Experimental methods for economics and business studies
The course is implemented by lectures, exercises and a mandatory project-based group work.
The course include the following parts:
- Introduction: What are economic and business experiments and why use them?
a) Market and game theory experiments
b) Decision theory experiments
c) Field and survey experiments
Principles of experiments – Validity, control and limits.
Choice of experimental design – Subjects, repetition, matching, payment.
Programming a computerized experiment using zTree
Conducting experiments – Instructions, testing, recruiting, sessions.
Measuring techniques – Eliciting beliefs, risk attitudes, social preferences.
Evaluating experimental data – A short overview
Information from the course leader
A warm welcome to the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences and the course Experimental methods for economics and business studies!
Below, you will find general information about the student account, registration for the course and other practical information.
The student account
You will need your student account to access e.g. your e-mail, Ladok and Canvas. For information regarding how to create your student account, follow this link: https://student.slu.se/en/study-support/it-support/support/new-student---start/
Registration for the course
Self-registration for the course is done in Ladok between 2022-10-18 and 2022-11-01. Remember that you must be admitted and registered in Ladok to be able take the course. Having access to Canvas does not mean you are registered in the course and without registration, you are risking losing your place in the course. If you have been admitted to the course with conditions, you need to send your credit list to the course leader who will review it and decide if you can register. Do this as soon as possible as reviewing credits may take a few days due to the course start.
Educational support
If you are entitled extra educational support, please inform the course leader at the start of the course so that special arrangements can be made.
For educational support for an exam, see instructions in the exam registration in Ladok Student. You need to register for alternative exam arrangements no later than 15 workings days prior to the examination day. More information here: https://student.slu.se/en/study-support/study-support/funka/.
Discontinuation of a course
If you want to discontinue the course, you should immediately notify the educational administrators at econ-edu@slu.se, who in turn will inform the course leader and register a non-completion of the course in Ladok after your approval. You are also able to register an early non-completion of the course (within three weeks after course start) in Ladok yourself.
Exams
You need to register for exams in Ladok. The registration closes 10 workings days prior to the exam. You can find your anonymity code in Ladok Student. It's not possible to register for the exam after the deadline has passed.
On Wednesdays between 12:30-14:30 we have an exam hand out at the department (Ulls hus, 4th floor). Please remember to bring your ID-card.
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Do not hesitate to contact us at econ-edu@slu.se if you have any questions!
Kind regards,
The educational administrators
Course evaluation
The course evaluation is now closed
NA0185-20094 - Course evaluation report
Once the evaluation is closed, the course coordinator and student representative have 1 month to draft their comments. The comments will be published in the evaluation report.
Additional course evaluations for NA0185
Academic year 2023/2024
Experimental methods for economics and business studies (NA0185-20181)
2023-10-31 - 2024-01-14
Academic year 2021/2022
Experimental methods for economics and business studies (NA0185-20128)
2021-11-02 - 2022-01-16
Academic year 2020/2021
Experimental methods for economics and business studies (NA0185-20123)
2020-11-02 - 2021-01-17
Academic year 2019/2020
Experimental methods for economics and business studies (NA0185-20090)
2019-11-01 - 2020-01-19
Syllabus and other information
Syllabus
NA0185 Experimental methods for economics and business studies, 7.5 Credits
Experimentella metoder i ekonomiSubjects
Economics Business Administration Economics Business AdministrationEducation cycle
Master’s levelAdvanced study in the main field
A1N
Grading scale
The grade requirements within the course grading system are set out in specific criteria. These criteria must be available by the course start at the latest.
Language
EnglishPrior knowledge
Knowledge equivalent to 180 credits, including 90 credits within business administration or economics. 15 credits microeconomics must also be included as well as 15 credits statistics or 5 credits mathematics and 5 credits statistics. Knowledge equivalent to English 6.Objectives
This course is an introduction to experimental methods in economics and business studies, its methods, and some of the recent applications. In particular, the course illustrates how experiments can be used to solve many of the identification problems present in non-experimental data. An integral part of the course is participation in numerous experiments to acquire hands on experience.
After succesful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- Prepare, programming, conduct and evaluate an experiment in economics and business studies.
Content
The course is implemented by lectures, exercises and a mandatory project-based group work.
The course include the following parts:
- Introduction: What are economic and business experiments and why use them?
a) Market and game theory experiments
b) Decision theory experiments
c) Field and survey experiments
Principles of experiments – Validity, control and limits.
Choice of experimental design – Subjects, repetition, matching, payment.
Programming a computerized experiment using zTree
Conducting experiments – Instructions, testing, recruiting, sessions.
Measuring techniques – Eliciting beliefs, risk attitudes, social preferences.
Evaluating experimental data – A short overview
Grading form
The grade requirements within the course grading system are set out in specific criteria. These criteria must be available by the course start at the latest.Formats and requirements for examination
Passed exam.
Passed project work.
If a student has failed an examination, the examiner has the right to issue supplementary assignments. This applies if it is possible and there are grounds to do so.
The examiner can provide an adapted assessment to students entitled to study support for students with disabilities following a decision by the university. Examiners may also issue an adapted examination or provide an alternative way for the students to take the exam.
If this syllabus is withdrawn, SLU may introduce transitional provisions for examining students admitted based on this syllabus and who have not yet passed the course.
For the assessment of an independent project (degree project), the examiner may also allow a student to add supplemental information after the deadline for submission. Read more in the Education Planning and Administration Handbook.
Other information
The right to participate in teaching and/or supervision only applies for the course instance the student was admitted to and registered on.
If there are special reasons, students are entitled to participate in components with compulsory attendance when the course is given again. Read more in the Education Planning and Administration Handbook.
Additional information
The specific entry requirements can also be fulfilled through four years of completed studies at the Forest Science programme with specialization in business administration.Entry requirements can also be met by students who are admitted to the agricultural programme and have the knowledge equivalent to 180 credits at undergraduate level out of which at least 60 credits in business administration or economics, and have taken (and been approved) the FÖ0449 (Företagsbeslut & mikroekonomi) och FÖ0373 (Lantbruksekonomi och driftsplanering) or NA0179 (Econometrics and programming). Level of English equivalent to upper secondary school English.
Students admitted autumn 2015 or earlier: the requirement of FÖ0449 can be replaced by the course FÖ0395 and the requirement of NA0179 can be replaced by the course NA0161.
Responsible department
Department of Economics
Further information
Grading criteria
Students pass the course if they have completed two assignments (presenting a research paper in a seminar, presenting a group project and writing a short report as part of a group assigment) and passed the exam. The assignments are graded pass/fail, but bonus points for the exam can be earned. To pass the exam, students have to achieve at least 60% of the points (without any bonus points). These grading criteria are discussed in the first meeting.
Litterature list
We will use "Jacquemet, N., & l'Haridon, O. (2018). Experimental economics. Cambridge University Press." as a main resource for the course and for complementary self-study. You are encouraged to get hold of a copy of the book, but you can also try to follow the lectures without it. Additional useful resources are:
- Camerer, C. F. (2011). Behavioral game theory: Experiments in strategic interaction. Princeton University Press.
- Friedman, S., Friedman, D., & Sunder, S. (1994). Experimental methods: A primer for economists. Cambridge University Press.
- Viceisza, A. C. (2012). Treating the field as a lab (Vol. 7). Intl Food Policy Res Inst.
Additional recent articles will be provided as the course progresses.