Laboratorio:experiments in economics: introduction to conducting applied research using tools of experimental economics

Learning Objectives:
The purpose of this course is to provide students with practical knowledge on conducting research in behavioral and experimental economics. The main objective is to introduce students to the methodology of experimental economics, expose them to original research papers in behavioral economics, and teach them how to design, conduct, and evaluate their own economic experiments.

Expected Learning Outcomes:
By the end of the course, students will be able to:
Read and comprehend original research papers published in international economics journals.
Evaluate original research conducted by scholars in experimental and behavioral economics.
Develop their own relevant research questions in experimental and behavioral economics.
Design their own economic experiments to address these research questions.
Analyze experimental economics data using non-parametric tools.
Furthermore, students will enhance their communication and presentation skills through two presentations. The first presentation will involve analyzing an assigned original research paper (presented individually by each student), while the second presentation will focus on their own
research idea (prepared and presented in groups).

Examination:
The final grade will be determined by the two presentations, each accounting for 50% of the total grade.

Course structure
Lab 1: Introduction to experimental economics methods: Why do we need experiments in economics?
Lab 2: Methodology 1: types of experiments (lab, field vs. online); internal and external validity; within vs. between subject design; demand effect; writing up instructions for experiments; nonparametric testing
Lab 3: Basic findings in individual decision making: heuristics and biases, prospect theory, endowment effect, risk preferences, time preferences
Lab 4: Basic findings in games: short introduction into game theory, social preferences, trust, coordination games
Lab 5: Individual presentations 1 (presenting published papers in experimental and behavioral economics)
Lab 6: Individual presentations 2 (presenting published papers in experimental and behavioral economics)
Lab 7: Methodology 2: pre-registration, p-hacking, replication crisis, open science
Lab 8: New findings in behavioral economics: motivated reasoning, ignorance, discrimination, unethical behavior, gender differences and overlaps in behavior
Lab 9: Group presentations 1 (presenting original experimental designs)
Lab 10: Group presentations 2 (presenting original experimental designs)