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ES30037: Experimental, behavioural and neuro economics

Follow this link for further information on academic years Academic Year: 2014/5
Further information on owning departmentsOwning Department/School: Department of Economics
Further information on credits Credits: 6
Further information on unit levels Level: Honours (FHEQ level 6)
Further information on teaching periods Period: Semester 1
Further information on unit assessment Assessment Summary: EX 100%
Further information on unit assessment Assessment Detail:
  • Examination (EX 100%)
Further information on supplementary assessment Supplementary Assessment: Reassessment not allowed
Further information on requisites Requisites: Before taking this unit you must take ES20011
Further information on descriptions Description: Aims:
The aim of the Unit is to present a fairly rigorous account of the material that relates to three independent but related areas: experimental economics; behavioural economics and neuroeconomics. Students will gain a critical appreciation of the theoretical tools used in these relatively new but increasingly important areas of economics. This unit can be studied as a self-contained module and contains applications to a variety of economic contexts.

Learning Outcomes:
The learning outcomes are that, at the end of the course unit, students will understand (i) the way in which experiments have confirmed or cast doubt on some major propositions from economic theory, eg. Decision making under uncertainty (ii) the development and use of behavioural economic models to rival those standard in neoclassical economics, eg. Consumer theory; (iii) the 'apparent' workings of the brain when making 'economic' decisions, eg. Evidence from fMRI scans and (iv) the public policy relevance of this more empirically based type of economic actor.

Skills:
Using deductive reasoning in abstract models
Applying theory to specific contexts
Synthesising relevant material and debates

Content:
The course unit emphasises debate at the theoretical and empirical level, by generally contrasting the prescriptions and findings of conventional neoclassical economics with those who support a more inductive based theorising and laboratory investigation of economic theories. Specific topics include: individual choice and decision making under uncertainty; strategic interaction between behavioural agents; markets with behavioural consumers; the role of the public sector with behavioural actors; behavioural finance, neuroeconomics.
Key texts: Kagel and Roth (1995) (eds) Handbook of Experimental Economics; Camerer, Lowenstein and Rabin (eds) (2003) Advances in Behavioural Economics; Altman M (2006) (ed) A Handbook of Behavioural Economics: Foundations and Developments.
Further information on programme availabilityProgramme availability:

ES30037 is Optional on the following programmes:

Department of Economics
  • UHES-AFB03 : BSc(Hons) Economics (Year 3)
  • UHES-AKB03 : BSc(Hons) Economics with Year long work placement (Year 4)
  • UHES-AFB02 : BSc(Hons) Economics and International Development (Year 3)
  • UHES-AKB02 : BSc(Hons) Economics and International Development with Year long work placement (Year 4)
  • UHES-AFB01 : BSc(Hons) Economics and Politics (Year 3)
  • UHES-AKB01 : BSc(Hons) Economics and Politics with Year long work placement (Year 4)

Notes:
* This unit catalogue is applicable for the 2014/15 academic year only. Students continuing their studies into 2015/16 and beyond should not assume that this unit will be available in future years in the format displayed here for 2014/15.
* Programmes and units are subject to change at any time, in accordance with normal University procedures.
* Availability of units will be subject to constraints such as staff availability, minimum and maximum group sizes, and timetabling factors as well as a student's ability to meet any pre-requisite rules.