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  4. Behavioral Economics

Behavioral Economics

Design and Evaluation of Social Interventions under a Behavioral Economics Approach

Director

  • Lorenzo Escot
    Full Professor of Applied Economics, and General Coordinator of the Observatorio de la Unidad de Igualdad of the UCM

Co-Director

  • Iñaki Aliende
    Associate Lecturer of Applied Economics, and PhD in Data Science

Professors:

  • Tom Webb, Senior Lecturer in Sport Management and International Researcher, University of Portsmouth
  • Daniel Santín, Full Professor in Applied Economics and Specialist in Public Policies Evaluation
  • Jose Andrés Fernández, Codirector of the Research Group in Data Analysis and Social Studies, Gender and Equality Policies of the UCM
  • Joaquín Artés, Full Professor in Applied Economics and Specialist in Public Policies Evaluation

Important information

  • Next course will be held from February 13th to March 13th, 2024.

  • The course will be taught exclusively online (synchronous virtually)
  • Duration: 2 ECTS (20 hours)
  • Seats: 30
  • Fees: 75.00€
  • Contact:  ialiende@ucm.es,  escot@ucm.es

 


How to enroll in the course?

In the course page  you have more information to enroll in the course

https://www.ucm.es/estudios/2023-24/certificado-DesiEvaSocialBeha2401


Learning Certificate are a special courses offered at the Complutense University of Madrid not requiring prior university qualifications 

Intended audience

Students and people who, working or otherwise, are interested in updating their academic, scientific or technical training, improving their professional qualifications, reorienting their career, entering the labour market and developing strategies and personal skills (face-to-face, blended and online learning) throughout the academic year. A university degree is not necessary to take these courses 


Learning Certificate: 

Design and Evaluation of Social Interventions under a Behavioral Economics Approach

Behavioral Economics is an established field, boasting three Nobel Prizes in recent decades. Its empirical approach makes it a highly practical discipline to be considered by any student or professional in the social sciences.

The choice architect is capable of discerning the impact of information scarcity on social matters and, in relation to this, influencing the way economic agents make decisions across various domains such as savings, adopting healthy habits, consumption, future planning, or compliance.

While its presence in academic literature, the business world, and as a tool for public entities has been growing, it still has significant potential in university programs. This Certificate responds to that need.

Any professional whose field of work requires influencing the decisions of citizens and economic agents should view behavioral economics as a methodology. This includes social transformation projects, commercial and communication campaigns, habit change, economic policies, promotion of socially desirable behaviors, and environmental protection.


 

IMPORTANT NEWS: We have the dates for the next edition of the course:  February 13th to March 13th, 2024.

 


The course includes the following blocks:

  • A brief history of behavioral economics, where we explain its formation and main contributions over past centuries, complementing the neoclassical approach to economics.
  • The increasing presence of behavioral economics in various social spheres, in public entities such as 'nudge units,' and in private organisations.
  • Cases from key application sectors: health, energy, consumption, environment, safety, marketing, finance, education, etc.
  • Distinctive elements of social intervention projects from the perspective of behavioral economics: heuristics, biases, and nudges.
  • Process of constructing projects from the standpoint of behavioral economics: significance of decisions, identification of cognitive biases, intervention typology, and development of nudges.
  • Success indicators and project evaluation methods using statistical methods.

Sessions:

  1. Introduction: Social Interventions, Behavioral Economics, and Impact Measurement  Date 2024/02/13, Time (CET): 18:00 to 19:00 (1h) (CONFIRMED - PRESENTATION AND BEGINING OF THE COURSE)

This introductory section sets the context for the program by introducing participants to the concepts of social interventions, behavioral economics, and how impact is measured in these contexts.

  1. Human Behavioral Approach to Economic Matters Date 2024/02/15, Time (CET): 18:00 to 20:00 (2hs) (to be confirmed)

This section explores the fundamental principles of behavioral economics, emphasising how human behavior often deviates from traditional economic assumptions.

  1. Behavioral economics and a practical process to apply a behavioral economics approach on social mattters Date 2024/02/21, Time (CET): 18:00 to 20:00 (2hs)  (to be confirmed)

This part delves into how the principles of behavioral economics can be applied to social issues, using a structured process: Heuristics, biases, nudge, choice architect, nudge unit…

  1. Data-Driven Methods to Design and Measure Behavioral Interventions Date 2024/02/27, Time (CET): 17:00 to 19:00 (2hs) (to be confirmed)

This section covers how data analysis and evidence-based methods can be used to design and measure the effectiveness of behavioral interventions.

  1. The Measurement of Interventions Impact in Social Matters Date 2024/02/29, Time (CET): 18:00 to 21:00 (3hs) (to be confirmed)

This topic focuses on the methodologies and metrics used to quantify the impact of behavioral interventions in social contexts.

  1. Cases of Application of a Behavioral Approach Date 2024/03/5, Time (CET): 18:00 to 20:00 (2hs) (to be confirmed)

This section showcases real-world examples of how behavioral economics principles have been successfully applied to address social challenges.

  1. Research Strategies in Social Studies Date 2024/03/7, Time (CET): 18:00 to 20:00 (2hs) (to be confirmed)

This will involve discussing the different strategies and methodologies commonly used in social studies.

  1. Presentations of Participants' Projects Date 2024/03/13, Time (CET): 18:00 to 20:00 (2hs) (to be confirmed)

This is an interactive session which participants have the opportunity to present and discuss their own projects related to applying behavioral economics to social matters.