Economics 207 - Econ and Psychology

Spring
2021
02
4.00
Jakina Debnam
MW 02:10PM-03:30PM
Amherst College
ECON-207-02-2021S
ONLI ONLI
jguzman@amherst.edu

This course introduces the field of behavioral economics, which incorporates insights from psychology into economics with the aim of improving human welfare. Behavioral economics studies how individuals actually make decisions, which may deviate from the way "rational actors" are modeled in terms of making decisions in classical economics. Motivated by non-fiction readings and academic articles, we will use behavioral economic frameworks to characterize this actual decision-making and to explore its consequences for markets and for policy. Topics covered include prospect theory, frameworks for intertemporal choice, the importance of framing and defaults, subjective well-being, and "nudges."

Requisite: ECON 111 or ECON 111E. Limited to 25 students. Spring semester. Professor Debnam Guzman.

Permission is required for interchange registration during all registration periods.
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