Description of the curriculum in Economics, track in Behavioural Economics
The curriculum in Economics is designed for students interested in acquiring skills for a successful career as professional economist, in learning quantitative tools to analyse major current economic issues and policies, in using theoretical and empirical techniques to analyse the competitiveness of markets, to forecast macroeconomic and financial variables, to evaluate programs for private and public institutions.
After a first year offering a robust introduction to microeconomic and macroeconomic theory, jointly with basic quantitative tools and business/finance/law courses, during the second year students can choose between a track in
Economics and a track in Behavioural Economics (see below). In alternative, students can apply to enter the
double degree programm offered jointly with the MSc in European Economic Studies of the University of Bamberg (Germany) -- the application for this program must be made in early February during the first year.
The track in Behavioural Economics equips students with tools for analyzing individual economic behaviour and social interactions, taking into accounts insights from cognitive and social psychology, anthropology, and the role played by social norms. Four courses characterize this track, i.e., Political Economy, Microeconometrics, Behavioral and Social Evolution and Behavioral Economics. In addition, students may choose among several laboratories for strengthening their skills in econometrics and/or in the use of statistical software. Students will be introduced to experimental techniques, including laboratory experiments, online experiments and field experiments. With the skills acquired following this track, students will be able to design studies for testing hypothesis on how individuals’ decisions may be shaped by different institutions, policies and organizations, both in the public and private sector. The skills acquired are useful for designing policies, both at the national and local level, and for evaluating their effects. The same tools can be used for analyzing, designing, and evaluating policies implemented by non-governmental organizations.
The curriculum in Economics, track in Behavioural Economics provides an ideal background for being part of multi-disciplinary teams working on designing and evaluating policies either in developed and in developing countries. It also prepares for entry in a PhD programme (in Economics and related topics) at leading universities around the world or to work as a professional economist in a wide range of positions in private economic consultancy agencies, business, finance, national and international organisations and governments.
