.
Topics in Microeconomics is a course with continuous assessment (PI), therefore attendance is necessary. Two lectures can be missed without excuse, absence in further lectures has to be excused/ explained via email.
The first part will mainly consist of presentations by the lecturer. The second part will require active student participation during the class, including presentations and discussions of recent research papers.
Class presentation (40%)
Each student must present (in a group) a paper on one research paper. A reading list will be provided during the first session. Other suggestions are welcome but should be discussed with the instructor. Presentations will last from 30 to 60 minutes depending on registration.
Research proposal (45%)
Each student must make an original research proposal related to one of the topics discussed during class. A topic should be proposed about 7 weeks after start of the class. Final versions (3 to 5 pages) will be submitted at the end of the class.
Participation in class (15%)
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