Advanced Course Series: Experimental Economics Methods
Instructor: Professor Diogo Geraldes
COURSE DESCRIPTION
In this course, we focus on methods used in experimental economics, aiming to provide participants with a “big picture” guidance for designing and conducting economic experiments. More than just theory, the course emphasizes hands-on experience: participants will have the opportunity to develop their own experimental designs and take part in a Proposal Meeting, a fundamental step that every experimentalist should go through before collecting data.
*The course will be in english. The maximun capacity is 20 people so save your place as soon as you can.
** Important: UCEMA MAE students who take the course will receive half a credit. To obtain it, you have to sign up first and after that, you have to complete your registration with the MAE Administrative Secretary, Leandro Albano: lalbano@ucema.edu.ar
TARGET AUDIENCE
This course is designed primarily for those new to experimental methods, meaning no prior knowledge is required. However, participants with prior knowledge of experimental methods who wish to brush up their skills are also welcome.
ABOUT DIOGO GERALDES (UNIVERSITY COLLEGE DUBLIN)
Diogo is an Assistant Professor at University College Dublin, an Adjunct Associate Professor at the University of Coimbra, a Research Fellow at the Geary Institute for Public Policy, a Research Member of the Chicago Experiments Group, and a Research Affiliate at JILAEE, CESifo, IZA, and I4R. In addition, Diogo serves as Co-Chair of the Irish Economic Association Behavioural Economics Network.
Diogo holds a Ph.D. in Economics from Maastricht University, a M.Sc. from Pompeu Fabra University, and a B.Sc. from Nova SBE. He has also been a visiting scholar at the University of Chicago, New York University Abu Dhabi, Columbia University, the University of Osaka, and the University of Melbourne.
For more information, visit Diogo’s Website.
Session 1
1. The Neoclassical Framework and the Emergence of EE
2. Mapping of EE Methods
Session 3
1. Mapping of EE Methods (conclusion)
2. Purposes of EE Methods
3. Critiques to EE Methods
Readings
There are no required textbooks. The core readings for this course consist primarily of academic articles. Thus, one of the objectives of the course is to expose students to academic writing, the raw material with which academics work.
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Geraldes, D. (2018). Relevance of Behavioral and Experimental Economics. In Chapter 1. Essays on competitive attitude: sex, stereotypes, and group membership Maastricht: Datawyse / Universitaire Pers Maastricht DOI: 10.26481/dis.20180509dg
Azrieli, Y., Chambers, C. P., Healy, P. J. (2018). Incentives in experiments: A theoretical analysis. Journal of Political Economy, 126(4), 1472-1503.
Charness, G., Samek, A., & Van de Ven, J. (2022). What is considered deception in experimental economics?. Experimental Economics, 25(2), 385-412.
Camerer et al. (2016). Evaluating replicability of laboratory experiments in economics. Science, 351(6280), 1433-1436.
Nosek et al. (2015). Estimating the reproducibility of psychological science. Science, 349(6251), aac4716.
List, J. (2025). The Experimentalist Looks Within: Toward an Understanding of Within Subject Experimental Designs (No. w33456). National Bureau of Economic Research. Zizzo, D. (2010). Experimenter demand effects in economic experiments. Experimental Economics, 13, 75-98.
Haaland, I., Roth, C., Stantcheva, S., & J. Wohlfart (2025). Understanding Economic Behavior Using Open-Ended Survey Data. Journal of Economic Literature, 63, no. 4, 1244–80.
Fréchette, G. (2015). Laboratory Experiments: Professionals versus Students, in Handbook of Experimental Economic Methodology, Guillaume R. Fréchette and Andrew Schotter (editors), Oxford University Press, pp: 360-390.
Kessler, J. B., & Vesterlund, L. (2015). The External Validity of Laboratory Experiments: The Misleading Emphasis on Quantitative Effects. In Handbook of experimental economic methodology, Guillaume R. Fréchette and Andrew Schotter (editors), Oxford University Press, pp: 391-406.
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The books below are also a good starting point for the topics that will be covered in class. They are not required, but students are encouraged to take a look at after the course.
Experimental economics: Theory and Practice, by List, John A. University of Chicago. Press (forthcoming).
Experimental Methods: A Primer for Economists, by Douglas Friedman and Shyam. Sunder. Cambridge University Press.
The Handbook of Experimental Economics, Volume 2, by John Kagel and Alvin Roth. Princeton University Press 2016.
Experimental Economics, Nicholas Bardsley et al.. Princeton University Press
Experimetrics, by Peter G. Mofatt. Palgrave
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The topics that we cover are a selection that reflects my own choice for a short course. If after the course, you feel the need or curiosity to go beyond the materials covered in the course, you are welcome to contact me indicating which area(s) of EE you wish to study further. I will then (try to) provide you with guidance for your self-study.