Behavioural Economics

In this course, we will consider the traditional theories and models of economics and analyse how behavioural economics begins to move away from these models, by relaxing traditional assumptions. By doing this, behavioural economics looks to explain how agents actually behave in practice and what factors can sometimes explain seemingly irrational behaviour. The course will expose students to several major topics in Behavioural Economics and will look to link theory with empirical applications.

We will analyse the role of behavioural economics in the context of both consumer and firm behaviour. In particular, the course will focus on departures from neoclassical preferences and from rational expectations.


Some of the topics that will be covered in this course include:

Strategic Thinking
Reference Dependent Preferences and Loss Aversion.
Social Preferences.
Hyperbolic Discounting.
Naiveté and Self-Control.
Happiness and Adaptation.
The role of nudging and framing and the impact on consumer behaviour.
Behavioural Welfare Analysis.
Altruism and Cooperation.
Herd Behaviour.
Non-standard beliefs (including the gamblers' fallacy)
Status and social comparison
Individual Heterogeneity and Economic Implications
Experiment Design in Practice
Neuroeconomics

Course leader

Andreas Markulakis
Dr Taha Movahedi
Love Idahosa

Target group

This course is open to students who are studying or have previously studied Economics at University level. You should attach your most recent transcript or provide a screenshot of your modules from your student portal as evidence when you apply. Students should also meet our standard entry requirements and must be aged 18 or over by the time the Summer School commences and have a good understanding of the English language.

Course aim

The aim of this course is to introduce students to the field of behavioural economics. The broad objective will be to insert more behavioural realism into economic theory and thus provide students with a better understanding of the important role that Behavioural Economics plays in explaining consumer and producer behaviour. By first ensuring an understanding of the traditional models of economics, the course will then aim to examine evidence that shows some departure from the assumptions made in the canonical economic model. We then aim to show how such departures can be formalized theoretically and how the resulting models find empirical confirmation.

By approaching behavioural economics in this way, the course aims to provide students with an understanding of the development of behavioural economics and how it builds on and then departs from traditional theory. It will consider examples such as the way in which firms can frame choices and nudge consumers to behave in a certain way. By drawing on empirical results and applying theoretical models to real-world examples, students will develop an understanding of the important lessons that this relatively new branch of economics can convey.

Credits info

4 EC
3-4 credits (US) 7.5 ECTS points (EU)

Fee info

GBP 2350: Student Rate (for any students in full-time education at any University or College worldwide)
GBP 3150: Standard Rate