Foundations of Experimental Economics and Behavioral Game Theory

Do people actually behave the way traditional economic models predict? Explore the fascinating intersection of human psychology and strategic decision-making to discover how real-world behavior challenges classical economic theory. This written course introduces you to the core principles of experimental economics and behavioral game theory. You will transition from understanding basic theoretical models to analyzing how real human subjects make choices in controlled environments, giving you the tools to evaluate economic research and design your own behavioral studies. What you'll learn: - Understand foundational concepts of game theory, behavioral biases, and bounded rationality. - Analyze classic economic experiments covering public goods, bargaining, and market design. - Design robust behavioral experiments using modern pre-registration and open science practices. - Evaluate experimental data to test, validate, or challenge traditional economic assumptions. - Apply modern methodological standards to avoid common pitfalls in experimental replication. The journey begins with essential definitions and theoretical frameworks before moving into classic experimental setups, behavioral game theory models, and practical guidelines for designing modern, replicable studies. This course is designed for beginners interested in economics, psychology, or decision science, with no prior advanced mathematics or research background required. Start reading today to unlock a deeper understanding of human decision-making and strategic behavior.