Program

Program in Behavioral Economics Research

Studying the psychological mechanisms that drive economic behavior.

Faculty Directors

Leo BursztynLeonardo Bursztyn, Saieh Family Professor, the Kenneth C. Griffin Department of Economics; Co-Director of BFI Political Economics Initiative
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Alex ImasAlex Imas, Professor of Behavioral Science and Economics and Vasilou Faculty Scholar, Booth School of Business
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About

The Program in Behavioral Economics Research is dedicated to studying the psychological mechanisms that drive economic behaviors across different environments. Through a blend of theoretical insights and empirical research, our affiliates seek to bridge the gap between traditional economic models and the nuanced nature of human decision-making.

The program aims to provide resources to PhD students and junior faculty to assist them in their research in the field of behavioral economics. Please contact the program directors with questions on how the program can support your work in behavioral economics.

Available Courses for PhD Students

Affiliated with the Program in Behavioral Economics Research

    • 38916 – Behavioral Economics – Development & Observational Data (Joshua Dean and Devin Pope)
    • 38917 – Topics in Behavioral Economics (Leo Bursztyn)
    • 38918 – Behavioral Economics – Theory & the Lab (Alex Imas)
    • 41300 – A Course in Experimental Economics (John List)

Resources for Students

As part of its mission to assist early career researchers, the program provides small grants for PhD students and Postdoctoral researchers. The limit on grants is $10,000 and the grant’s use is restricted to research purposes. We encourage potential applicants to present their work at one of the labs associated with the PBER prior to submitting to ensure that the project is a good fit for the Program and to receive feedback prior to submission. The labs include: The Booth BE Lab or the Normal Lab. 

If you are interested in applying for a grant from the program, please submit a 1-2 page research plan and budget at the link below. Note that there is no deadline for grant applications. All applications will be evaluated on a rolling basis.

https://forms.gle/bqGUVpedSLiCUtf77

Winter 2025 Behavioral Economics Seminar Series

All times are from 12 – 1:15 PM CT. Click here for more information.

Monday, January 13, 2025Mark Dean, Colombia University
Monday, January 27, 2025Francesca Bastianello, University of Chicago
Monday, February 3, 2025Xuechunzi Bai, University of Chicago
Monday, February 10, 2025Leeat Yariv, Princeton University
Monday, February 17, 2025Pol Campos-Mercade, Lund University
Monday, February 24, 2025George Loewenstein, Carnegie Mellon University
Monday, March 3, 2025Paulo Natenzon, Washington University, St. Louis
Monday, March 10, 2025Thomas Graeber, Harvard University

Associated Scholars

Daniel Bartels

Leon Carroll Marshall Professor of Marketing, Booth School of Business
UChicago Scholar

Francesca Bastianello

Assistant Professor of Finance and Liew Family Junior Faculty Fellow, Fama Faculty Fellow, Booth School of Business
UChicago Scholar

Marianne Bertrand

Chris P. Dialynas Distinguished Service Professor of Economics and Willard Graham Faculty Scholar, Chicago Booth
UChicago Scholar

Zarek Brot-Goldberg

Assistant Professor, Harris Public Policy
UChicago Scholar

Leonardo Bursztyn

Saieh Family Professor, the Kenneth C. Griffin Department of Economics; Co-Director of BFI Political Economics Initiative
UChicago Scholar

Joshua Dean

Assistant Professor of Behavioral Science and Economics, Booth School of Business
UChicago Scholar

Rebecca Dizon-Ross

Associate Professor of Economics and Charles E. Merrill Faculty Scholar, Booth School of Business

Reid Hastie

Ralph and Dorothy Keller Distinguished Service Professor of Behavioral Science, Booth School of Business
UChicago Scholar

Alex Imas

Professor of Behavioral Science and Economics and Vasilou Faculty Scholar, Booth School of Business
UChicago Scholar

Emir Kamenica

Richard O. Ryan Professor of Economics and Neubauer Family Faculty Fellow, Booth School of Business
UChicago Scholar

Anne Karing

Neubauer Family Assistant Professor of Economics, Kenneth C. Griffin Department of Economics

Erika Kirgios

Assistant Professor in Behavioral Science, Booth School of Business
UChicago Scholar

Andreas Kraft

Assistant Professor of Marketing and Asness Faculty Fellow, Booth School of Business
UChicago Scholar

John List

Kenneth C. Griffin Distinguished Service Professor in Economics and the College, Kenneth C. Griffin Department of Economics; Director of the Chicago Experiments Initiative
UChicago Scholar

Jens Ludwig

Edwin A. and Betty L. Bergman Distinguished Service Professor, Harris School of Public Policy; Director, University of Chicago Crime Lab; Co-Director of the Education Lab
UChicago Scholar

Yueran Ma

Professor of Finance and Fama Faculty Fellow, Chicago Booth
UChicago Scholar

Stefan Nagel

Fama Family Distinguished Service Professor of Finance, Booth School of Business
UChicago Scholar

Matthew J. Notowidigdo

David McDaniel Keller Professor of Economics, Booth School of Business; Co-Director of BFI Health Economics Initiative
UChicago Scholar

Devin Pope

Steven G. Rothmeier Professor of Behavioral Science and Economics, Booth School of Business
UChicago Scholar

Doron Ravid

Associate Professor in Economics and the College, the Kenneth C. Griffin Department of Economics

Stephanie Smith

Assistant Professor in Marketing, Booth School of Business
UChicago Scholar

Avner Strulov-Shlain

Assistant Professor of Marketing, Booth School of Business

Abigail Sussman

Professor of Marketing, Booth School of Business
UChicago Scholar

Richard Thaler

Charles R. Walgreen Distinguished Service Professor of Behavioral Science and Economics, Booth School of Business

Alexander Todorov

Walter David “Bud” Fackler Distinguished Service Professor of Behavioral Science, Booth School of Business
UChicago Scholar

Oleg Urminsky

Theodore O. Yntema Professor of Marketing, Booth School of Business

George Wu

John P. and Lillian A. Gould Professor of Behavioral Science, Booth School of Business

Associated Research

BFI Working Paper·Jul 30, 2024

Limits on Regret as a Tool for Incentive Design

Felipe Araujo, Alex Imas, and Alistair Wilson
BFI Working Paper·Oct 9, 2023

When Product Markets Become Collective Traps: The Case of Social Media

Leonardo Bursztyn, Benjamin Handel, Rafael Jiménez-Durán, and Christopher Roth
Topics: Uncategorized
BFI Working Paper·Sep 25, 2023

Time Preferences and Food Choice

Andy Brownback, Alex Imas, and Michael A. Kuhn
Topics: Uncategorized

Associated Past Events

Jan 13
Workshops·Jan 13, 2025, 12:00 PM·Charles M. Harper Center | Room 3B

Winter 2025 Behavioral Economics Seminar Series

by Leonardo Bursztyn and Alex Imas
Dec 2
Seminar·Dec 2, 2024, 12:00 PM·Charles M. Harper Center | Room 3B

Fall 2024 Behavioral Economics Seminar Series

by Leonardo Bursztyn and Alex Imas
Nov 18
Seminar·Nov 18, 2024, 12:00 PM·Charles M. Harper Center | Room 3B

Fall 2024 Behavioral Economics Seminar Series

by Leonardo Bursztyn and Alex Imas
View All

Associated Upcoming Events

Jan 27
Workshops·Jan 27, 2025, 12:00 PM·Charles M. Harper Center | Room 3B

Winter 2025 Behavioral Economics Seminar Series

Organizers: Leonardo Bursztyn and Alex Imas
Feb 3
Workshops·Feb 3, 2025, 12:00 PM·Charles M. Harper Center | Room 3B

Winter 2025 Behavioral Economics Seminar Series

Organizers: Leonardo Bursztyn and Alex Imas
Feb 10
Workshops·Feb 10, 2025, 12:00 PM·Charles M. Harper Center | Room 3B

Winter 2025 Behavioral Economics Seminar Series

Organizers: Leonardo Bursztyn and Alex Imas
View All

Associated Insights

Research Briefs·Oct 12, 2023

When Product Markets Become Collective Traps: The Case of Social Media

Leonardo Bursztyn, Benjamin Handel, Rafael Jiménez-Durán, and Christopher Roth
Large shares of consumers use Instagram and TikTok out of a fear of missing out rather than genuine interest and, as a result, are worse off than if the platforms did not exist in the first place.
Topics: Uncategorized
Research Briefs·Oct 9, 2023

Time Preferences and Food Choice

Alex Imas, Andy Brownback, and Michael A. Kuhn
Present-focus and patience are highly predictive of food choice, suggesting that important aspects of nutrition are driven by time preferences.

Other Initiatives & Centers at BFI

Research Initiatives

Affiliated Centers