University of St Andrews - Scotland's first university, founded 1413

Module Catalogue

For information on which modules are specific to your programme, please see : Programme requirements index 2017-2018.

Curricular information may be subject to change.

EC5227 Behavioural Finance

Academic year(s): 2017-2018

Key information

SCOTCAT credits : 20

ECTS credits : 10

Level : SCQF level 11

Semester: 2

Planned timetable: To be arranged.

Traditionally, Financial Economics assumes that investors and other market participants are perfectly rational. While this is a good first approximation, we currently know there are a number of systematic biases in people's behaviour. The goal of this module is to discuss how these biases affect financial markets and investors' decisions. We will start with describing the most relevant deviations (such as overconfidence, representativeness and others), and we will continue with various financial applications. We will talk about bubbles, herding, and implications for corporate decisions and investors' behaviour.

Learning and teaching methods and delivery

Weekly contact: 20 hours of lectures over 11 weeks, 1-hour laboratories (x 5 weeks) plus 1 office hour ( x 12 weeks)

Scheduled learning hours: 25

Guided independent study hours: 181

Assessment pattern

As used by St Andrews: 2-hour Written Examination = 50%, Coursework (incl Class Test, 25%) = 50%

As defined by QAA
Written examinations : 75%
Practical examinations : 0%
Coursework: 25%

Re-assessment: 2-hour Written Examination = 100%

Personnel

Module coordinator: Dr G Gerasimou
Module teaching staff: Dr M C Iannino