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Unit information: Behavioural Economics in 2023/24

Unit name Behavioural Economics
Unit code EFIM30027
Credit points 20
Level of study H/6
Teaching block(s) Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24)
Unit director Dr. Almeida Couri Ribeiro
Open unit status Not open
Units you must take before you take this one (pre-requisite units)

EFIM20033 / ECON20002 Intermediate Microeconomics AND
EFIM20011 / ECON20004 Econometrics 1
OR
EFIM20038 Microeconomic Analysis AND
EFIM20010 Applied Quantitative Research Methods

Units you must take alongside this one (co-requisite units)

None

Units you may not take alongside this one

None

School/department School of Economics
Faculty Faculty of Social Sciences and Law

Unit Information

We study models and techniques that have been used to improve on the psychological and institutional foundations of canonical models in Economics. This unit will consider these models and techniques, and how they can better account for the existing evidence regarding human behaviour. The main topics covered in this course are: Prospect Theory, Time-Inconsistency, Beliefs, Other-regarding preferences, Welfare and Happiness, Framing, Heuristics and Biases, and Neuroeconomics.

Your learning on this unit

On successful completion of this unit a student will be able:

  1. to analyse and discuss a wide range of issues in behavioural economics;
  2. to learn about the conceptual problems in modelling and describing such behaviour;
  3. to have an overview of the empirical evidence for such behaviours;
  4. to understand the policy implications of boundedly rational behaviour.

How you will learn

Teaching will be delivered through a combination of large and small group classes, supported by online resources

Tasks which help you learn and prepare you for summative tasks (formative):

One formative assessment to be submitted. This is a mock exam that will help students prepare for the summative assessment.

How you will be assessed

Tasks which count towards your unit mark (summative):

Exam (2 hours) (100%) Assesses all learning outcomes.

When assessment does not go to plan

Normally, there are no opportunities for reassessment in final year units. Where students are taking this as a non final-year unit, as part of an MSci, reassessment will be through a 2 hour exam.

Resources

If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.

If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. EFIM30027).

How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks, independent learning and assessment activity.

See the University Workload statement relating to this unit for more information.

Assessment
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit. The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. For appropriate assessments, if you have self-certificated your absence, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (for assessments at the end of TB1 and TB2 this is usually in the next re-assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any exceptional circumstances and operates within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.

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