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    • Behavioral Economics

    Behavioral Economics Courses Online

    Explore behavioral economics to understand how psychological factors influence economic decisions. Learn about biases, heuristics, and consumer behavior.

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    Explore the Behavioral Economics Course Catalog

    • T

      The Open University

      From prototyping to validating business models

      Skills you'll gain: Stakeholder Engagement, Corporate Sustainability, Business Modeling, Environmental Social And Corporate Governance (ESG), Business Valuation, Systems Thinking, Value Propositions, Design Thinking, Verification And Validation, Presentations, Innovation, Lean Methodologies

      Intermediate · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks

    • F

      Fundação Instituto de Administração

      Estrutura e Funcionamento do Mercado

      Skills you'll gain: Capital Markets, Financial Systems, Financial Market, Financial Regulation, Financial Policy, Financial Trading, Market Data, Investments, Banking, Financial Services, Economics

      4.9
      Rating, 4.9 out of 5 stars
      ·
      11 reviews

      Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks

    • Status: Free
      Free
      D

      Dartmouth College

      Generative AI for the Resilient Pricer

      Skills you'll gain: Generative AI, Regulatory Compliance, Change Management, Market Dynamics, Business Transformation, Strategic Thinking, Market Research, Revenue Management, Artificial Intelligence, Price Negotiation, Predictive Analytics, Data-Driven Decision-Making, Market Analysis, Data Governance, Business Ethics, Data Quality

      4.1
      Rating, 4.1 out of 5 stars
      ·
      8 reviews

      Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks

    • Status: Free
      Free
      C

      Coursera Instructor Network

      Commercial Awareness

      Skills you'll gain: Strategic Decision-Making, Competitive Analysis, Sales Strategy, Strategic Thinking, Business Strategy, Business Leadership, Market Trend, Market Analysis, Business Marketing, Sales, Leadership, Business, Business Management, Financial Analysis, Marketing Strategies, Marketing, Market Dynamics, Business Economics, Consumer Behaviour

      4.3
      Rating, 4.3 out of 5 stars
      ·
      12 reviews

      Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks

    • U

      University of Colorado Boulder

      The Harder Side of Science Communication

      Skills you'll gain: Learning Theory, Human Learning, Motivational Interviewing, Education and Training, Teaching, Scientific Methods, Communication Strategies, Research, Science and Research, Research Methodologies, Instructional Design, Critical Thinking, Communication, Behavioral Economics, Decision Making, Psychology

      Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks

    • Y

      Yunus Social Business Fund Bengaluru

      Value and Business Decision Making

      Skills you'll gain: Cash Flows, Financial Analysis, Decision Making, Risk Analysis, Business Valuation, Strategic Decision-Making, Environmental Social And Corporate Governance (ESG), Capital Budgeting, Stakeholder Management, Finance, Business Ethics, Return On Investment, Corporate Sustainability, Economics, Policy, and Social Studies

      4.9
      Rating, 4.9 out of 5 stars
      ·
      9 reviews

      Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months

    • U

      University of Colorado Boulder

      Global Climate Change Policies and Analysis

      Skills you'll gain: Environmental Policy, Environment, Environmental Issue, International Relations, Policy Analysis, Energy and Utilities, Policy Development, World History, Mitigation, Economics, Environmental Science, Data Analysis, Physical Science, Forecasting, Emerging Technologies

      Build toward a degree

      Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks

    • U

      University of California San Diego

      Teaching Impacts of Technology: Relationships

      Skills you'll gain: Student Engagement, Algorithms, Diversity Awareness, Pedagogy, Facebook, Instructional Strategies, Programming Principles, Student-Centred Learning, Teaching, Data Storage, Education and Training, Software Engineering, Geographic Information Systems, Image Analysis, Classroom Management, Lesson Planning, Computer Science, Theoretical Computer Science, Computational Thinking, Computer Graphics

      Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months

    • U

      University of California, Davis

      Digital Thinking: Frameworks For Our Digital Reality

      Skills you'll gain: Digital Transformation, Data Ethics, Machine Learning, OpenAI, Social Studies, Artificial Intelligence, Technology Strategies, Computer Science, ChatGPT, Emerging Technologies, Sociology, Technology Roadmaps, Ethical Standards And Conduct, Economics, Policy, and Social Studies, Business Technologies, Automation, Blockchain, Generative AI Agents, Algorithms, Innovation

      4.6
      Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
      ·
      10 reviews

      Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks

    • U

      Università di Napoli Federico II

      Asset Pricing Fundamentals

      Skills you'll gain: Financial Market, Portfolio Management, Investments, Equities, Capital Markets, Finance, Risk Analysis, Economics, Risk Management, Probability Distribution, Decision Making

      Intermediate · Course · 1 - 3 Months

    • Status: Free
      Free
      E

      ESSEC Business School

      Paths to a Sustainable Future

      Skills you'll gain: Collaboration, Business Transformation, Social Justice, Environmental Issue, Political Sciences, Social Sciences, Systems Thinking, Economics, Policy, and Social Studies, Sociology, Community Development, Cultural Diversity, Lifelong Learning, Governance

      4.5
      Rating, 4.5 out of 5 stars
      ·
      12 reviews

      Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks

    • U

      Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana

      Ciudades en Transición

      Skills you'll gain: Socioeconomics, Social Sciences, Economics, Policy, and Social Studies, Environment, Public Health, Culture, Digital Transformation, Diversity Awareness, Governance, Environmental Science, Transportation Operations, Innovation

      4.6
      Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
      ·
      11 reviews

      Intermediate · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks

    Behavioral Economics learners also search

    Economics
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    Market Research
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    1…636465…73

    In summary, here are 10 of our most popular behavioral economics courses

    • From prototyping to validating business models: The Open University
    • Estrutura e Funcionamento do Mercado: Fundação Instituto de Administração
    • Generative AI for the Resilient Pricer: Dartmouth College
    • Commercial Awareness: Coursera Instructor Network
    • The Harder Side of Science Communication : University of Colorado Boulder
    • Value and Business Decision Making: Yunus Social Business Fund Bengaluru
    • Global Climate Change Policies and Analysis : University of Colorado Boulder
    • Teaching Impacts of Technology: Relationships: University of California San Diego
    • Digital Thinking: Frameworks For Our Digital Reality: University of California, Davis
    • Asset Pricing Fundamentals: Università di Napoli Federico II

    Skills you can learn in Finance

    Investment (23)
    Market (economics) (20)
    Stock (18)
    Financial Statement (14)
    Financial Accounting (13)
    Modeling (13)
    Corporate Finance (11)
    Financial Analysis (11)
    Trading (11)
    Evaluation (10)
    Financial Markets (10)
    Pricing (10)

    Frequently Asked Questions about Behavioral Economics

    Richard Thaler, the Nobel Prize-winning economist who is considered the founder of this influential field, defined behavioral economics as “the combination of psychology and economics that investigates what happens in markets in which some of the agents display human limitations and complications.” Whereas traditional economics (known as the “standard economic model”) assumes that people are rational actors whose decision-making in the market is based purely on calculations of costs and benefits in pursuing one’s preferences, behavioral economics identifies important ways that this theory is challenged in reality by cognitive biases.

    For example, individuals often lack the willpower to make choices in their long-run interest, even if they rationally understand the costs. People also often make altruistic sacrifices to help others, in contrast to purely rational actors that pursue only self-interest. These types of insights from psychology have been deepened in recent years by bringing in advances in our understanding of how the biology of the brain works, creating the closely related subfield of neuroeconomics.

    These insights may seem like common sense, but they have important implications for business. Behavioral finance has helped explain how the stock market is influenced by biases such as “loss aversion,” which leads investors to fear losing money more than they value gains. Consumer neuroscience has yielded marketing insights on how memorable branding builds associations in the brain that impact purchasing decisions.

    Behavioral economics and related fields can seem to some like an effort to “hack” the human mind for financial gain, particularly when used in marketing. However, leading theorists in this field such as Thaler have demonstrated that this experimental, science-based approach to economics can also help policymakers come up with policy interventions to “nudge” people towards making better long-term decisions such as eating healthier food and saving more of their money.‎

    A background in behavioral economics can give you an edge in many types of business and marketing careers, as it helps deepen your understanding of the biases that influence the choices of other investors and consumers - as well as your own economic decision-making. This field is also useful for public policy careers, as accounting for the real-world insights of behavioral economics in policymaking can help make legislation and regulation more effective in achieving its goals.

    If you want to dive deeper into this influential field and contribute to its fast-growing body of research, you can become an economist yourself. This career path typically requires an advanced degree such as a masters or even a PhD, but it can lead to work that is high paying as well as intellectually rewarding. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, economists earned a median wage of $105,020 per year in 2019, and these jobs are expected to grow faster than the average of the overall economy.‎

    Absolutely, Coursera offers courses in behavioral economics, behavioral finance, neuroeconomics, and related fields in business as well as psychology. By learning online, you can learn about behavioral economics topics remotely from great schools like Duke University and Copenhagen Business School at a significantly lower price than on-campus students.

    And, while your cognitive biases may predispose you to think that a lower price means lower quality, learners on Coursera get the same course materials and credits as on-campus counterparts, along with video lectures and live virtual office hours and collaborative projects. That means you don’t have to sacrifice the quality of your education to learn online, making this a very economically rational choice indeed.‎

    The skills and experience you might need to have before starting to learn about behavioral economics include an understanding of taxation, finance theory, and behavioral science. Work experience in product management or client management may be useful. Other skills include data analysis skills, such as interpreting data and statistical analysis. Some additional coursework in psychology can be helpful, especially classes about cognitive psychology or neuropsychology. Courses that include experimental design, statistical analysis, and programming languages like SQL can be advantageous. You also may find it beneficial to learn about brain function and the parts that play a role in the decision-making process.‎

    The people best suited for roles in behavioral economics are individuals who are passionate about understanding why people make economic decisions. They typically like to observe what others do, note trends in behavior, and develop hypotheses about why it’s happening. Behavior economists often enjoy applying their knowledge of experimental design to measure consumer behavior that organizations can use to inform decision making. For example, a company might want to know which features of a product are most important to its customers or why one particular model of a product does not sell as well as others.‎

    Learning behavioral economics might be right for you if you're interested in applied psychology and topics like game theory, ostrich effect, and anchoring bias. You may find that you like learning behavioral economics if you enjoy setting up experiments to identify why people make economic decisions and sharing your insights with companies and other groups like marketers and product managers who want to put their products in the hands of as many consumers as possible. Working as a behavioral economist may interest you if you enjoy working with data and applying your insights to develop policies and strategies that align with an organization’s mission, values, and financial goals.‎

    Online Behavioral Economics courses offer a convenient and flexible way to enhance your existing knowledge or learn new Behavioral Economics skills. With a wide range of Behavioral Economics classes, you can conveniently learn at your own pace to advance your Behavioral Economics career skills.‎

    When looking to enhance your workforce's skills in Behavioral Economics, it's crucial to select a course that aligns with their current abilities and learning objectives. Our Skills Dashboard is an invaluable tool for identifying skill gaps and choosing the most appropriate course for effective upskilling. For a comprehensive understanding of how our courses can benefit your employees, explore the enterprise solutions we offer. Discover more about our tailored programs at Coursera for Business here.‎

    This FAQ content has been made available for informational purposes only. Learners are advised to conduct additional research to ensure that courses and other credentials pursued meet their personal, professional, and financial goals.

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