MSc Seminar in Behavioral, Organizational, and Labor Economics (winter/summer)
- Alternative course title in FLIP & WueStudy: Advanced Seminar: Labour Economics (Master)
- Course number: 10149221
- Level: Master
- Semester: Winter / Summer
- Language: English
- Credits: 10 ECTS
About the course
This seminar introduces students to state-of-the-art research in behavioral, organizational, and labor economics. It builds on a growing body of research in economics and psychology showing that individual behavior is shaped not only by economic incentives and constraints, but also by psychological factors and limitations in self-control, cognition, and attention.
In the seminar, students independently and critically analyze research questions at the intersection of behavioral economics, organizational economics, and labor economics. The seminar covers a broad range of topics, highlighting how behavioral insights help explain behavior in real-world settings such as organizations, labor markets, consumer decision-making, and public policy. Depending on the chosen topic, papers may be more behaviorally focused, more closely linked to organizational or labor economics, or combine elements of all three fields.
Students are expected to actively engage with existing research and, where possible, work with data or experimental designs. Depending on the topic, the seminar paper may involve:
- a replication or extension of an existing empirical paper,
- the design of an own experiment in the lab, online, or in the field, or
- original data collection, for example through a survey or pilot experiment.
The seminar is designed to prepare students for independent research and provides an excellent foundation for a subsequent MSc thesis.
Examination and Grading
Grading is based on the seminar paper (max. 10–15 pages) and the workshop presentation (approx. 20 minutes), weighted 3:2 (paper 60%, presentation 40%).
Course registration, timeline, and procedures
For further information about the timeline and procedures for the currrent semester, please download the overview under "Further information" below. Information about the course registration can be found HERE
Further information (Summer 2026)
