Experimental Economics for the Environment
Learning outcomes
The laboratory will give students a hands-on, basic understanding of how experimental research in environmental economics can help better understand behaviors related to key sustainability challenges and help design effective environmental policies and interventions.
By successfully completing the laboratory, students will
understand and be able to apply basic principles of experimental design in economics
gain hands-on experience of laboratory experiments by participating in some classic economics experiments
be familiar with some experimental peer reviewed studies in environmental and resource economics
be able to replicate part of the data analysis from a published experiment using R (no previous coding knowledge required)
be able to explain the implications of research malpractices—such as HARKing, p-hacking, and selective reporting— on the validity and reproducibility of experimental studies and the strategies to prevent these malpractices.
Modes of Instruction
The laboratory lasts 20 hours (3 CFU), structured along 4 weeks.
The laboratory is composed traditional lectures, experiments, and workshop activities. As participating in the experiments and related discussion is key to understanding how the experimental method is used in economics, participation to classes is required.
Assessment Methods
To complete the laboratory successfully students are required to: i) actively attend at least 15 hours of the laboratory sessions ii) complete the laboratory activities (e.g., participating in experiments, reading peer reviewed articles and completing the written assignments); iii) write a report on an experimental study published in a peer reviewed journal on a topic related to environmental and resource economics and policy; iv) give a short oral presentation in class followed by a group discussion on their report. Specific guidelines for the report will be provided during the first laboratory session.
Learning outcomes
The laboratory will give students a hands-on, basic understanding of how experimental research in environmental economics can help better understand behaviors related to key sustainability challenges and help design effective environmental policies and interventions.
By successfully completing the laboratory, students will
understand and be able to apply basic principles of experimental design in economics
gain hands-on experience of laboratory experiments by participating in some classic economics experiments
be familiar with some experimental peer reviewed studies in environmental and resource economics
be able to replicate part of the data analysis from a published experiment using R (no previous coding knowledge required)
be able to explain the implications of research malpractices—such as HARKing, p-hacking, and selective reporting— on the validity and reproducibility of experimental studies and the strategies to prevent these malpractices.
Modes of Instruction
The laboratory lasts 20 hours (3 CFU), structured along 4 weeks.
The laboratory is composed traditional lectures, experiments, and workshop activities. As participating in the experiments and related discussion is key to understanding how the experimental method is used in economics, participation to classes is required.
Assessment Methods
To complete the laboratory successfully students are required to: i) actively attend at least 15 hours of the laboratory sessions ii) complete the laboratory activities (e.g., participating in experiments, reading peer reviewed articles and completing the written assignments); iii) write a report on an experimental study published in a peer reviewed journal on a topic related to environmental and resource economics and policy; iv) give a short oral presentation in class followed by a group discussion on their report. Specific guidelines for the report will be provided during the first laboratory session.
- Teacher: Chiara Lombardini