ECON 40: Introduction to Experimental and Behavioral Economics

Course Description

This course covers the foundations of experimental methodology in economics. The course stresses the interaction of theory and experiment, seeking to relate questions in the theory of markets, games, and decision making to aspects in experimental design, analysis and interpretation of results. After an initial overview devoted to experimental methodology, these broad themes are developed by discussing a series of established economics experiments. The course uses a combination of hands-on learning through classroom activities as well as roundtable discussions of assigned readings and current issues. It covers behavioral economics topics such as trust,  reciprocity, risk taking, bargaining, public goods, market design, auctions, theories of fairness and learning, social issues like discrimination and behavioral gender differences, voting, and neuroeconomics. Prerequisites: ECON 1 or Instructor Permission.