APPLIES TO ACADEMIC YEAR 2013/2014

DRE 7012 Experimental Economics

Responsible for the course
Leif Helland

Department
Department of Economics

Term
According to study plan

ECTS Credits
6

Language of instruction
English

Introduction
The aim of the course is to provide participants with a thorough understanding of selected topics in experimental economics. Selection of topics will depend on the instructor of the course.

Course structure:
The course is taught in intensively in four days. Each day consists of 8 hours teaching.

Students are required to participate in class – both in discussions and by presenting experimental designs / computer programs for experiments / material from the reading lists.

Learning outcome
After taking this course students should be able to design, implement and analyze economic experiments.

Prerequisites
Admission to a PhD Programme is a general requirement for participation in PhD courses at BI Norwegian Business School.

External candidates are kindly asked to attach confirmation of admission to a PhD programme when signing up for a course with the doctoral administration. Candidates can be allowed to sit in on courses by approval of the course leader. Sitting in on courses does not permit registration for courses, handing in exams or gaining credits for the course. Course certificates or conformation letters will not be issued for sitting in on courses.

Compulsory reading
Books:
Bardsley, Nicholas ... [et al.]. 2010. Experimental economics : rethinking the rules. Princeton University Press

Collection of articles:
Compendium/ collection of articles with relevant articles

Other:
During the course there may be hand-outs and other material on additional topics relevant for the course and the examination


Recommended reading

Course outline
The course focuses on the methods of experimental economics, and some of the recent applications. Each lecture covers a different subject and illustrates how different experimental techniques are employed. Students will participate in experiments in order to acquire hands on experience.

The class will cover experiments on decision making under risk, bargaining, collective action problems, social norms, political economy, and market behavior. As an important part of the course, we will learn how to program in zTree, a software program particularly useful for running laboratory experiments that require interaction between subjects.

Computer-based tools
zTree

Learning process and workload
Lectures 32 hours
Specified learning activities (including reading) 73 hours
Autonomous student learning 75 hours
Total 180 hours

Examination
15 page individual term paper.
Pass/fail

Examination code(s)
DRE 70121 term paper accounts for 100% of the grade.

Examination support materials


Re-sit examination
Re-takes are only possible at the next time a course will be held.
When the course evaluation has a separate exam code for each part of the evaluation it is possible to retake parts of the evaluation. Otherwise, the whole course must be re-evaluated when a student wants to retake an exam.

Additional information
Academic honesty and trust are important to all of us as individuals, and represent values that are encouraged and promoted by the honour code system. This is a most significant university tradition. Students are responsible for familiarizing themselves with the ideals of the honour code system, to which the faculty are also deeply committed.

Any violation of the honour code will be dealt with in accordance with BI’s procedures for cheating. These issues are a serious matter to everyone associated with the programs at BI and are at the heart of the honour code and academic integrity. If you have any questions about your responsibilities under the honour code, please ask.