Module
Behaviour, Decisions and Markets
Module description
Summary:
Why do people who gamble buy insurance? To what extent are our decisions influenced by context? Are incentives always good? The aim of this module is to enable you to examine economic theory from a behavioural perspective and to highlight instances where standard economics predicts actual choices correctly and instances where it does not. You will be introduced to recent behavioural theories that have emerged to explain the empirical observations, and will discuss the implications for economics, business and politics. While focusing on the main developments in behavioural economics, the module also aims to expose you to the methodology of experimental economics and how it can be used to empirically test economic theory.
Additional Information:
Internationalisation
This module looks at the fundamentals of behaviour to understand issues like financial crisis and irrationality in markets, so it is applicable to an international environment.
Sustainability
Sustainability is explored in relation to topics of economic sustainability, cooperation in order to maintain the common public good and the necessary conditions to achieve success.
Employability
Students develop their critical thinking and writing skills in this module.
Full module specification
| Module title: | Behaviour, Decisions and Markets |
|---|---|
| Module code: | BEE3049 |
| Module level: | 3 |
| Academic year: | 2023/4 |
| Module lecturers: |
|
| Module credit: | 15 |
| ECTS value: | 7.5 |
| Pre-requisites: | BEE2025 |
| Co-requisites: | None |
| Duration of module: |
Duration (weeks) - term 2: 11 |
Module aims
The aim of this module is to enable students to examine economic theory from a behavioural perspective, and highlight instances where standard economics predicts actual choices correctly and instances where it does not. Students will be introduced to recent behavioural theories that have emerged to explain the empirical observations, and will discuss the implications for economics, business and politics. While focusing on the main developments in behavioural economics, the module aims to expose students to the methodology of experimental economics and how it can be used to empirically test economic theory.
ILO: Module-specific skills
- 1. explain the methodology of and recent developments in experimental economics and their impact on economic theories
- 2. explain how economics experiments are designed
ILO: Discipline-specific skills
- 3. discuss and evaluate how economic theories are developed and tested
- 4. explain and discuss how new theories are developed to account for new empirical evidence.
ILO: Personal and key skills
- 5. participate in group work
- 6. produce high quality work (whether in a group or individually) in written form
- 7. engage in independent study
- 8. research and summarise a body of literature in order to produce a report
- 9. engage in critical thought and reasoned discussion
Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
|---|---|---|
| 27 | 123 | 0 |
Details of learning activities and teaching methods
| Category | Hours of study time | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled learning and teaching activities | 22 | Lectures |
| Scheduled learning and teaching activities | 5 | Tutorials |
| Guided independent study | 123 | Reading, preparation for classes and assessment |
Formative assessment
| Form of assessment | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class Discussions | 1 hour | 1-5 | Verbal |
Summative assessment (% of credit)
| Coursework | Written exams | Practical exams |
|---|---|---|
| 50 | 50 | 0 |
Details of summative assessment
| Form of assessment | % of credit | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Written essay | 50 | 2,000 words | 1-4, 6-9 | Verbal or written |
| 10 ELE Quizzes | 20 | MCQ | 1-4, 6-9 | Verbal |
| Class Group Assignments | 30 | 10-20 minute presentations (live or pre-recorded) | 1-9 | Verbal |
| 0 | ||||
| 0 | ||||
| 0 |
Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)
| Original form of assessment | Form of re-assessment | ILOs re-assessed | Timescale for re-assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Written assignment (50%) | Written assignment (50%) (2,000 words) | 1-4, 6-9 | August re-assessment period |
| 10 ELE quizzes (20%) | Single ELE quiz (20%) | 1-9 | August re-assessment period |
| Class group assignments (30% | 1 x 10-20minute presentation (pre-recorded) (30%) | 1-4, 6-9 | August re-assessment period |
Syllabus plan
- Rational Choice
- Risk Attitudes
- Prospect Theory / Mental Accounting
- Processing Information and Belief Formation
- Economics of Discrimination
- Nudge
- Incentives in Organisations and Behaviour Change
Indicative learning resources - Basic reading
Michelle Badelley (2019). Behavioural Economics and Finance. Routledge.
Module has an active ELE page?
Yes
Origin date
01/09/2008
Last revision date
08/12/2021