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Caltech Course Catalog / 2025-2026 Catalog / Courses 2025-26 / Frontiers in Behavioral Economics

Ec/Psy 109 - Frontiers in Behavioral Economics

Ec/Psy 109

Frontiers in Behavioral Economics

9 units (3-0-6)   |  first term
Prerequisites: Ec 11.

This course will study topics in behavioral economics demonstrating departures from the classic economics assumptions of rationality and pure self-interest. We will study evidence of these departures, models that have been designed to capture these preferences, and applications of these models to important economic questions. Topics will include biases and heuristics, risk preferences, self-control, strategic uncertainty, and social preferences, among others. The course will be based in readings from both classic and modern research. Methodologically, the course will combine both theoretical and empirical evidence of the mentioned above topics.

Instructor: Nielsen
Published Date: Aug. 18, 2025