Course Outline
The course introduces the main concepts of behavioral economics and the empirical methods used to test theoretical models. Topics include bounded rationality, decision-making under risk and uncertainty, preferences, intertemporal decision-making, attention and information acquisition, as well as behavioral heuristics and biases.
The knowledge gained in this course is useful both in professional life and in further academic study.
After completing the course, students will be able to:
- understand the key concepts of behavioral economics and its tools
- apply psychological insights to analyze economic decision-making
- critically discuss the assumptions of traditional economic theory
Course Structure
Each week includes online lectures and an on-campus exercise session.
Main Instructor: Aizhamal Rakhmetova, MA
Local Instructor: Joanna Dzionek-Kozłowska, Ph.D., Associate Professor at the University of Lodz
Course Details
ECTS points: 5 ECTS points (can be exchanged for crediting an elective lecture)
Classes: April 27 – June 5, 2026
Online lectures: Tuesday 12:00–13:30 CET, Friday 12:00–12:45 CET
Workshops with the local instructor: Friday 13:00–13:45 CET (EkSoc campus)
Language of instruction: English
Grading:
Final exam (40%)
Report on a selected academic article (30%)
Online quizzes (20%)
Activity (10%)
Final exam week: June 8–12, 2026
Make-up exam week: June 15–19, 2026
Registration
Registration is conducted via online form and is open until 17th April 2026.
