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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

    • J

      Johns Hopkins University

      Design and Interpretation of Clinical Trials

      Skills you'll gain: Clinical Trials, Scientific Methods, Medical Science and Research, Biostatistics, Data Collection, Ethical Standards And Conduct, Regulatory Compliance, Sample Size Determination, Statistical Methods, Statistical Analysis, Statistical Hypothesis Testing

      4.7
      Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
      ·
      4.3K reviews

      Mixed · Course · 1 - 3 Months

    • U

      University at Buffalo

      Energy Production, Distribution & Safety

      Skills you'll gain: Electrical Substation, Electrical Power, Electric Power Systems, Electrical Systems, Environmental Regulations, Energy and Utilities, Basic Electrical Systems, Electrical Safety, Safety Training, Electrical Equipment, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), Low Voltage, Hazard Communication (HazCom), Environment Health And Safety, Workforce Development, Economics, Construction, Project Design, Environment, Environmental Engineering

      4.7
      Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
      ·
      11K reviews

      Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months

    • R

      Rice University

      A Story of Economics: A Principles Tale

      Skills you'll gain: Economics, Supply And Demand, Business Economics, Market Dynamics, Economic Development, Game Theory, Financial Policy, Cost Accounting, Tax, Market Analysis, International Relations, Business Metrics, Public Policies, Operating Cost, Performance Metric, International Finance, Fiscal Management, Consumer Behaviour, Investments, Labor Relations

      4.8
      Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
      ·
      107 reviews

      Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months

    • U

      University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

      Introduction to Sustainability

      Skills you'll gain: Environmental Policy, Environment, Water Resources, Demography, Energy and Utilities, Environmental Science, Environmental Resource Management, Socioeconomics, Policy Analysis, Natural Resource Management, Systems Thinking, Social Sciences, Trend Analysis, Economics

      4.8
      Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
      ·
      2.6K reviews

      Mixed · Course · 1 - 3 Months

    • U

      University of Pennsylvania

      Effective Compliance Programs

      Skills you'll gain: Compliance Training, Compliance Management, Regulatory Compliance, Compliance Reporting, Compliance Auditing, Internal Communications, Procedure Development, Continuous Monitoring, Culture Transformation, Disciplinary Procedures, Industrial and Organizational Psychology, Ethical Standards And Conduct, Psychology

      4.9
      Rating, 4.9 out of 5 stars
      ·
      794 reviews

      Mixed · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks

    • Status: Free
      Free
      T

      The University of Edinburgh

      Code Yourself! An Introduction to Programming

      Skills you'll gain: Software Engineering, Video Game Development, Software Testing, Software Development, Programming Principles, Software Design, Game Design, Computer Programming, Animation and Game Design, Debugging, Computational Thinking, Algorithms

      4.7
      Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
      ·
      3.6K reviews

      Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months

    • Status: Free
      Free
      U

      Università Bocconi

      International Leadership and Organizational Behavior

      Skills you'll gain: Conflict Management, Team Motivation, Intercultural Competence, Professional Networking, Organizational Leadership, Cultural Diversity, Cross-Functional Team Leadership, Communication, Leadership, Relationship Building, Ethical Standards And Conduct, Decision Making

      4.8
      Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
      ·
      3.5K reviews

      Mixed · Course · 1 - 3 Months

    • I

      IBM

      IBM IT Scrum Master

      Skills you'll gain: Software Development Life Cycle, Software Architecture, Agile Software Development, User Story, Sprint Retrospectives, Agile Methodology, DevOps, Software Design, Kanban Principles, Scrum (Software Development), Information Technology, Software Engineering, Computer Hardware, Agile Project Management, Sprint Planning, Cloud Computing, Backlogs, Cloud-Native Computing, Software Development Methodologies, Network Troubleshooting

      4.8
      Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
      ·
      9.3K reviews

      Beginner · Professional Certificate · 3 - 6 Months

    • U

      University of Colorado System

      School Health for Children and Adolescents

      Skills you'll gain: Autism Spectrum Disorders, Individualized Education Programs (IEP), Special Education, Nutrition Education, Community Health, School Psychology, Chronic Diseases, Student Support and Services, Nutrition and Diet, School Counseling, Public Health, Public Health and Disease Prevention, Mental and Behavioral Health Specialties, Care Management, Child Health, Patient Evaluation, Care Coordination, Disabilities, Medical Emergency, Social and Human Services

      4.8
      Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
      ·
      3.3K reviews

      Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months

    • Status: New
      New
      I

      IBM

      IBM Systems Analyst

      Skills you'll gain: Data Storytelling, Business Analysis, Systems Development Life Cycle, Business Process Modeling, Process Optimization, Requirements Management, Business Requirements, Stakeholder Management, Stakeholder Engagement, Systems Analysis, Risk Analysis, Requirements Analysis, Data Visualization Software, Information Technology, Dashboard, Business Systems Analysis, IBM Cognos Analytics, Computer Hardware, Cloud Computing, Network Troubleshooting

      4.7
      Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
      ·
      4.4K reviews

      Beginner · Professional Certificate · 3 - 6 Months

    • Status: Free
      Free
      E

      Erasmus University Rotterdam

      Advanced Valuation and Strategy - M&A, Private Equity, and Venture Capital

      Skills you'll gain: Strategic Decision-Making, Business Valuation, Private Equity, Mergers & Acquisitions, Game Theory, Strategic Thinking, Financial Analysis, Business Strategy, Return On Investment, Investment Banking, Cash Flows, Corporate Finance, Competitive Analysis

      Build toward a degree

      4.6
      Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
      ·
      1.3K reviews

      Advanced · Course · 1 - 3 Months

    • J

      Johns Hopkins University

      Psychological First Aid

      Skills you'll gain: Triage, Crisis Intervention, Emergency Response, Trauma Care, Emergency Services, Psychological Evaluations, Interpersonal Communications, Mental Health, Patient Education And Counseling, Stress Management, Patient Referral

      4.8
      Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
      ·
      20K reviews

      Mixed · Course · 1 - 3 Months

    Behavioral Economics learners also search

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    1…567…74

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

    • Design and Interpretation of Clinical Trials: Johns Hopkins University
    • Energy Production, Distribution & Safety: University at Buffalo
    • A Story of Economics: A Principles Tale: Rice University
    • Introduction to Sustainability: University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
    • Effective Compliance Programs: University of Pennsylvania
    • Code Yourself! An Introduction to Programming: The University of Edinburgh
    • International Leadership and Organizational Behavior: Università Bocconi
    • IBM IT Scrum Master: IBM
    • School Health for Children and Adolescents: University of Colorado System
    • IBM Systems Analyst: IBM

    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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