Behavioral Economics and Public Policy

9 units · Undergraduate

Spring: 9 units Many of society's most difficult problems cannot be solved simply by telling people to make better choices. Whether the challenge is retirement savings, obesity, misinformation, climate change, or artificial intelligence, effective policy must account for how people actually behave and for the institutions and environments that shape those behaviors. This course explores how behavioral economics informs the design and evaluation of public policy. Students analyze influential and contemporary research, critique existing policy approaches, and develop their own proposals for addressing major societal challenges while considering issues of effectiveness, feasibility, unintended consequences, and implementation. Prerequisites: 73-104 or 73-102