A Practicum in Behavioral Economics

• A Practicum in Behavioral Economics
• Dedication
• Acknowledgments
• This Book's Approach
• The Book's Genesis and Tips on How to Use It
• A (Very) Brief History fo the Origin of Behavioral Economciis
• Introduction
• I. Section 1- The Irrational Quirks of Homo sapiens

  • 1. Miscalculations, Cognitive Illusions, Misjudgments, and ‘Effects'

  • 2. The Biases and Fallacies of Homo sapiens

• II. Section 2- Homo economicus Versus Homo sapiens
  • 3. The Rationality of Homo economicus
  • 4. The Reality of Homo sapiens
  • 5. Laboratory Experiments: The Rationality of Homo economicus Versus the Reality of Homo sapiens
  • 6. Laboratory Experiments: Additional Differences Between Homo economicus and Homo sapiens
• III. Section 3- Behavioral Game Theory
  • 7. Some Classic Games of Iterated Dominance
  • 8. Some Classic Simultaneous-Move Games
• IV. Section 4- Empirical Studies and Field Experiments
  • References
  • Appendix A- Example Response Cards
  • Appendix B- Student Survey
  • Appendix C- Example Presentation Slides
  • Appendiix D- Example Course Outliniesn
  • Appendix E- Linkages Matrix

A Practicum in Behavioral Economics is a practice-based textbook covering the broad field of behavioral economics. Because behavioral economics is foremost a “test-and-learn” field of scientific inquiry that evolves according to experimental outcomes, so too should students test-and-learn. As such, the book’s primary goal is to help students experience behavioral economics through participation in the same experiments and games that serve as the foundations for, and shape the contours of, the field. With the help of this book students learn behavioral economics firsthand, and in the process create their own experiences. They learn about themselves – about how they make private and public choices under experimental conditions – at the same time as they learn about the field of behavioral economics itself.