Hobart, Online
Introduction
Sustainable development constitutes the most urgent policy challenge we face today: How can we enable individuals to make choices and behave in ways that benefit both themselves and future generations? This unit equips students with the practical tools of behavioural economics to tackle this pressing issue. By integrating behavioural science with economic analysis, we can design, implement, and evaluate policies that drive sustainable decision-making. The unit has two parts: First, we explore how behavioural insights can be collected using experiments and similar methods to inform the design and testing of policy. We then apply these methods to real-world sustainability challenges through case studies.
Summary
| Unit name | Applied Behavioural Economics for Business and Policy |
| Unit code | BEA203 |
| Credit points | 12.5 |
| College/School | Tasmanian School of Business and Economics |
| Discipline | Economics |
| Coordinator | Professor Swee-Hoon Chuah |
| Available as an elective? | Yes |
| Delivered By | University of Tasmania |
| Level | Intermediate |
Sustainable Development Goals
The Unit Coordinator has identified that this unit aligns with the following UN Sustainable Development Goals. We welcome your thoughts and feedback on the alignment of the unit with these goals.
Availability
Specific information on 2027 unit availability will be available in August
Key Dates
| Study Period | Start date | Census date | WW date | End date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Semester 2 | 4/7/2027 | 26/7/2027 | 29/8/2027 | 23/10/2027 |
* The Final WW Date is the final date from which you can withdraw from the unit without academic penalty, however you will still incur a financial liability (refer to How do I withdraw from a unit? for more information).
Unit census dates currently displaying for 2027 are indicative and subject to change. Finalised census dates for 2027 will be available from the 1st October 2026. Note census date cutoff is 11.59pm AEST (AEDT during October to March).
Learning Outcomes
- Describe experimental economics and explain its role and scope in economics in general and behavioural economics in particular.
- Analyse and evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of the experimental method, and its appropriateness to study different economic issues.
- Test and evaluate behavioural economics interventions aimed at addressing industry and policy challenges.
Fee Information
2027 fee information will be available in August.
Teaching
| Assessment | Test (20%)|Reflection (30%)|Assignment (50%) |
|---|---|
| Timetable | View the lecture timetable | View the full unit timetable |
Textbooks
| Required |
There is no one prescribed textbook for this unit. Your unit coordinator will collate readings from various sources for you. Each topic in the unit will have its own reading list which can be found on MyLO. Required articles and chapters can be downloaded electronically via the UTAS library or found on Google Scholar. The reading list for each topic will consist of essential and optional readings. At the very least, students are expected to read the essential readings (around 3-5 pieces per topic). |
|---|---|
| Recommended | Journals such as Journal of Economic Psychology, Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Experimental Economics, Journal of the Economic Science Association and Journal of Behavioral & Experimental Economics are recommended to delve further into experimental methods. |
The University reserves the right to amend or remove courses and unit availabilities, as appropriate.