This course introduces the key concepts in behavioral economics, a modern and quickly emerging field that integrates insights from psychology into economics.
We will focus on the following topics: social preferences and fairness, time discounting and limited self-control, the role of misperceptions, discrimination and group identity, behavioral public policy. After introducing the concepts, the classes will be largely based on discussion of individual papers.
Poslední úprava: Chytilová Julie, doc. PhDr., Ph.D. (15.09.2023)
This course introduces the key concepts in behavioral economics, a modern and quickly emerging field that integrates insights from psychology into economics.
We will focus on the following topics: social preferences and fairness, time discounting and limited self-control, the role of misperceptions, discrimination and group identity, behavioral public policy. After introducing the concepts, the classes will be largely based on discussion of individual papers.
Poslední úprava: Chytilová Julie, doc. PhDr., Ph.D. (15.09.2023)
Podmínky zakončení předmětu -
A grade from this course will be based on a written final test, which will take place at the end of the course.
Grading: A = 90.1-100; B = 80.1-90; C = 70.1-80; D = 60.1-70; E = 50.1-60; F = 0-50.
The exam is closed-book. Students cannot use any books, notes, headphones, smartphones, tablets, calculators or any other devices. The use of AI tools is not permitted.
For more details about the final exam, including sample questions, please see a separate document uploaded in SIS.
Poslední úprava: Chytilová Julie, doc. PhDr., Ph.D. (17.09.2025)
A grade from this course will be based on a written final test, which will take place at the end of the course.
Grading: A = 90.1-100; B = 80.1-90; C = 70.1-80; D = 60.1-70; E = 50.1-60; F = 0-50.
The exam is closed-book. Students cannot use any books, notes, headphones, smartphones, tablets, calculators or any other devices. The use of AI tools is not permitted.
For more details about the final exam, including sample questions, please see a separate document uploaded in SIS.
Poslední úprava: Chytilová Julie, doc. PhDr., Ph.D. (17.09.2025)
Literatura -
Please see the list of the readings in the syllabus
Poslední úprava: Chytilová Julie, doc. PhDr., Ph.D. (25.08.2022)
Please see the list of the readings in the syllabus
Poslední úprava: Chytilová Julie, doc. PhDr., Ph.D. (28.07.2025)
Požadavky ke zkoušce -
A grade from this course will be based on a written final test, which will take place at the end of the course.
Grading: A = 90.1-100; B = 80.1-90; C = 70.1-80; D = 60.1-70; E = 50.1-60; F = 0-50.
There will be four dates for the final exam.
•December 17, 2025, 8:00-9:20am in room 109
•January 16, 2026, 9:30-10:50am in room 109
•January 30, 2026, 9:30-10:50am in room 109
•February 6, 2026, 9:30-10:50am in room 109
The exam is closed-book. Students cannot use any books, notes, headphones, smartphones, tablets, calculators or any other devices. The use of AI tools is not permitted.
For more details about the final exam, including sample questions, please see a separate document uploaded in SIS.
Poslední úprava: Chytilová Julie, doc. PhDr., Ph.D. (16.12.2025)
A grade from this course will be based on a written final test, which will take place at the end of the course.
Grading: A = 90.1-100; B = 80.1-90; C = 70.1-80; D = 60.1-70; E = 50.1-60; F = 0-50.
There will be four dates for the final exam.
•December 17, 2025, 8:00-9:20am in room 109
•January 16, 2026, 9:30-10:50am in room 109
•January 30, 2026, 9:30-10:50am in room 109
•February 6, 2026, 9:30-10:50am in room 109
The exam is closed-book. Students cannot use any books, notes, headphones, smartphones, tablets, calculators or any other devices. The use of AI tools is not permitted.
For more details about the final exam, including sample questions, please see a separate document uploaded in SIS.
Poslední úprava: Chytilová Julie, doc. PhDr., Ph.D. (16.12.2025)
Sylabus - angličtina
For the list of readings for each topic please see the attached pdf document with the syllabus
TOPIC 1: INTRODUCTION (Michal Bauer)
What is the definition of behavioral economics?
How does behavioral economics differ from experimental economics?
Overview of topics and requirements of this course
TOPIC 2: SOCIAL PREFERENCES (Michal Bauer)
Models of social preferences: altruism, inequality aversion, reciprocity, concern about social efficiency
Evidence of trust and reciprocity in the laboratory
Applications
How can social preferences help to explain unemployment?
Reciprocity on the labor market: Can employers motivate employees to exert more effort by giving them higher wages? Do wage cuts reduce effort?
Reciprocity in charitable giving: Can NGOs mobilize donations by distributing gifts?
Reciprocity in day care centers: Can introducing “market” crowd out fairness motives?
TOPIC 3: FORMATION OF SOCIAL PREFERENCES (Michal Bauer)
Are social preferences exogenous or shaped during childhood?
How do social preferences develop with age during childhood and adolescence?
Does parental background and social environment matter?
TOPIC 4: TIME DISCOUNTING AND LIMITED SELF-CONTROL (Michal Bauer)
Present-biased preferences and naivite: introducing the concepts
Are people present-biased?
Demand for commitment
Do people procrastinate? Can deadlines help?
Do people demand commitment when they want to save?
Do people demand commitment at work and does it help increase effort?
TOPIC5: BEHAVIORAL ECONOMICS OF POVERTY (Michal Bauer)
“Behavioral poverty trap” – why poverty may affect economic decision-making via psychological channels?
Does poverty reduce cognitive skills, productivity and increase time preference?
TOPIC 6 (if time allows): MISPERCEPTIONS AND INFORMATION (Michal Bauer)
Do people have accurate beliefs about important facts or views of others?
Do inaccurate beliefs (misperceptions) shape important life decisions?
Can inaccurate beliefs by corrected by providing facts?
How misperceptions affect schooling choices, health behavior and labor market participation?
TOPIC 7: DECISION-MAKING IN GROUPS AND GROUP IDENTITY (Julie Chytilová)
Are there differences in decision-making of individuals and of groups? Are groups more rational? Are groups less pro-social?
How can group identity influence economic outcomes?
How can we measure the effects of group identity on behavior?
TOPIC 8: DISCRIMINATION (Julie Chytilová)
What are the standard economic explanations of discrimination?
How can we measure existence of discrimination? Lab experiments, audit studies, correspondence experiments.
Do we also discriminate sub-consciously?
What are the consequences of discrimination?
What affects discrimination?
TOPIC 9: BEHAVIORAL PUBLIC POLICY (Julie Chytilová)
How can the findings from behavioral economics be applied in public policies? Choice architecture, nudges and defaults.
Examples – how to nudge people to save money and to save energy?
How to balance freedom of choice and government interventions? Libertarian paternalism.
Poslední úprava: Chytilová Julie, doc. PhDr., Ph.D. (28.07.2025)
Vstupní požadavky -
Pre-requisite
JEB104 – Microeconomics I
Poslední úprava: Chytilová Julie, doc. PhDr., Ph.D. (04.11.2019)
Pre-requisite
JEB104 – Microeconomics I
Poslední úprava: Chytilová Julie, doc. PhDr., Ph.D. (09.09.2018)
