Course coordinator
Dr David Smerdon
Course overview
- Study period
- Semester 1, 2025 (24/02/2025 - 21/06/2025)
- Study level
- Postgraduate Coursework
- Location
- St Lucia
- Attendance mode
- In Person
- Units
- 2
- Administrative campus
- St Lucia
- Coordinating unit
- Economics School
This course focuses on the application of behavioural economics to public policy issues. It offers students a grounding in the theories of behavioural economics, and field experiments which advance existing economic models and policies on education, health, energy, taxation, and more. This includes reviewing how government agencies and non-profit organizations have used behavioural insights to improve social policy.
Building on the rising trend in applied behavioural science, this graduate-level course on 'Behavioural Economics and Public Policy' delves into the fascinating interplay between human psychology and economic decision-making and its relevance across a wide range of applications. In recent years, there has been a significant surge in interest from governments, industry, and non-profit organisations in leveraging behavioral insights to address real-world policy challenges. This course explores this expanding field, emphasising how the tools of behavioural economics can be applied to shapeﾠeffective public policies.
Participants will engage with current research and case studies that demonstrate how behavioural economics principles are being utilised to influence public behavior and policy design. The course covers a spectrum of topics, including core theories from both classical and behavioural models of decision-making, and how these can be applied through 'nudging', choice architecture, and other tools that exploit commonﾠcognitive biases on decision-making processes.
By combining theoretical knowledge with practical applications, this course offers a comprehensive understanding of how behavioural insights can lead to more effective and efficient policies. Students will have the opportunity to learn from a behavioural economist actively involved in cutting-edge research and in advising and collaborating with governmental and private organisations. The curriculum also includes a guest lecture from a leading expertﾠin behavioural insights, whose team will assist in providingﾠfeedback on student assessment.ﾠOverall, this course will help to develop practical skills that are essentialﾠfor those aspiring for a careerﾠin public policy or other sectors that demand anﾠunderstanding of human behaviour and how it can be influenced.
Course requirements
Prerequisites
You'll need to complete the following courses before enrolling in this one:
ECON7110
Incompatible
You can't enrol in this course if you've already completed the following:
ECON2060
Course contact
School enquiries
School Enquiries, School of Economics
All enquiries regarding student and academic administration (i.e. non-course content information, e.g., class allocation, timetables, extension to assessment due date, etc.) should be directed toﾠenquiries@economics.uq.edu.au.ﾠ
Enquiries relating specifically to course content should be directed to the Course Coordinator/Lecturer.
Course staff
Lecturer
Dr David Smerdon
Timetable
The timetable for this course is available on the UQ Public Timetable.
Additional timetable information
It is important that you attend tutorials for this course.
Lectures commence in Week 1.
Tutorials commence in Week 2.
Please see the Learning Activities section of this Course Profile for the timetabling implications of public holidays. The timetable is published through the UQ Public Timetable found in the APPs section of myUQ. Students should refer to the timetable prior to the commencement of classes to ensure that they have the most up to date information, as from time to time late room changes may occur.
Aims and outcomes
The aim of this course is to investigate the growing influence of behavioural economics on policy design and implementation. Through a focus on policy examples, students develop a familiarity with the way behavioural factors, such as cognitive biases, can affect policy outcomes.
Learning outcomes
After successfully completing this course you should be able to:
LO1.
Evaluate areas of policy where behavioural insights could improve implementation of public policy.
LO2.
Construct extended coherent arguments building on behavioural insights with implications for policy design.
LO3.
Apply insights from behavioural economics to policy design.
Assessment
Assessment summary
| Category | Assessment task | Weight | Due date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quiz |
Online Test
|
20% |
8/04/2025 - 9/04/2025
The test consists of a one-hour timer within a 24-hour window that opens at 9:00am on Tuesday and closes at 9:00am on Wednesday. |
| Presentation |
Group Presentation and Pitch Deck
|
30% |
12/05/2025
Group presentations take place in this week during the scheduled Lecture and Tutorial. The written pitch-deck materials are due BEFORE the commencement of the presentations. |
| Paper/ Report/ Annotation |
Behavioural Economics Research Proposal
|
50% |
9/06/2025 1:00 pm |
Assessment details
Online Test
- Online
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Quiz
- Weight
- 20%
- Due date
8/04/2025 - 9/04/2025
The test consists of a one-hour timer within a 24-hour window that opens at 9:00am on Tuesday and closes at 9:00am on Wednesday.
- Other conditions
- Time limited.
Task description
Coverage for the test will be announced beforehand on Blackboard. There is a 24 hour window in which to take your test. Once you begin your test on Blackboard, a timer will count down from 60 minutes. If you are unable to sit the test, please see the instructions in section 5.3 "Late Submission" below for applying for a retake.
Use of AI
This task has been designed to be challenging, authentic and complex. Whilst students may use Al technologies, successful completion of assessment in this course will require students to critically engage in specific contexts and tasks for which artificial intelligence will provide only limited support and guidance.
Submission guidelines
The test is posted and answered on Blackboard by due date and time.
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
The maximum extension allowed is 7 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.
Requests for the granting of extensions must be submitted through my.UQ: Applying for an extension - my.UQ - University of Queensland with supporting documentation before the submission due date/time. If an extension is approved, the new agreed date for submission will be noted on the application and the student notified through their student email. Extensions cannot exceed the number of days you suffered from a medical condition, as stated on the medical certificate.
Late submission
Exams submitted after the end of the submission time will incur a late penalty.
Where an extension has not been previously approved, the following penalties apply in alignment with PPL 3.10.02:
- Less than 5 minutes late: 5% penalty
- From 5 minutes to less than 15 minutes late: 20% penalty
- More than 15 minutes late: 100% penalty
Please note the following Unacceptable Reasons for extension, as described in UQ policies 3.3.3.4:
- computer or internet problems;
- holiday arrangements;
- misreading an assignment due date or time;
- unexpected events causing the loss of a few hours of study time close to the due date;
- difficulty studying effectively or adjusting to the demands of university life;
- normal levels of stress or anxiety associated with study;
- visa or financial problems;
- ordinary family events or commitments; or
- normal pressures relating to study or employment.
Group Presentation and Pitch Deck
- Team or group-based
- In-person
- Mode
- Oral, Written
- Category
- Presentation
- Weight
- 30%
- Due date
12/05/2025
Group presentations take place in this week during the scheduled Lecture and Tutorial. The written pitch-deck materials are due BEFORE the commencement of the presentations.
- Other conditions
- Time limited.
Task description
This is a collaborative group presentation task designed to apply student understanding of behavioural economics to a real-world policy challenge. The task will provide an opportunity for students to analyse a topic based on a current 'wicked' challenge, and present their policy proposals in a professional "Pitch Deck" format through both oral and written group presentations.
Use of AI
This task has been designed to be challenging, authentic and complex. Whilst students may use Al technologies, successful completion of assessment in this course will require students to critically engage in specific contexts and tasks for which artificial intelligence will provide only limited support and guidance.
A failure to reference Al use may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
To pass this assessment, students will be required to demonstrate detailed comprehension of their written submission independent of Al tools.
Submission guidelines
More details will be provided during the course.
Deferral or extension
You cannot defer or apply for an extension for this assessment.
Due to the scheduling of the group presentations, the group nature of the task, and to ensure fairness among all students, there are no extensions or deferrals permissible for this assessment.
Late submission
Exams submitted after the end of the submission time will incur a late penalty.
Failure to submit the written documents by the deadline will result in 0 marks for the 'Written Communication' criterion of the assessment.
Behavioural Economics Research Proposal
- Online
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Paper/ Report/ Annotation
- Weight
- 50%
- Due date
9/06/2025 1:00 pm
Task description
The essay is a proposal for conducting an original research project in behavioural economics.
Your proposal will include:
- an introduction (which consists of a motivation, related literature review and the research question),
- discussion of alternative theories,
- design of the proposed methodology, such as the design of a lab experiment, a field intervention, analysis of secondary data, or pure theoretical modelling
- discussion of expected results (including the variables you would use in your analysis); and
- a conclusion, which describes the potential contribution of the paper to the literature and/or policy implications.
More details will be provided during the course.
Use of AI
AI Use Allowed: Students are allowed to use AI for this assessment. Students are required to fill out a survey about their use of AI for this assessment, worth 1% of their final mark.
This task has been designed to be challenging, authentic and complex. Whilst students may use Al technologies, successful completion of assessment in this course will require students to critically engage in specific contexts and tasks for which artificial intelligence will provide only limited support and guidance.
To pass this assessment, students will be required to demonstrate detailed comprehension of their written submission independent of Al tools. A failure to reference Al use may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Submission guidelines
Submission via Turnitin on Blackboard
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
The maximum extension allowed is 14 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.
Requests for the granting of extensions must be submitted through my.UQ: Applying for an extension - my.UQ - University of Queensland with supporting documentation before the submission due date/time. If an extension is approved, the new agreed date for submission will be noted on the application and the student notified through their student email. Extensions cannot exceed the number of days you suffered from a medical condition, as stated on the medical certificate.
Students who are ill for more than 14 days may wish to apply for withdrawal without academic penalty. For full details, students should refer to the Guidelines for Applying for an Extension.
Late submission
A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.
Where an extension has not been previously approved, the following penalties apply in alignment with PPL 3.10.02:
- A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per day for up to 7 calendar days, at which point any submission will not receive any marks unless an extension has been approved. Each 24 hour block is recorded from the time the submission is due.
Please note the following Unacceptable Reasons for extension, as described in UQ policies 3.3.3.4:
- computer or internet problems;
- holiday arrangements;
- misreading an assignment due date or time;
- unexpected events causing the loss of a few hours of study time close to the due date;
- difficulty studying effectively or adjusting to the demands of university life;
- normal levels of stress or anxiety associated with study;
- visa or financial problems;
- ordinary family events or commitments; or
- normal pressures relating to study or employment.
Course grading
Full criteria for each grade is available in the Assessment Procedure.
| Grade | Cut off Percent | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 (Low Fail) | 0% - 29% |
Absence of evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 2 (Fail) | 30% - 46% |
Minimal evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 3 (Marginal Fail) | 47% - 49% |
Demonstrated evidence of developing achievement of course learning outcomes |
| 4 (Pass) | 50% - 64% |
Demonstrated evidence of functional achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 5 (Credit) | 65% - 74% |
Demonstrated evidence of proficient achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 6 (Distinction) | 75% - 84% |
Demonstrated evidence of advanced achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 7 (High Distinction) | 85% - 100% |
Demonstrated evidence of exceptional achievement of course learning outcomes. |
Additional course grading information
A student’s final overall end of semester percentage mark will be rounded to determine their final grade. For example, 64.5% rounds to 65%, while 64.4% rounds to 64%.
Supplementary assessment
Supplementary assessment is available for this course.
Additional assessment information
Plagiarism
The School of Economics is committed to reducing the incidence of plagiarism. Further information on plagiarism and how to avoid an allegation of plagiarism is available in this course profile under Policies and Procedures. Please refer to the Academic Integrity Modules (AIM). It is strongly recommended that you complete the AIM if you have not already done so.
Learning resources
You'll need the following resources to successfully complete the course. We've indicated below if you need a personal copy of the reading materials or your own item.
Library resources
Find the required and recommended resources for this course on the UQ Library website.
Additional learning resources information
We will discuss a number of published academic papers during the course. A list with a reading schedule will be posted on Blackboard, with papers added gradually during the semester depending on the input of students.ﾠIt is important that students read these papers before they are discussed in class.
Video and audio recordings of lectures are typically posted on Blackboard within a day of the class occurring. Additional links to videos and articles, etc. will be posted in the relevant lecture or tutorial folder.
ﾠ
Learning activities
The learning activities for this course are outlined below. Learn more about the learning outcomes that apply to this course.
Filter activity type by
Please select
| Learning period | Activity type | Topic |
|---|---|---|
Week 1 (24 Feb - 02 Mar) |
Tutorial |
There are no tutorials in Week 1 |
Lecture |
Lecture 1: Introduction to behavioural economics Readings/Ref: Angner (Ch.1) |
|
Multiple weeks From Week 2 To Week 13 |
Tutorial |
Tutorials 1-12 Each tutorial is based on concepts from the previous week's lecture. PLEASE NOTE:
|
Week 2 (03 Mar - 09 Mar) |
Lecture |
Lecture 2: Rational choice under certainty Readings/Ref: Angner (Ch.2) |
Week 3 (10 Mar - 16 Mar) |
Lecture |
Lecture 3: Decision-making under certainty Readings/Ref: Angner (Ch.3) |
Week 4 (17 Mar - 23 Mar) |
Lecture |
Lecture 4: Probability judgement Readings/Ref: Angner (Ch.4.1-4.3; Ch.5.1-5.3) |
Week 5 (24 Mar - 30 Mar) |
Lecture |
Lecture 5: Judgement under risk and uncertainty Readings/Ref: Angner (Ch.4.4-4.6, Ch.5.4-5.7) |
Week 6 (31 Mar - 06 Apr) |
Lecture |
Lecture 6: Rational choice under risk&uncertainty Readings/Ref: Angner (Ch.6) |
Week 7 (07 Apr - 13 Apr) |
Lecture |
Lecture 7: Decision-making under risk&uncertainty Readings/Ref: Angner (Ch.7) |
Week 8 (14 Apr - 20 Apr) |
Lecture |
Lecture 8: Intertemporal choice Readings/Ref: Angner (Ch.8, Ch.9) |
Mid-sem break (21 Apr - 27 Apr) |
No student involvement (Breaks, information) |
Mid-Semester Break |
Week 9 (28 Apr - 04 May) |
Lecture |
Lecture 9: Guest Lecture |
Week 10 (05 May - 11 May) |
No student involvement (Breaks, information) |
NO LECTURE 10: Labour Day |
Week 11 (12 May - 18 May) |
Lecture |
Lecture 11: Group presentations |
Week 12 (19 May - 25 May) |
Lecture |
Lecture 12: Special topic (I) |
Week 13 (26 May - 01 Jun) |
Lecture |
Lecture 13: Special topic (II) and Final review |
Policies and procedures
University policies and procedures apply to all aspects of student life. As a UQ student, you must comply with University-wide and program-specific requirements, including the:
- Student Code of Conduct Policy
- Student Integrity and Misconduct Policy and Procedure
- Assessment Procedure
- Examinations Procedure
- Reasonable Adjustments - Students Policy and Procedure
Learn more about UQ policies on my.UQ and the Policy and Procedure Library.