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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

    • Status: Free
      Free
      N

      National Taiwan University

      Edible Insects

      Skills you'll gain: Food and Beverage, Culture, Nutrition and Diet, Innovation, Social Sciences, Environmental Science, Biology, Pharmaceuticals, Ethical Standards And Conduct, Economics, Law, Regulation, and Compliance

      4.8
      Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
      ·
      33 reviews

      Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months

    • Status: Free
      Free
      U

      University of Geneva

      Internationalization of Education: Global Issues & Trends

      Skills you'll gain: Cultural Diversity, International Relations, Governance, Education and Training, Social Studies, Intercultural Competence, Immigration Law, Economics, Policy, and Social Studies, World History, Social Justice, Policty Analysis, Research, and Development, Public Policies

      4.9
      Rating, 4.9 out of 5 stars
      ·
      8 reviews

      Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months

    • Status: Free
      Free
      N

      Nanjing University

      理解马克思

      Skills you'll gain: Socioeconomics, Social Studies, Economics, European History, World History, Social Sciences, Social Justice, Political Sciences, Economic Development, Research

      4.3
      Rating, 4.3 out of 5 stars
      ·
      63 reviews

      Mixed · Course · 1 - 3 Months

    • A

      Automatic Data Processing, Inc. (ADP)

      Interviewing Best Practices

      Skills you'll gain: Recruitment, Talent Recruitment, Interviewing Skills, Full Cycle Recruitment, Recruitment Strategies, Talent Acquisition, Employee Onboarding, Decision Making, Communication

      3.9
      Rating, 3.9 out of 5 stars
      ·
      18 reviews

      Intermediate · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks

    • A

      Arizona State University

      Digital Safety and Security

      Skills you'll gain: Cyber Attacks, Data Security, Safety and Security, Cybersecurity, Computer Security Awareness Training, Information Systems Security, Security Strategy, Security Controls, Threat Modeling, Disaster Recovery, Data Loss Prevention, Incident Response, Vulnerability Assessments, Patch Management

      4.5
      Rating, 4.5 out of 5 stars
      ·
      33 reviews

      Mixed · Course · 1 - 3 Months

    • F

      Fractal Analytics

      Human Decision Making and its Biases

      Skills you'll gain: Decision Making, Critical Thinking, Analytical Skills, Behavioral Economics, Problem Solving, Data Analysis, Artificial Intelligence, Emotional Intelligence, Self-Awareness, Psychology, Algorithms, Probability

      4.9
      Rating, 4.9 out of 5 stars
      ·
      34 reviews

      Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks

    • Status: Free
      Free
      U

      University of Colorado Boulder

      The Sustainability Imperative

      Skills you'll gain: Environment, Environmental Issue, Socioeconomics, Social Justice, Environmental Science, Energy and Utilities, Corporate Sustainability, Pollution Prevention, Sustainability Reporting, Electrical Power, Economics, Environmental Policy, Environmental Engineering, Electric Power Systems, Innovation, Emerging Technologies

      4.8
      Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
      ·
      64 reviews

      Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months

    • T

      The University of Notre Dame

      Why Business? What is the Role of Business in a Just and Humane Society

      Skills you'll gain: Business Ethics, Market Dynamics, Ethical Standards And Conduct, Business Economics, Economics, Socioeconomics, Market Research, Supply And Demand, Business, Corporate Sustainability, Social Justice, Decision Making, Public Policies

      4.8
      Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
      ·
      19 reviews

      Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks

    • Status: Free
      Free
      E

      Erasmus University Rotterdam

      When Disaster Meets Conflict

      Skills you'll gain: Policy Development, Conflict Management, Ethical Standards And Conduct, Policy Analysis, Emergency Response, International Relations, Community Development, Risk Management, Research, Economics, Policy, and Social Studies

      4.7
      Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
      ·
      72 reviews

      Intermediate · Course · 1 - 3 Months

    • U

      University of Colorado System

      Fundamentals of Cross-Functional Collaboration

      Skills you'll gain: Cross-Functional Collaboration, Collaboration, Cooperation, Teamwork, Team Leadership, Self-Awareness, Leadership, Relationship Building, Empathy, Communication

      4.6
      Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
      ·
      12 reviews

      Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks

    • C

      Columbia University

      HI-FIVE: Health Informatics For Innovation, Value & Enrichment (Social/Peer Perspective)

      Skills you'll gain: Care Coordination, Patient Coordination, Health Informatics, Case Management, Health Technology, Health Care, Health Systems, Risk Management, Patient Education and Support, Health Information Management, Electronic Medical Record, Health Policy, Interoperability, Community Health, Data Sharing, Community and Social Work, Quality Assurance

      4.7
      Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
      ·
      29 reviews

      Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months

    • Status: Free
      Free
      S

      Sapienza University of Rome

      Alle origini della civiltà mediterranea: archeologia della città dal Levante all’Occidente - III-I millennio a.C.

      Skills you'll gain: Ancient History, World History, Culture, Art History, Cultural Diversity, Community Development, Liberal Arts, Research, Research Methodologies, Social Sciences, Anthropology, Economics

      4.9
      Rating, 4.9 out of 5 stars
      ·
      130 reviews

      Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months

    Behavioral Economics learners also search

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    1…535455…73

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

    • Edible Insects: National Taiwan University
    • Internationalization of Education: Global Issues & Trends: University of Geneva
    • 理解马克思: Nanjing University
    • Interviewing Best Practices: Automatic Data Processing, Inc. (ADP)
    • Digital Safety and Security: Arizona State University
    • Human Decision Making and its Biases: Fractal Analytics
    • The Sustainability Imperative: University of Colorado Boulder
    • Why Business? What is the Role of Business in a Just and Humane Society: The University of Notre Dame
    • When Disaster Meets Conflict: Erasmus University Rotterdam
    • Fundamentals of Cross-Functional Collaboration: University of Colorado System

    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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