SAM24 Incentives, Politics, and Behavior

• Topics

  The course aims to provide students with a broad introduction to modern microeconomic research on incentives, policy, and behavior.

  The course covers the research frontiers in selected topics within economics and will address social norms, discrimination, political activism, media, and political preferences.

  The course aims to convey an understanding of experimental research and important societal issues.

• Learning outcome

  Upon completion of the course, students can:

  Knowledge

  • Discuss a wide range of studies in applied microeconomics.
  • Apply experimental and quasi-experimental methods.

  Skills

  • Critically evaluate an academic research study in applied microeconomics.
  • Formulate research hypotheses to test economic theory.

  General competence

  • Describe and explain the scientific method and how incentives and institutions affect behavior.

• Teaching

  The course consists of lectures, online surveys administered during lectures, and two mandatory lectures with group presentations.

• Compulsory Activity

  Two approved assignments and mandatory in-class activities.

  The first assignment may be completed individually or in a group. The second assignment must be completed in groups of 3-4 students and includes a PowerPoint presentation prepared for the group-presentation classes. Assigmments that are not approved on the first attempt can be resubmitted. To be eligible for resubmission, the first attempt must be conclusive, i.e. the student must have made a real attempt to answer the majority of the case provided.

  Prior to the presentations, groups may be assigned another group's work and tasked with providing comments during the session. Depending on class size, not all groups may present, but every group will either present and/or comment on another group's presentation.

  Two class sessions will be devoted to group presentations, and attendance is mandatory for all students for both sessions. In addition, three short in-class surveys will be administered during the semester through Canvas; students must be present in class to complete them, and at least two of the three surveys must be approved to obtain course approval.

  Previously approved compulsory activities remain valid.

• Assessment

  4 hour individual digital school exam.

  The exam must be written in Norwegian or English.

• Grading Scale

  A-F.

• Literature

  Scientific articles. Selection will be varied, but will include article on the research front published in the best journals.

• Permitted Support Material

  Calculator

  One bilingual dictionary (Category I)

  All in accordance with Supplementary provisions to the Regulations for Full-time Study Programmes at the Norwegian School of Economics Ch.4 Permitted support material https://www.nhh.no/en/for-students/regulations/https://www.nhh.no/en/for-students/regulations/and https://www.nhh.no/en/for-students/examinations/examination-support-materials/https://www.nhh.no/en/for-students/examinations/examination-support-materials/

• Retake

  Retake in SAM24 will not be offered during the non-teaching semester (autumn). Only mandatory bachelor courses with an individual written school exam or a home exam lasting up to one day will have a retake assessment in the non-teaching semester.

  For detailed information regarding the retake policy, please visit our website: https://www.nhh.no/en/for-students/examinations/retake-of-exams/https://www.nhh.no/en/for-students/examinations/retake-of-exams/ (copy url).