University of Gothenburg
Image
Behavioural economics combines insights from economics and psychology

Behavioural and Experimental Economics

Behavioural economics attempts to model human behaviour through a combination of insights from economics and psychology.

In traditional economics, the world is populated by calculating and unemotional utility maximizing individuals. Behavioural economics combines insights from economics and psychology, but it is also influenced by other disciplines such as sociology, philosophy, and the neurosciences, in an attempt to better model human behaviour.

Important extensions of the traditional models include for example incorporation of emotions, fairness, reciprocity and social norms. Experimental methods are applied to empirically analyse and test behavioural economic theories.

Behavioural and Experimental Economics Group (BEE)

The Behavioural and Experimental Economics Group (BEE) at University of Gothenburg is a research group at the Department of Economics, established to facilitate research in behavioural and experimental economics.

Research by the BEE group members are in particular focused on lab and field experiments. Members of the group investigate a wide range of topics, from people's individual decision to cooperation and the optimal design of policy instruments of institutions. Recent and ongoing research areas include public goods, relative comparisons, use of nudges for a sustainable consumption, happiness, self-control and gender differences in economic decision-making. Its research is published in top international journals.

BEE Brown Bag Seminars

The seminar takes place on Wednesdays at 12:05-13:00. There we discuss a recently published paper, or devote the seminar to presentations of research ideas, experimental designs, work-in-progress and papers. If you would like to subscribe to our email list to get information about our activities, including seminars, please contact Olof Johansson Stenman.