Self-Paced Course - NO live meetings

Explore the fascinating intersection of psychology and economics in our Behavioral Economics course designed specifically for high school students. This dynamic course will introduce you to the fundamental principles of economics, combined with insights from psychology, to understand how and why people make economic decisions.

Learn the basic principles of economics and psychology, including supply and demand, market equilibrium, cognitive biases, and heuristics.

Examine how individuals make decisions, the factors that influence these decisions, and why people often behave in irrational ways that defy economic logic.

Explore key behavioral economics theories and models, such as prospect theory, loss aversion, and the concept of nudge theory, to understand how they apply to real-world scenarios.

Participate in interactive experiments and analyze case studies that demonstrate the effects of behavioral economics in various contexts, including personal finance, public policy, and business.

Develop critical thinking skills by questioning traditional economic assumptions and considering how behavioral economics can lead to better decision-making in personal and professional spheres.

Students begin this series of lessons by comparing the difference between “human” and “econ” responses to situations. They consider various scenarios and people’s responses and then learn how each was influenced by specific concepts from behavioral economics (herding, status quo bias, sunk cost fallacy, and misconception of randomness). Students apply this knowledge as they consider how factors from behavioral economics might influence individuals in their careers. Finally, students track their own personal decisions over the course of a week and reflect on their choices and the factors that influenced them. 

This course is perfect for students interested in psychology, economics, or anyone curious about the hidden forces that drive our choices in daily life and the broader economy. No prior experience in economics or psychology is required, just a curiosity about human behavior and decision-making processes.