Behavioral Economics

2025/2026

Учебный год

ENG

Обучение ведется на английском языке

3

Кредиты

Кто читает:

Департамент экономики

Статус:

Курс обязательный

Когда читается:

1-й курс, 3 модуль

Преподаватель

Сусин Иван Сергеевич

Course Syllabus

Abstract

Behavioral economics, as name suggests, focuses on the behavior of economic agents. Most of ''classic'' economic theory relies on highly stylized and abstract models of individuals, so it often produces unrealistic individual-level predictions, questionable explanations and normative recommendations. The main goal of behavioral economics is to bring theory closer to reality and empirical data. It uses insights from other sciences (in particular, cognitive science and psychology) and experimental results to help creating more accurate economic models, better-performing institutions, and better business results. This course will expand students' understanding of decision-making processes, as well as introduce them to both formal models and economic experiments.

Learning Objectives

• Expand knowledge in the field of behavioral economics.
• Familiarize yourself with economic experiments and their results.
• Improve own decision-making process.

Expected Learning Outcomes

• Basics of behavioral economics
• After completion of the course, students will be able to look at the world around them through the prism of their knowledge about the real behavior of people and possible deviations of behavior from classical economic theory.

Course Contents

• Introduction. History and development of Decision Theory and Behavioral Economics.
• Decisions, beliefs and biases
• Decisions under risk
• Time and attention
• Social preferences
• Nudges, applications and problems

Assessment Elements

• Test 1
  "Homework" / "Test" includes several separate tasks, each of which has its own maximum score (listed next to the task itself). Solutions to problems must be submitted in writing - handwritten or formatted in the form of neatly typed text in Word or LaTeX with compilation in PDF format, with detailed explanations, graphs (if necessary), formulas, references to theoretical provisions (definitions, theorems). In extreme cases, homework can be submitted by email (scan), but as one file.
• Test 4
  "Homework" / "Test" includes several separate tasks, each of which has its own maximum score (listed next to the task itself). Solutions to problems must be submitted in writing - handwritten or formatted in the form of neatly typed text in Word or LaTeX with compilation in PDF format, with detailed explanations, graphs (if necessary), formulas, references to theoretical provisions (definitions, theorems). In extreme cases, homework can be submitted by email (scan), but as one file.
• Test 3
  "Homework" / "Test" includes several separate tasks, each of which has its own maximum score (listed next to the task itself). Solutions to problems must be submitted in writing - handwritten or formatted in the form of neatly typed text in Word or LaTeX with compilation in PDF format, with detailed explanations, graphs (if necessary), formulas, references to theoretical provisions (definitions, theorems). In extreme cases, homework can be submitted by email (scan), but as one file.
• Presentation 1
• Presentation 2
• Test 2

Interim Assessment

• 2025/2026 3rd module
  0.25 * Presentation 2 + 0.125 * Test 3 + 0.125 * Test 2 + 0.125 * Test 1 + 0.125 * Test 4 + 0.25 * Presentation 1

Bibliography

Recommended Core Bibliography

• A course in behavioral economics, Angner, E., 2016

Recommended Additional Bibliography

• Methods in experimental economics : an introduction, Weimann, J., 2019
• The foundations of behavioral economic analysis, Dhami, S., 2016

Authors

• Brodskaia Natalia Nikolaevna