EC5217 - Behavioural Economics for Sustainable Policy
| Credit points: | 03 |
| Year: | 2014 |
| Student Contribution Band: | Band 3 |
| Administered by: | School of Business (pre 2015) |
This subject steps beyond the standard assumption of 'rationality' that is often adopted in economics - looking instead at what does, and does not, happen in markets when other behaviours influence individual decision making. Covering topics such as regret and disappointment theory, money illusion, and loss aversion, new insights are gained into why the market can and does deliver sub-optimal (non-sustainable) outcomes. A range of different policies that seek to redress problems in areas such as health and the environment (many of which arise from those behaviours) are analysed, and their ability to redress problems using traditional economic 'price-based' policies as well as more innovative 'non-price' mechanisms are explored. The subject is tailored to students who (envision to) work at a position that requires advanced economics skills.
Learning Outcomes
- Understand a range of different models that seek to explain the behavioural drivers of (among others) regret and disappointment theory, money illusion, and loss aversion and subsequent market failures;
- Demonstrate a systemic understanding of and advanced ability to use the models to make predictions about the possible consequences of those behaviours on society, and to derive policy solutions to problems posed in these circumstances;
- Demonstrate extensive familiarity with the way in which a range of heuristics and beliefs can influence individual behaviours thus creating market failure.
| Assumed Knowledge: | Introductory subjects in Economics and Statistics |
| Inadmissible Subject Combinations: | BX2124 |
Availabilities | |
| Townsville, Internal, Study Period 2 | |
| Census Date 28-Aug-2014 | |
| Coord/Lect: | Dr Riccardo Welters. |
| Contact hours: |
|
| Assessment: | end of semester exam (30%); assignments (40%); test (30%). |
| External, Study Period 2 | |
| Census Date 28-Aug-2014 | |
| Coord/Lect: | Dr Riccardo Welters. |
| Contact hours: |
|
| Method of Delivery: | WWW - LearnJCU |
| Assessment: | end of semester exam (30%); assignments (40%); test (30%). |
Note: Minor variations might occur due to the continuous Subject quality improvement process, and in case of minor variation(s) in assessment details, the Subject Outline represents the latest official information.