- know selected socio-economic theories of human behaviour;
- explain the different approaches to understanding and knowledge generation that underlie the different behavioural sciences;
- explain the different ontological and epistemological assumptions in different bodies of behavioural research and as used by different disciplinary experts;
- critically interrogate empirical evidence on human behaviour generated by use of different methods;
- apply insights about human behaviour for the design of public policies.
Syllabus
Registration via LPIS
Day | Date | Time | Room |
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Tuesday | 03/03/20 | 09:00 AM - 12:00 PM | TC.3.21 |
Tuesday | 03/24/20 | 09:00 AM - 12:00 PM | TC.3.21 |
Tuesday | 03/31/20 | 09:00 AM - 12:00 PM | TC.3.21 |
Wednesday | 04/15/20 | 09:00 AM - 12:00 PM | TC.3.21 |
Tuesday | 04/21/20 | 09:00 AM - 12:00 PM | TC.3.21 |
Tuesday | 04/28/20 | 09:00 AM - 12:00 PM | TC.3.21 |
Tuesday | 05/05/20 | 09:00 AM - 12:00 PM | Online-Einheit |
Monday | 05/18/20 | 09:00 AM - 12:00 PM | Online-Einheit |
Tuesday | 05/19/20 | 09:00 AM - 12:00 PM | Online-Einheit |
Tuesday | 05/26/20 | 09:00 AM - 12:00 PM | Online-Einheit |
Tuesday | 06/02/20 | 09:00 AM - 12:00 PM | Online-Einheit |
Tuesday | 06/09/20 | 09:00 AM - 12:00 PM | Online-Einheit |
Tuesday | 06/16/20 | 09:00 AM - 12:00 PM | Online-Einheit |
Tuesday | 06/23/20 | 09:00 AM - 12:00 PM | Online-Einheit |
Wednesday | 06/24/20 | 09:00 AM - 12:00 PM | Online-Einheit |
This course focuses on the human element of the economic system. We examine a wide range of behavioural science theories from neo-classical economics, psychology, behavioural economics, sociology, and complexity economics to better understand how humans behave and make decisions that impact the economy, the environment, and society. The course focuses on the wide range of cases where people might make decisions that are inconsistent with standard economic theory and the assumptions of rational decision making. These cases include “irrational” patterns of thinking about money and investments, how expectations shape perception, economic and psychological analyses of dishonesty by honest people, how social and financial incentives work together (or against each other) in labour, and the role of self‐control and emotions (rather than cognition) in decision making. The course presents an interdisciplinary perspective on how to understand, research and change human behaviour.
Absence from Class:
Any absence from class should be notified to the course tutor in advance. WU operates a basic pass/fail course attendance requirement. That is, you cannot miss more than 6 hrs of class (equivalent of two class sessions) over the entire semester. This allowance is for serious unforeseen circumstances and should not be used simply for taking time-off, job interviews, working, planned into holidays or similar. If ill provide a medical certificate.
- lectures
- readings
- exams
- in class group work
- debate
- individual paper
Assessment:
The required coursework is listed below. The percentage of the final grade for each summative assessment is noted.
60% Exams – Four exams, 15% each
15 April 20 9:00-9:30 Neoclassical Economic Theory and Criticisms
28 April 20 9:00-9:30 Behavioural Economics, Experimental Economics
18 May 20 9:00-9:30 Evolutionary, Institutional, Complexity Economics
26 May 20 9:00-9:30 Theory of Planned Behaviour
40% Individual Essay – Free choice of topic, build on course materials, critical reflections must be included in the paper; submission deadline: June 28, 2020. This is a strict deadline. Submissions within 24 hours after the deadline will be accepted with a mark-down of 25% of points. Thereafter we will not accept any submissions. No exceptions. All submissions via assignment section at Learn@WU.
Entry requirements for the Program MSc Socio‐Ecological Economics and Policy.
Curiosity about human nature.
Unit | Date | Contents |
---|---|---|
1 | Find the detailed syllabus in the File Storage: https://learn.wu.ac.at/dotlrn/classes/pool/4752.20s/file-storage/?folder_id=379319042 |
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