Syllabus

Title
4576 Actors, Behaviours and Decision Processes
Instructors
Univ.Prof. Mag.Dr. Sigrid Stagl, M.S., Roman Hausmann, MSc (WU)
Type
PI
Weekly hours
4
Language of instruction
Englisch
Registration
02/13/23 to 02/24/23
Registration via LPIS
Notes to the course
Subject(s) Master Programs
Dates
Day Date Time Room
Tuesday 03/07/23 09:00 AM - 12:00 PM D3.0.218
Tuesday 03/14/23 08:00 AM - 11:00 AM D2.0.038
Tuesday 03/21/23 09:00 AM - 12:00 PM D3.0.218
Tuesday 03/28/23 09:00 AM - 12:00 PM D3.0.218
Tuesday 04/11/23 09:00 AM - 12:00 PM D3.0.218
Friday 04/14/23 03:30 PM - 04:15 PM D3.0.225
Tuesday 04/18/23 09:00 AM - 12:00 PM D3.0.218
Tuesday 04/25/23 09:00 AM - 12:00 PM D3.0.218
Friday 04/28/23 03:30 PM - 04:15 PM D5.0.002
Tuesday 05/02/23 09:00 AM - 12:00 PM D3.0.218
Tuesday 05/09/23 09:00 AM - 12:00 PM D3.0.218
Tuesday 05/16/23 09:00 AM - 12:00 PM D3.0.218
Friday 05/26/23 03:30 PM - 04:15 PM D5.0.002
Tuesday 05/30/23 09:00 AM - 12:00 PM D3.0.218
Friday 06/02/23 03:30 PM - 04:15 PM D5.0.002
Tuesday 06/06/23 09:00 AM - 12:00 PM D3.0.218
Tuesday 06/20/23 09:00 AM - 12:00 PM D2.0.326
Tuesday 06/27/23 09:00 AM - 12:00 PM D5.1.002
Contents

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.

Learning outcomes
  • 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 poli
Attendance requirements

Any absence from class should be notified to the course tutor in advance, regardless of whether the class takes place in onlince or presence mode. In line with the WU's course attendance requirements, 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. 

Teaching/learning method(s)

For your optimal learning experience, your course instructors employ the inverted classroom teaching method. Your weekly 3-hours sessions will be split into two parts. For the first half (thematic input) your course instructors will provide you with obligatory recorded lectures, videos and readings prior to the in-class session that you have to watch and read before class. The second half of the lecture you will apply and discuss what you have learnt from the readings and recorded lectures in plenary and in groups.

Assessment

Exams (60%): Four exams (15% each)

Friday, 14 April 2023 15:30

Neoclassical Economics, Behavioural Economics & Experimental Economics

Friday, 28 April 2023 15:30  

Evolutionary, Institutional, Complexity Economics

Friday, 26 May 2023 15:30

Agency & Structure

Friday, 2 June 2023 15:30

Practice Theory

 

Individual Essay (40%)

  • Free choice of topic
  • Build on course materials & critically reflect them
  • Word limit: roughly 6 000 words
  • Submission deadline: July 31, 2023. 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 late submissions. No exceptions. All submissions have to be uploaded at Learn@WU.
Readings

Please log in with your WU account to use all functionalities of read!t. For off-campus access to our licensed electronic resources, remember to activate your VPN connection connection. In case you encounter any technical problems or have questions regarding read!t, please feel free to contact the library at readinglists@wu.ac.at.

Other

Time spent on this course:

8 ECTS = 200 hours of work (60 minutes each)

Class attendance (14 sessions x 1 hour) + Recorded lectures and videos (14 sessions x 1.5 hours) + exams

38 hours

Weekly readings

56 hours

Exam preparation (4 x 10 hours)

40 hours

Individual Essay

66 hours

Total

200 hours

Classroom Etiquette

Please turn-off and do not use mobile communication devices or computers in class, you should be paying attention to the lecturer and class discussions not communicating externally.  Occasionally we will ask you to bring your laptop to class for some of the exercises. Also, during these periods, we ask you to concentrate on the exercise and not communicate externally.

Be on time. Walking in late disturbs everyone. At this university and many places of employment, tardiness communicates lack of interest and lack of dependability. If you cannot avoid being late, make sure to be unobtrusive about your entry.

Do not dominate other students’ opportunities to learn by asking too many questions. It’s good to ask questions and make comments, but if you dominate the class time with too many questions and/or comments, the instructor and other students cannot participate in class discussions. When asking questions or making comments, keep them related to the discussion at hand.

Last edited: 2023-05-31



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