ECON 435 - Seminar in behavioral economics and public policy

FC SSCI QFR WADV

4 credits
This seminar surveys research in behavioral economics, with a focus on public policy responses. Can we identify cases when people act against their own self-interest? If so, can the government impose restrictions that improve public well-being? Topics covered include: cigarette and soda taxes, bans on alcohol sales, social media use, nutrition labels, and gambling. By the end of the seminar, students will understand the distinction between conventional welfare economics and behavioral welfare economics. For their final projects, students will have the choice between completing an original research paper using publicly available data or crafting a detailed proposal for a field experiment.

Prerequisites: ECON 253 and ECON 255.

Undergraduate Research Intensive