About the Course
Why is it so hard to hail a cab in the rain in New York City? Why do some people pay for annual gym memberships when they would save on a pay-as-you go basis? In this course, we will integrate ideas from the social sciences with economics to understand how our everyday decisions impact the economy. We will use Tversky and Kahneman's idea of Supposedly Irrelevant Factors to test a range of theories, determine their applicability to our lives, and qualitatively explain several classic behavioral economics scenarios. Later in the course, after studying E. Cartwright's analysis of breakfast-cereal choice, you'll conduct your own parallel analysis to choose, for example, a college or a dessert. Individual and group activities will provide a thorough introduction to behavioral economics and its implications for public policy.
Learning Objectives
- Articulate key concepts from behavioral economics
- Assess a situation (personal, group, societal) with economic imperatives from a behavioral economics perspective
- Devise, implement, and analyze key concepts to gain a better understanding of economic choices and their implications
About Advanced Enrichment courses
These courses offer above-grade-level material that is presented in a novel context, explored with other advanced learners, and guided by a CTY educator to help prepare students for higher-order thinking and college-style academic challenges. Students work individually and may finish the course early if they complete all requirements before the course end date.
Requirements
CTY courses have grade-level requirements and most require minimum test scores. Some courses may also have prerequisites.
Identification DetailsDates and Tuition
Online
You will be asked to join or sign in first.
Days: Every Wed for 6 weeks
Times: 3 - 4:30 p.m. (Eastern time)
Register by: June 8, 2026
Time Commitment:
Important Information
Please acquire all course materials by the course start date, unless noted as perishable. Items marked as “perishable” should not be acquired until the student needs them in the course. If you have questions about these materials or difficulty locating them, please contact [email protected].
Families will be notified by email of any required materials one week prior to the course start date.
Time Commitment: 2.5-3.5 hours per week (1.5 hours of class time, 1-2 hours of independent work). Course will include 6 sessions over 6 weeks.
All online course times are Eastern time.
Technical Requirements
This course requires a computer with high-speed Internet access and an up-to-date web browser such as Chrome or Firefox. You must be able to communicate with the instructor via email. Visit the Technical Requirements and Support page for more details.
You will be asked to join or sign in first.
Days: Every Wed for 6 weeks
Times: 8 - 9:30 p.m. (Eastern time)
Register by: September 15, 2026
Time Commitment:
Important Information
Please acquire all course materials by the course start date, unless noted as perishable. Items marked as “perishable” should not be acquired until the student needs them in the course. If you have questions about these materials or difficulty locating them, please contact [email protected].
Families will be notified by email of any required materials one week prior to the course start date.
Time Commitment: 2.5-3.5 hours per week (1.5 hours of class time, 1-2 hours of independent work). Course will include 6 sessions over 6 weeks.
All online course times are Eastern time.
Technical Requirements
This course requires a computer with high-speed Internet access and an up-to-date web browser such as Chrome or Firefox. You must be able to communicate with the instructor via email. Visit the Technical Requirements and Support page for more details.
Registration Fee and Financial Aid
Tuition and fees will be waived or reduced for students who qualify for financial aid.
Learn more about Financial Aid