The module aims to introduce students to several areas of economic theory scrutinized with the aid of empirical analysis and experimental research. The topics covered vary from year to year, spanning from Information Economics to Auctions and from Behavioral Game Theory and Social Preferences to Economic Theories of Crime.
Articles, handouts, and other stuff made available by the lecturer.
Learning Objectives
By the end of the course the student should have gained an understanding of the benefits, and also the limitations, of using economic theory and its methods to analyze relevant economic and social issues.
Prerequisites
Principles of Microeconomics and Game Theory.
Teaching Methods
With restrictions due to COVID 19:
video-lectures in real-time.
Otherwise:
lectures, class experiments, lab sessions.
Further information
See the course Moodle page at e-l.unifi.it.
The one time password will be revealed in class.
Type of Assessment
1. Written exam (40%)
2. Class participation (10%)
3. Coursework: group work, written report, and class presentation (40%)
Course program
A selection of topics will be chosen, depending on class composition and tastes, among those listed below.
Standard subjects:
- Asymmetric Information, Moral Hazard and Adverse Selection
- Auctions
- Topics in Industrial Organization
- Law and Economics
Somewhat bizarre subjects:
- (Behavioral) Game Theory
- Psychology and Economics
- Individual Decision Making under Bounded Rationality:
a) Heuristics and Biases
b) Risk and Uncertainty
c) Intertemporal Choice
- Emotions and Feelings in Economics
- Fairness and Social Preferences
- Political Economy with Boundedly Rational Economic Agents:
a) The "Nudge" Theory
b) The Law and Economics of Irrational Behavior
More bizarre subjects:
- Economics of Crime
- Economics of Drug Markets
- Economics of Family, Marriage and Divorce
- Economics of Prostitution
- Economics of Religion
- Economics of Abortion and of Assisted Reproduction
- Economics of Charity
- Economics of Discrimination