BEHAVIORAL PUBLIC ECONOMICS
Syllabus
EN
IT
Learning Objectives
Standard economics assumes that people are rational and that individuals are optimizing agents. This applies also to the design of policies. However, such an assumption is difficult to match with human psychology. People are boundedly rational, they do not choose always what is optimal for them, and their behavior is not purely driven by self-interest. This course discusses how to design public policies that consider bounded rationality. It will discuss how people understand taxes, how individuals perceive inequality, and how institutions can tackle poverty and development through a psychological lens. Last, the course discusses the underlying reasons for charitable giving and the impact of social media on individuals' well-being.
Prerequisites
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Program
Topic 1 Public Economics and Behavioral Economics: What is it about?
Topic 2 Sin Taxes: How to quit smoking, drinking, and gambling?
Topic 3 Tax (Mis)Perceptions
Topic 4 Household Finance and Beliefs in Macroeconomics
Topic 5 Perceptions on immigration
Topic 6 Poverty and development
Topic 7 Inequality, Fairness, and Preferences for Redistribution
Topic 8 Non-Standard Policy Interventions (Nudging).
Topic 9 Charitable Giving: Why do people give?
Topic 10 Social Media and Well-being
Topic 2 Sin Taxes: How to quit smoking, drinking, and gambling?
Topic 3 Tax (Mis)Perceptions
Topic 4 Household Finance and Beliefs in Macroeconomics
Topic 5 Perceptions on immigration
Topic 6 Poverty and development
Topic 7 Inequality, Fairness, and Preferences for Redistribution
Topic 8 Non-Standard Policy Interventions (Nudging).
Topic 9 Charitable Giving: Why do people give?
Topic 10 Social Media and Well-being
Books
The lectures will be based on scientific papers. A full list of the papers will be soon available.
Lectures Material handed over online.
Lectures Material handed over online.
Bibliography
Bernheim, B. D., & Taubinsky, D. (2018). Behavioral public economics. Handbook of behavioral economics: Applications and Foundations 1, 1, 381-516.
Teaching methods
A wide variety of formal and practical teaching techniques and materials will be used, with a strong emphasis on the interaction between teachers and students in class.
Exam Rules
Attending students
-In-class participation: worth up to 3 points
-Students’ presentation: worth up to 10 points
-Final written exam: worth up to 20 points.
Structure of the written exam
The final exam consists of 2 open-ended questions. Each question is worth up to 10 points.
Structure of the Presentation
The presentation can be made in groups. In the first week of the course, a list of readings will be made available. Students can choose a reading to present from that list. Presentations will be made during the last week of the course.
Non-attending students
• Final written exam: worth up to 20 points.
Structure of the written exam
The final exam consists of 3 open-ended questions. Each question is worth up to 10 points.
-In-class participation: worth up to 3 points
-Students’ presentation: worth up to 10 points
-Final written exam: worth up to 20 points.
Structure of the written exam
The final exam consists of 2 open-ended questions. Each question is worth up to 10 points.
Structure of the Presentation
The presentation can be made in groups. In the first week of the course, a list of readings will be made available. Students can choose a reading to present from that list. Presentations will be made during the last week of the course.
Non-attending students
• Final written exam: worth up to 20 points.
Structure of the written exam
The final exam consists of 3 open-ended questions. Each question is worth up to 10 points.