Previous Advanced Interdisciplinary Courses

Advanced Interdisciplinary Courses, Fall 2024

PPE 4000-302 Research in PPE: Computational Text Analysis for Social Sciences (Hsieh)

MW 3:30pm-4:59pm

This research group provides an introduction to computational techniques for the quantitative analysis of text. Since language is medium of social interaction, studying what people say and write can greatly enhance our understanding of social dynamics. The course provides a broad overview of machine learning and natural language processing, with a focus on their applications in the behavioral and social sciences. It provides hands-on training in the R language and Python, with an emphasis on their use in data collection and processing. By the end of the course, students will be able to analyze large-scale textual data and contribute to the evolving landscape of social science research.

PPE 4600-301 Advanced Seminar in Political Science: Cooperation: Addressing Contemporary Societal Challenges (Hsieh)

M 12pm-2:59pm

In today's interconnected world, addressing pressing societal challenges such as climate change and the COVID-19 pandemic requires a collective, coordinated effort. This interdisciplinary capstone seminar explores the complexities of human cooperation, drawing on insights from fields as diverse as political science, economics, psychology, anthropology, and biology. The course aims to illuminate how theoretical frameworks can enhance cooperation at various scales-from small groups to large-scale cooperation. By understanding these dynamics, we can develop strategies and interventions to foster cooperation and address the challenges we face. Special emphasis will be placed on understanding and addressing contemporary crises such as climate change and the COVID-19 pandemic. These issues serve as real-world examples of situations that require extensive cooperation and coordinated action. By the end of the seminar, students will have a deep understanding of the complexities of human cooperation and will be equipped with the tools to promote cooperative behavior in various contexts.

PPE 4600-302 Advanced Seminar in Political Science: Racial and Ethnic Politics (Moreira)

MW 3:30pm-4:59pm

How do racial and ethnic identities influence political behaviors, policies, and institutions? In this course, we will explore conceptual and methodological issues, focusing on how racial and ethnic groups shape and are shaped in turn by their political system. We will discuss a diverse range of groups, including African, Asian, European, Latin American, Middle Eastern, and Indigenous populations around the world. We will cover topics including the meaning of race and ethnicity, the historical impact of colonialism and civil rights movements, prejudice, group participation and mobilization, political representation, public opinion, the role of the media, political parties, government institutions, and policies intended to address racial and ethnic disparities.

PPE 4601-301 Advanced Seminar in Social Policy: Corruption (Patel)

R 5:15pm-8:14pm

This capstone seminar will cover a range of topics related to the political economy of corruption. We will consider theoretical, empirical, and normative issues related to the failures and successes of social, political, and economic institutions around the world (with a focus on the Global South). Specific questions we may consider include: What, if anything, is wrong with corruption? How do some markets (such as vote markets) operate despite seemingly insurmountable transaction costs? What is the relationship between formal and informal institutions, and what role does the character of such institutions play in the determination of social and political outcomes? We will use core concepts from PPE to evaluate and answer these questions.

PPE 4802– 401 Advanced Seminar in Psychology: Obedience (Royzman)

R 1:45pm-4:44pm

PPE 4803 – 401 Advanced Seminar in Psychology: Modelling Choice Behavior (Bhatia)

R 1:45 – 4:45 PM

How do people decide and how can we study decision processes using formal mathematical and computational models? This course will address this question. It will examine popular quantitative modeling techniques in psychology, economics, cognitive science, and neuroscience, and will apply these techniques to study choice behavior. Students will learn how to test the predictions of choice models, fit the models on behavioral data, and quantitatively examine the goodness-of-fit. They will also get practice formulating their own models for describing human behavior. This class will have a major programming component, however no prior programming experience is required.

PPE 4900 – 301 Advanced Seminar in PPE: Cooperative Altruism (SNF Paideia Course) (Cordero)

MW 12pm-1:29pm

Cooperative altruism is the intention to benefit sentient beings and work together to accomplish this. Students in this interdisciplinary course will collectively explore cooperative altruism, both in theory and in practice. By engaging with a variety of approaches and perspectives — from microeconomics and experimental psychology to contemplative sciences and North American indigenous philosophy — each student will develop a robust vocabulary to support their capacity to learn about and practice cooperative altruism in dialogue. The specific content and course of study will be partially determined by the themes that emerge in class discussions and assignments. However, students can expect to engage with questions such as: What is the relationship between self and other? What does it mean to benefit someone's well-being? Can altruism be developed within individuals, and if so, how? How can moments of individual altruism become sustained altruism in community? Some of the topics that students will learn about and reflect on as part of the course include love and compassion, risk and relationships, and service and social responsibility. This course is offered as part of the SNF Paideia Program. Students must request permission to register.

Advanced Interdisciplinary Courses, Spring 2024

PPE 4000-301 Research in PPE: Artificial Intelligence: The Future of Work (Patel)

R 10:15 - 1:14 PM

In this research capstone, we will explore the novel challenges that arise from Artificial Intelligence (AI) and its profound impact on the future of work. Through a broadly interdisciplinary lens (with a primary focus on political philosophy and ethics), we will engage with cutting-edge research, consider emerging ethical challenges, and analyze the socioeconomic effects of automation and AI on employment and job displacement, workforce dynamics, and wealth inequality on a global scale. More specifically, to gain a comprehensive and nuanced understanding of the complex policy issues at the intersection of AI and labor, we will address topics such as the influence of AI on power dynamics in the workplace, including its potential to exacerbate unjust wealth distribution and exploitative labor conditions. We will also consider concerns related to fairness and discrimination when AI systems are involved in hiring processes (given potential biases present in AI training data). Moreover, we will explore the implications of AI for worker rights, such as the right to privacy, considering AI's capacity to monitor and analyze behavior on a massive scale. Lastly, we will explore how AI has the potential to reshape the nature of work itself by potentially reducing the need for human skills and abilities that have been valued in the past. In addition to these topics, we will consider various other issues related to AI and labor through analysis of real-world case studies.

PPE 4000-302 Research in PPE: Experimental Design for Empirical Research (Deutchman)

T 12:00 – 3:00 PM

This course will focus on how to design rigorous experiments for empirical research. We will cover the basics of experimental design such as translating research questions into testable hypotheses, operationalizing independent and dependent variables, randomization and counterbalancing, and how to address potential issues such as confounding variables and bias in the research process. We will read a number of interdisciplinary empirical research papers—primarily from psychology, behavioral economics, and experimental philosophy—focusing on their methods and experimental design. Additionally, you will receive hands-on experience proposing and designing your own research study. By the end of this course, you will have a comprehensive understanding of experimental design and methodology and be equipped to critically evaluate empirical research across disciplines.

PPE 4601-301 Advanced Seminar in Social Policy: Money, Power, Deceit (Patel)

T 1:45 – 4:45 PM

In this capstone, we will explore the complex dynamics surrounding corporate and financial corruption and its profound social, political, and economic impact on society. We will address important and timely questions related to corporate corruption, such as the causes and consequences of unethical business practices, the responsibilities and obligations corporations have toward the relevant stakeholders, and the role of national and international regulation in curbing corporate and financial misconduct. Questions we may consider include: What is a corporation? What kinds of legal and ethical frameworks (e.g., international conventions, anti-bribery laws, and corporate governance mechanisms) are effective at curbing corporate and financial corruption? What are the psychological and sociological factors that influence individuals within corporate structures to participate in corrupt practices? What are best practices with respect to public and corporate policy aimed at promoting transparency, accountability, and integrity within corporate environments? We will approach these questions (and others) by analyzing notable corruption scandals as case studies through a broadly interdisciplinary lens.

PPE 4650-401 Advanced Seminar in Political Science: The Politics of Climate Change (Bergquist)

R 1:45 – 4:45 PM

The purpose of this course is to explore the political dynamics that shape the debate, enactment, and implementation of policies to address climate change. By reading the latest research on the political determinants of climate policy, the course will help students develop a nuanced understanding of the ideas, institutions, and behaviors that structure the climate policy process. We will focus primarily on climate policy and politics in the United States, while occasionally incorporating comparative perspectives to provide insight into the US case. Throughout the course, we will discuss why climate policies are designed in particular ways; when and why policies pass or fail to pass; how various institutional, organizational, and public interests influence the climate policy process; and what questions remain unanswered about how to address the problem of climate change.

PPE 4800 – 301 Advanced Seminar in Psychology: Modelling Choice Behavior (Bhatia)

R 1:45 – 4:45 PM

This course will examine mathematical and computational models of individual choice behavior. It will cover modeling techniques from psychology, cognitive science, neuroscience, and economics, and will apply these techniques to a range of diverse behavioral domains. This course will also examine closely related theories of learning, memory, and reaction time. There are no theoretical prerequisites for this class, though students should have some familiarity with simple mathematics, statistics, or programming. Pre-requisite: PPE 313 / PPE 3003. Please submit a permit request. If you have completed the pre-req, your permit will be approved.

PPE 4800 – 302 Advanced Seminar in Psychology: Moral Psychology (Deutchman)

M 12:00 – 3:00 PM

This course explores human morality and its importance to human behavior and society. We will read theoretical and empirical work on morality, primarily from the psychological literature, but supplemented with work from moral philosophy, evolutionary biology, and behavioral economics. We will start the class by discussing the evolutionary origins of morality and cover major themes of moral psychology spanning moral judgements and decision making, moral emotions, and moral development. We will conclude the course by synthesizing the concepts and ideas from moral psychology with philosophical theories of morality and will discuss the implications of moral psychology to contemporary societal issues. Over the length of the course, we will address questions such as: Where does morality come from? How does morality change across childhood? Why are there cross-cultural differences in morality? How can the empirical study of morality inform ethical decision making and public policy?

PPE 4900 – 301 Advanced Seminar in PPE: Toward Everyday Altruism (SNF Paideia Program Course) (Cordero)

MW 3:30 – 5:00 PM

Humans are often motivated and act to benefit the well-being of others. In this course, we will explore altruism as a process and investigate its affective, cognitive, behavioral, social, and ecological components. We will investigate questions such as, what are the causes, conditions, and impediments of altruism? Can altruism be developed within individuals, and if so how? What would an altruistic society look like, and how might it be achieved? These questions will be analyzed by considering topics from empathy, compassion, and well-being, generosity, trust, and cooperation, to uncertainty, fear, guilt, and suffering. We will engage with these questions and topics through reading and responding to material from a variety of disciplines, including philosophy, psychology, and economics, as well as contemplative studies and literature. In addition to conceptual learning, students will be introduced to tools and practices to support the exploration of altruism in their everyday life. Primary emphasis will be given to dialogue, including introspection and conversations with others, which will be considered as a fundamental activity in the exploration and training of altruistic intentions and actions. As part of the course, students will regularly engage in personal and interpersonal reflections and write analytical essays. Students will complete a final project in which they explore selected course material at a deeper level, apply core concepts from the course to solve social or environmental problems, or create materials and resources that others may use to develop altruism. At the end of the semester, each student will complete a dialogical examination. A foundational theme of this course is a focus on moving in the direction of greater altruism, a shift of balance from preoccupation with the magnitude of progress. By the end of the semester, we will discover how every life experience is an opportunity to take a step in the direction of altruism.

PPE 4950 – 301 Advanced Seminar in Research Methods (Lahiri)

T 10:15 – 1:15 PM

This course is aimed at understanding how to do research in the interdisciplinary methods of PPE. Whether it is a scientific paper, a thesis proposal, a research statement for grant or fellowship applications, or a report for a public or private employer engaged in any type of research, it is essential to know all the steps and the elements to make the final manuscript captivating and exhaustive. In this course, among other things, you will be learning (i) how to choose a topic of your interest, (ii) how to formulate specific research questions, and (iii) what tools you can use to turn your initial idea into a well-structured written production. This course is strongly encouraged for juniors intending to pursue the Senior Honors Thesis track in PPE and upperclassmen in PPE with serious research aspirations here at Penn and beyond. While the final project in this course will depend on the individual student's purpose for taking this methods seminar, this course will fulfill the capstone requirement in the PPE major. Interested students must apply.

Advanced Interdisciplinary Courses, Fall 2023

PPE 4000-302 Research in PPE: Prosocial Economics (Cordero)

MW 3:30 - 5:00 PM

In this course, we will work together to contribute to the well-being of others. Each student will choose a subset of concepts related to prosocial economics to study, such as cooperation, trust, and reciprocity. They will have opportunities to learn practical skills, from dialogue and contemplative practices to mathematical modeling and experiment design. Students will integrate the concepts and skill development through regular community service. By the end of the semester, each student will have explored the potential to work for the benefit of others.

PPE 4000-301 Research in PPE: Research Transparency, Reproducibility and Basic Data Analysis in R (Lahiri)

R 12:00 - 3:00 PM

Millions of analysts and companies use the statistical programming language R to solve complex issues every day. If you have any interest in using data to understand the world, and visualize data in a way that communicates information succinctly and impactfully, R is for you! In this non-technical introductory course, I will teach you the basics of R in a way that is digestible, fun, and useful. At the same time, I will tell you stories filled with scandal, lies, but also hope from the world of research to teach you how to analyze data in an ethical and transparent manner. Our focus will be understanding the why and how of research programming, and how to create cool things with R. Besides learning an extremely marketable skill, taking this course will be ideal if you have any interest in conducting research, which is another highly marketable skill!

PPE 4600-301 Political Science Capstone: Cooperation: Addressing Contemporary Societal Challenges in Today's Political World (Hsieh)

MW 3:30 - 5:00 PM

Many societal challenges, such as climate change and the COVID-19 pandemic, require people to work together to solve them. However, cooperation between individuals poses its own challenges. The question of why people cooperate (or do not cooperate) appears across disciplines under different labels, including collective action problems and social dilemmas. In this capstone seminar, we will cover a wide range of societal challenges and political behaviors that require cooperation, including addressing climate change, the COVID-19 pandemic, misinformation crises, as well as social movements, and voting. Within these topics, we will discuss the similarities and differences in the problems of cooperation and how to foster it.

PPE 4601-301 Social Policy Capstone: Artificial Intelligence (Patel)

R 10:15 - 1:15 PM

This capstone seminar will cover a range of topics related to artificial intelligence (AI). We will consider theoretical, empirical, and normative issues related to philosophy, politics, and economics of AI. Questions we might consider include: what is AI? Do machines have minds or mental states? Can a machine display intelligence or feel emotions? Can machines discriminate against persons or entities in morally impermissible ways (e.g., arbitrarily on the basis of race or gender)? What are the normative standards by which we might judge these (and other) harms? How will newer AI technologies (e.g., chatbots powered by supercomputers such as ChatGPT) revolutionize or disrupt markets or other social and economic practices (if at all)? We will use core concepts from PPE to evaluate and answer these questions.

PPE 4700-301 Economics Capstone: Toward Everyday Altruism (Cordero)

MW 12:00 - 1:30 PM

PPE 4800-302 Psychology Capstone: Origins of cooperation and conflict (Deutchman)

T 12:00 - 3:00 PM

In this capstone seminar, we will take an interdisciplinary approach to understanding the origins of cooperation and conflict, drawing on perspectives from evolutionary biology, game theory, and experimental psychology. In the first part of the course, we will examine the evolutionary roots of cooperation and conflict, including the role of natural selection in shaping human behavior, and explore how game theory can help us understand when individuals are likely to cooperate or compete in strategic interactions. In the second part of the course, we will examine the social cognition of cooperation—focusing on research from social, developmental, and comparative psychology—to better understand how people perceive and reason about social information and how they use this information to guide their cooperative behavior. Over the length of the course, we will read many primary research articles and discuss topics spanning collective action, social emotions (empathy, trust, guilt), morality, theory of mind, punishment, intergroup relations, and social norms. By the end of the course, you will have a deep understanding of the key concepts and theories related to the origins of cooperation and conflict, be able to critically evaluate research on social behavior and use this knowledge to develop strategies and interventions for promoting cooperation in a variety of contexts.

PPE 4800-301 Psychology Capstone: Social Norms, Networks, and Influence (Lahiri)

W 10:15 - 1:15 PM

Other people matter. Whether it’s the spread of a disease, the adoption of a behavior, or proliferation of an idea, other people make it happen. However, the way in which such phenomena spread is diverse and complex, and requires us to approach the issue through an interdisciplinary perspective. If you want to understand these processes, and how they can be leveraged to achieve meaningful change, this course is for you. Drawing upon foundational and cutting-edge research findings, we will explore various issues related to how and when people influence other people. We will read a lot of research, and will only deal with equations as they arise, making sure to explain and understand their purpose, rather than deal with problem sets. If you’re ready to engage with the complexity of human behavior, take this course.

PPE 4700-302 Economics Capstone: Experimental Economics: Foundations, Design, and Analysis (Cordero)

MW 12:00 - 1:30 PM

This course will provide an introduction to the use of controlled experiments in the study of economic behavior. We will survey some of the recent literature, focusing on topics that are relevant to our lives and our own economic interactions - such as, decision making under risk, trust, cooperation, contributing to public goods, and helping others. Students will learn the foundations of the use of experiments in science; they will learn how to critically analyze the strengths and weaknesses of various experiment methods; how to design experiments to obtain high-quality and informative data that can be used to test economic theories or reveal new patterns of economic behavior; how to analyze and interpret these data; and how to effectively communicate their insights. The course will culminate in each student designing their own experiment to investigate an economic behavior of their choice.

PPE 4802-401 Social Psychology Capstone: Obedience (Royzman)

R 1:45 - 4:45 PM

Advanced Interdisciplinary Courses, Spring 2023

PPE 3950-001 Center for Social Norms & Behavioral Dynamics Research Seminar (SNBD Researchers)

Field Work

This “research seminar” takes its model from the Penn Independent Study and pairs interested students with researchers at the Center for Social Norms & Behavioral Dynamics sited here at Penn. SNOBED fellows work with organizations across the world to identify, measure, and influence norms and behaviors at scale. PPE majors will be paired with SNOBED-affiliated researchers and faculty and work as junior research fellows, learning fundamental approaches and the basics of research methods in the day-to-day environment of an active research center with mentors working on cutting edge research. Examples of current projects include: research on poverty in the US funded by the Templeton Foundation; on toilet use and sanitation in India funded by the Gates Foundation; and on corruption in Nigeria and Colombia funded by Chatham House and USAID.

PPE 4000-301 Research in PPE: Corruption and Development (Patel)

W 3:30 - 6:30 PM

This course will cover a range of topics related to the political economy of corruption and development. We will consider theoretical, empirical, and normative issues related to the failures and successes of social, political, and economic institutions around the world (with an emphasis on the Global South). Specific questions we may consider include: What, if anything, is wrong with corruption? How do some markets (such as vote markets) operate despite seemingly insurmountable transaction costs? What is the relationship between formal and informal institutions, and what role does the character of such institutions play in the determination of social and political outcomes? We will use core concepts from PPE to evaluate and answer these questions.

PPE 4000-302 Research in PPE: Research Transparency, Reproducibility and Basic Data Analysis in R (Lahiri)

M 12:00 - 3:00 PM

Crises of replication and reproducibility are replete across the social sciences. At the core of these problems is a system of knowledge generation that incentivizes opacity, researcher degrees of freedom, and questionable research practices. In this small research group, we will discuss a series of issues related to research transparency and reproducibility in the social sciences. We will also learn basic data preparation, management, and analysis in R (no previous experience with R is assumed). This will allow us to implement transparent and reproducible coding practices using RStudio and RMarkdown, the latter of which will allow us to produce fully formatted journal-ready manuscripts in pdf form directly from R. Those with current research projects are encouraged to bring them to class so we may implement them in R and write the reports in RMarkdown. Time permitting, we may also touch on the use of Git and Github for version control, and the use of Overleaf for manuscript preparation. Pre-requisites: At least an introductory statistics course at the university level; A laptop with sufficient hard drive space to download and run R, RStudio, RMarkdown.

PPE 4000-303 Research in PPE: Toward Cooperative Altruism (Cordero)

R 12:00 - 3:00 PM

Cooperative altruism is the motivation to satisfy the needs of other sentient beings in situations in which one cannot accomplish this goal on their own. If we are to overcome the challenges of the 21st Century, from climate change to global poverty, we must better understand this motivation and the actions that arise from it. Students enrolled in this Research in PPE course will apply tools from economics and psychology, including models of decision making, game theory, experiment design, and data analysis. The course will also function as a practicing `cooperative altruism lab’, in which we will work together on a project to benefit members of our community.

PPE 4601-301 Social Policy Capstone: Business Ethics (Patel)

R 3:30 - 6:30 PM

This capstone seminar will cover a range of topics related to the ethical issues surrounding businesses and the markets in which they operate. We will consider the basic theories and principles of business ethics, as well as empirical and normative issues related to various markets. Specific questions we may consider include: What is a just distribution of income and wealth? Are markets in specific goods (e.g., kidneys, child labor, reproductive labor, etc.) morally impermissible? If so, why? What, if anything, is wrong with corruption? Are sweatshops wrongfully exploitative? We will use core concepts from PPE to evaluate and answer these questions.

PPE 4700-301 Economics Capstone: Fairness & Altruism (Cordero)

M 3:30 - 6:30 PM

This course is designed to be an integrative experience, drawing on knowledge from economics and psychology to understand the role of fairness in behavior. Each week students will lead the discussion on 2-3 research papers spanning topics in the literature such as: moral motivation, moral constraints on markets, giving justly, managing self-image, risk and fairness, fairness across cultures, social dilemmas, social norms and taboos. Assessment is based on participation in class discussion, a class presentation, and a final paper in which students will propose an original empirical study or theoretical model connected to one of the semester’s topics.

Pre-requisite: PPE 3001 (formerly PPE 311).

PPE 4700-302 Economics Capstone: Experimental Economics: Foundations, Design, and Analysis (Cordero)

T 3:30 - 6:30 PM

PPE 4800-301 Psychology Capstone: Theories of Behavior Change (Lahiri)

T 12:00 - 3:00 PM

This course will provide a bird’s-eye view of key theoretical approaches to behavior change across a variety of social and behavioral science disciplines. In particular, we will draw upon the fields of psychology, anthropology, economics, public health, and communications, as well as emerging fields and efforts to integrate theories. This will not be exhaustive of all theories in the field, but will provide you with a wide conceptual tool belt with which you can begin to approach complex systemic issues for which urgent evidence or action is needed. This course emphasizes the application and integration of theories across multiple socio-ecological levels of behavioral influence to real-world behavior change problems.

PPE 4950-301 PPE Capstone: Research Methods (Marcon)

W 12:00 - 3:00 PM

Advanced Interdisciplinary Courses, Fall 2022

PPE 4000-301 Research in PPE: Acting together: pluralistic ignorance and joint commitments (Marcon)

T 12:00 - 3:00 PM

What does it mean acting together? How can a norm generate a motivational causal force that induces compliance with what it asserts, in contexts where selfish rather than prosocial behaviour would be expected? Well established social norms are one of the most crucial features that leads to conformist behaviour within some reference group: that is, one specific norm would require a certain type of behaviour, triggering a series of reciprocal expectations that motivate people to comply with what the norm claims. However, norms can be misperceived and lead to collectively harmful phenomena such as pluralistic ignorance. In this research class, we will focus on the gap between collective and individual intentions and the role played by Margaret Gilbert's notion of joint commitment as a motivational mechanism against pluralistic ignorance situations.

PPE 4601-301 Social Policy Capstone: Bioethics (Patel)

W 5:15 - 8:15 PM

This capstone seminar will cover a range of topics related to ethical issues surrounding the life sciences. We will consider the basic theories and principles of bioethics, as well as empirical and normative issues related to recent case studies from the biomedical literature. Specific questions we may consider include: How should we distribute scarce medical resources? What, if anything, is wrong with markets in women’s reproductive labor? What, if anything, is wrong with markets in human organs? Do prospective parents have a duty to adopt rather than have biological children? Do patients have the right to self-medicate? Are prescription requirements justified? We will use core concepts from PPE to evaluate and answer these questions.

PPE 4700-301 Economics Capstone: The Potential of Altruism to Change Yourself and the World (Cordero)

M 12:00 - 3:00 PM

The standard model of human behavior on which economics and public policy are usually based is built on the assumption that people make choices to satisfy their own self-interest. While individualism, in its positive qualities, can lead to innovation and pushing beyond outdated dogmas, it can also lead to isolation and greed. Indeed, irresponsible selfishness is at the heart of many of the problems we face in the 21st Century, such as economic inequality, environmental devastation, and extreme violence. To overcome the urgent challenges of our time, we need an alternative model of human behavior based on a unifying concept that inspires the better angels of our nature. In this capstone seminar, we will critically explore the potential of altruism as a guiding principle to achieve a better life for ourselves and our global society. But what is altruism? What are its causes, conditions, and impediments? Can individuals become more altruistic, and if so, how? What would a society organized around the principle of altruism look like? And how can we achieve it? This course will combine tools from psychology, philosophy, and economics to address these questions and more.

PPE 4800-301 Psychology Capstone: The Foundations of Moral Decision-Making (Marcon)

W 12:00 - 3:00 PM

The course has two main objectives. The first is improving the ability of the student to understand how moral judgments are formed and to what extent this type of judgments, together with emotions and reasons, affect our decision-making process. Often what is defined as a mere irrational choice is the result of some strong emotional reaction, therefore moral psychology and experimental philosophy have attempted to clarify why people behave as they do in a very specific type of situation, namely the so-called moral dilemmas.

The second objective is to make students able to critically analyze different perspectives on the relationship between judgments and actions. To achieve this, it will be presented distinct approaches to decision theory: in particular we will focus on some recent applications and famous experimental case studies that take up traditional philosophical issues such as what makes moral actions right or wrong.

PPE 4800-302 Psychology Capstone: Modeling Choice Behavior (Bhatia)

R 1:45 - 4:45 PM

Prerequisite: PPE 313

PPE 4800-303 Psychology Capstone: Unpacking the Black Box: Tackling Big Issues in Social and Behavioral Science Interventions (Lahiri)

T 3:30 – 6:30 PM

In this course, we will discuss some of the major issues surrounding real-world interventions in the social and behavioral sciences, with a focus on applied problems and solutions. Though we will not arrive at definitive answers to any of the problems, we will amass a set of conceptual and methodological tools to study these issues through an interdisciplinary applied lens. We will discuss a range of interdisciplinary tools and frameworks that help us understand, evaluate, and interrogate the utility of such interventions. Rather than delving into the technical details of each of the methods discussed in the course, we will instead focus on understanding their essential components and how they have been applied in diverse fields.

PPE 4802-301 Social Psychology Capstone: Obedience (Royzman)

R 1:45 - 4:45 PM

Though almost half a century old, Milgram’s 1961-1962 studies of “destructive obedience” continue to puzzle, fascinate, and alarm. The main reason for their continued grip on the field’s attention (other than the boldness of the idea and elegance of execution) may be simply that they leave us with a portrait of human character that is radically different from the one that we personally wish to endorse or that the wider culture teaches us to accept. In this seminar, we will take an in-depth look at these famous studies (along with the more recent replications) and explore their various psychological, political and philosophical ramifications.

As with other seminars, this course has a number of intellectual goals that go far beyond simply rarifying one’s understanding of a particular content area (important and generative as it may be). One such a goal is to enable you to think critically (though not disparagingly) about other people’s research and theoretical claims that ensue from it, all with the hope that you can then apply the self-same critical acumen to your own future work. Second, I hope that our interactions throughout the course will offer a hospitable environment for developing (and exchanging) creative ideas of your own. Your work on your individual reaction papers and on the term paper in particular will be a key element in achieving this goal. Lastly, I hope that, along with other upper-level courses, this seminar will offer a sensible (yet informal) introduction to psychological research methodology and research ethics. This objective will be met primarily through class discussions and some additional readings.

Advanced Interdisciplinary Courses, Spring 2022

PPE 402-301 Research in PPE: Corruption and Development (Patel)

F 1:45 - 4:45 PM

PPE 470-301 Social Policy: Philosophy and Public Policy (Patel)

Th 3:30 - 6:30 PM

This capstone seminar will aim to assess a range of topics at the intersection of philosophy and public policy. We will consider conceptual and normative issues related to the operation of particular markets, failures of political and economic institutions in the developing world, and questions about distributive justice and equality. We will also consider some contemporary problems in public policy, such as justifications of various immigration policies, competing conceptions of public health, and reparations for America’s war on drugs. Specific questions we will cover include: Are some markets morally impermissible? Are sweatshops exploitative? Why is corruption harmful? What is a just distribution of income and wealth? We will use core concepts from PPE to evaluate and answer these questions.

PPE 474-301 Judgment and Decisions: Information Demand (Tasch)

F 1:45 - 4:45 PM

People avoid information that may reveal undesired outcomes when making medical and financial decisions. Similarly we know people who want to maintain a prosocial self-image avoid information when it allows them to justify selfish behaviors. In this class, we will discuss ways in which individuals depart from the standard economic assumptions that information avoidance occurs only when there is a strategic rationale for it. Further, we will investigate whether and how individuals may justify their avoidance of inequity revealing information, in order to justify their own selfish or cooperative decisions, and how they can encourage others to do the same in social dilemmas.

PPE 474-302 Judgment and Decisions: Social and Behavioral Sciences in Development (Artavia-Mora)

W 5:15 - 8:15 PM

This course examines the latest research from Social and Behavioral Sciences to enhance international development. We must first understand how people and groups behave to then build more cost-effective strategies that alleviate poverty and improve wellbeing across societies. To this end, this seminar discusses the theoretical, empirical and methodological foundations of behavioral insights and nudging, while it keeps a central view on their implications for real-life development policy. The course gives special attention on the role of social preferences and social norms to shape human behavior, and it presents other cognitive biases that influence choices and decisions through beliefs, preferences and information-processing capacities. Overall, the course answers three questions: What are the foundations of applying behavioral insights in economic development? How can we measure, test and influence human behavior? And, what are their implications for public policy? We will answer these questions using examples in human cooperation, ethnic discrimination, health (incl. compliance to COVID-19 measures), gender, politics, education, and environmental sustainability. In sum, the seminar builds your knowledge in the area, and it provides tools to critique and formulate cutting-edge research.

PPE 477-301 Social Psychology: Intergroup Relations: Prejudice and its social implications (Marcon)

W 12:00 - 3:00 PM

What role do prejudices play in our daily life? What kind of relationship do they have with conflicts and stereotypes? Prejudice is one of the most crucial attitudes studied by social psychology and the attempt to reduce it is one of the greatest challenges that our society must face. In this course, we will focus on the famous Robbers Cave experiment (Sherif 1954) and its more recent applications, by studying prejudice in its affective, cognitive and behavioral components.

A first goal is to improve your critical thinking in order to recognize and analyze situations and behaviors based on prejudice. The second objective is to highlight the pros and cons of the experimental methodology used within the field of social psychology and see to what extent it may be successful in finding practical solutions.

PPE 482-301 Psychology: Modeling Choice Behavior (Bhatia)

R 1:45 - 4:45 PM

Prerequisite: PPE 313

Advanced Interdisciplinary Courses, Fall 2021

PPE 402 Research in PPE: The Gift (Danese)

SEM: W 1:45 - 4:45 PM

The exchanging of gifts constitutes an ideal ground for testing different theories of human motivation -- the rational, social, cultural and political "ideal types" discussed by sociologists and anthropologists. We will start reading two key books on gift exchange, Malinowski's Argonauts and Mauss's The Gift. We will then proceed to the copious secondary literature on Mauss and Malinowski, and to some modern application of the gift paradigm. Questions we will ask include: Are gifts as free and disinterested as we think? Can gifts build and structure economies? How do gifts differ from ordinary commodities we acquire in the marketplace? Why do we believe that intimacy, organs, blood, children should be given as a gift but not purchased as an ordinary commodity? Why do we rarely give cash gifts? Classes will be seminar-style discussions on the readings. Attendance is mandatory at all meetings unless other arrangements have been made with the instructor.

PPE 402 Research in PPE: Doing Something Together (Marcon)

SEM: T 12:00 - 3:00 PM

How can a norm generate a motivational causal force that induces compliance with what it asserts, in contexts where selfish rather than prosocial behaviour would be expected? In this research class, we will focus on the gap between the social and the private dimension, which has led to questioning whether there are moral norms whose content may constitute, per se, a sufficient reason for action. Well established social norms are one of the most crucial features that leads to conformist behaviour within some reference group: that is, one specific norm would require a certain type of behaviour, triggering a series of reciprocal expectations that motivate people to comply with what the norm claims. However, we still have the problem of understanding whether a norm, collectively chosen and shared, succeeds in self-imposing without any intervention of external authority.

Thus, the main aim of this course is to study and clarify the role played by commitments, agreements and expectations in order to get conformist behavior.

PPE 470 Social Policy: Philosophy and Public Policy (Patel)

SEM: T 5:15 - 8:15 PM

PPE 470 Social Policy: Corruption & Development (Patel)

SEM: W 5:15 - 8:15 PM

This capstone seminar will cover a range of topics related to the political economy of corruption and development. We will consider theoretical, empirical, and normative issues related to the failures and successes of social, political, and economic institutions around the world (with an emphasis on the Global South). Specific questions we may consider include: What, if anything, is wrong with corruption? How do some markets (such as vote markets) operate despite seemingly insurmountable transaction costs? What is the relationship between formal and informal institutions, and what role does the character of such institutions play in the determination of social and political outcomes? We will use core concepts from PPE to evaluate and answer these questions.

PPE 471 Political Economy: Organizations (Danese)

SEM: W 8:30 - 11:30 AM

In this course, we are going to discuss questions such as: In a market economy, why do we observe entities such as business companies, non-profit organizations, cooperatives, etc? What is the purpose of authority and hierarchy in organizations? Is there a hybrid choice of organization between market exchanges and hierarchical organizations? To answer those questions, we will mainly draw from New Institutional Economics, the school of thought on organizations initiated by Ronald Coase and Oliver Williamson. By the end of this course, you will be able to discuss how transaction costs, capabilities, uncertainty, authority, and responsibility shape the choice among discrete governance structures for transactions and the boundaries of such structures. Attendance is mandatory at all meetings unless other arrangements have been made with the instructor; students are expected to submit a weekly written reflection on the assigned reading and to present their weekly reflection to the class.

PPE 474: Judgment and Decision: Norm Building in Exceptional Environments (Tasch)

SEM: F 1:45 - 4:45 PM

In this course, we will explore the opportunities, risks, and tensions associated with facilitating a healthy Arctic, as global climate change alters its environment and consequent political-economic processes respond. Facilitating the Arctic’s healthy future is not limited to understanding the competitive and cooperative interactions among the five coastal nations located within the Arctic Circle. The Arctic’s natural resources, for example, could be conceptualized as public goods by nations located beyond the Arctic Circle, including China, India, Japan, Italy, and South Korea. Strategies involving prosocial signaling by contribution (counting on others’ information seeking behavior), and inducing reciprocity (exchanging aid for access to resources) can all be used to “normalize” the Arctic’s future in favor of a particular stakeholder. In empirical studies and laboratory experiments we will investigate key questions that inform how the “exceptional Arctic” is being “tamed” to fit into an overarching and already existing legal, economic, and environmental system.

PPE 477 Social Psychology: Obedience (Royzman)

SEM: R 1:45 - 4:45 PM

Though almost half a century old, Milgram’s 1961-1962 studies of “destructive obedience” continue to puzzle, fascinate, and alarm. The main reason for their continued grip on the field’s attention (other than the boldness of the idea and elegance of execution) may be simply that they leave us with a portrait of human character that is radically different from the one that we personally wish to endorse or that the wider culture teaches us to accept.
In this seminar, we will take an in-depth look at these famous studies (along with the more recent replications) and explore their various psychological, political and philosophical ramifications.

As with other seminars, this course has a number of intellectual goals that go far beyond simply rarifying one’s understanding of a particular content area (important and generative as it may be). One such a goal is to enable you to think critically (though not disparagingly) about other people’s research and theoretical claims that ensue from it, all with the hope that you can then apply the self-same critical acumen to your own future work. Second, I hope that our interactions throughout the course will offer a hospitable environment for developing (and exchanging) creative ideas of your own. Your work on your individual reaction papers and on the term paper in particular will be a key element in achieving this goal. Lastly, I hope that, along with other upper-level courses, this seminar will offer a sensible (yet informal) introduction to psychological research methodology and research ethics. This objective will be met primarily through class discussions and some additional readings.

PPE 482 Psychology: The Foundations of Moral Decision-Making (Marcon)

SEM: F 12:00 - 3:00 PM

Advanced Interdisciplinary Courses, Spring 2021

PPE 402-301: Research in PPE: Norm Building in Exceptional Environments (Tasch)

SEM: R 5-8 PM

PPE 402-302: Research in PPE: Social Mobility and Inequality (Berger)

SEM: R 4:30-7:30 PM

This research seminar looks to select between four and five motivated and hard-working students to contribute original research on the topic of inequality in America. Inequality is one of the most pressing political topics of the moment, with every aspiring presidential candidate discussing this seminal issue. Building off a grant, we will look at original survey data to generate conjectures about inequality in political life and its relevance to the extant literature in Political Science. Students are expected to be willing to commit to a Fall and Spring sequence, as the ultimate ambition will be to publish our findings in a peer-reviewed publication.

This two semester course offers a wonderful opportunity to conduct collaborative research in a low-stakes setting, with the end-goal of securing a publication. This course also counts towards any PPE Thematic Concentration, fulfilling a Capstone requirement.

PPE 402-303: Research in PPE: Institutions and Development (Patel)

SEM: F 2-5 PM

This research seminar will cover a range of topics related to the political economy of institutions and development. We will consider the theoretical, empirical, and normative underpinnings of both formal and informal institutions and the role they play in social and economic development in the developing world. Specific questions we may consider include: What is the relationship between formal and informal institutions? How do institutions structure interactions between individuals so as to secure welfare gains from cooperation and coordination? Why do some communities overcome collective action problems to produce optimal social and economic outcomes, while others fail? We will use core concepts from PPE to evaluate and answer these questions

PPE 470 Social Policy - Philosophy and Public Policy (Patel)

SEM: R 4:30-7:30 PM

This capstone seminar will aim to assess a range of topics at the intersection of philosophy and public policy. We will consider conceptual and normative issues related to the operation of particular markets, failures of political and economic institutions in the developing world, and questions about distributive justice and equality. Specific questions we may consider include: Are some markets morally impermissible? Are sweatshops exploitative? Why is corruption harmful? What is a just distribution of income and wealth? We will use core concepts from PPE to evaluate and answer these questions.

PPE 471-301 Political Economy - Informal Institutions (Danese)

SEM: W 5-8 PM

Institutions are all around us: they are the laws, informal rules, and conventions that render interactions with other people less uncertain and more durable (Bowles). We will focus our attention on the informal rules that close-knit communities have developed to (i) manage common-pool resources (Ostrom), (ii) solve conflicts arising in simple workaday affairs (Ellickson). We will also discuss the relationship between social norms, Pigovian taxes, and Coasean bargaining, in societies in which regulation of behavior through all these three mechanisms is conceivable. Attendance is mandatory at all meetings unless other arrangements have been made with the instructor; students are expected to submit a weekly written reflection on the assigned reading and will present their reflection to the class.

PPE 471-302 Political Economy - Money, Credit, and Debt (Danese)

SEM: T 3-6 PM

The ultimate facilitator of economic transactions, money has been the subject of intense scrutiny in the social sciences. Once tied to a hard “bullion,” nowadays money is essentially sustained by expectations about the intentions of its issuer. In this course, we are going to explore the question of what is money, and how it arose. We will also debate the proper scope of monetary policy, and the effects of the "monetization of everything" on social life. We will be relying on some of the classic authors in these debates (Mitchell Innes, Knapp, Simmel, Mises), as well as the recent literature from anthropology and social ontology (Graeber's Debt, Ferraris, Searle, Lawson, Harari). We will end with a discussion of the (nowadays fashionable) “Modern Monetary Theory" (or MMT). Attendance is mandatory at all meetings unless other arrangements have been made with the instructor; students are expected to submit a weekly written reflection on the assigned reading and to present their weekly reflection to the class.

PPE 474: Judgment and Decision - Social Preferences and Social Norms (Tasch)

SEM: R 1:30-4:30 PM

Social preferences play an important role in political, economic and social environments. Despite the attention paid to negative behaviors, societies rely on norms of honesty, fairness, and trust—these positive features of human behavior form the foundation of a healthy market economy. We will discuss the ways that social preferences can help to explain the connection between relative income and happiness, relative earnings and job satisfaction, and their grounding for generosity and empathy impulses in individuals. Further, we will discuss how social preferences can be a useful tool to promote prosocial behaviors, such as the reduction of water and energy consumption and to increase political participation by encouraging voting. This course will help you to acquire the applied tools and practice important for understanding and critiquing recent scholarly articles in this field. Further, you will develop and evaluate arguments from multiple perspectives, and design an applicable project that addresses your research questions concerning social norms.

PPE 478 Inequality: An interdisciplinary perspective (Aldama Navarrete)

SEM: TR 10:30-12 NOON

In this advanced undergraduate seminar we will study the economic, political, and psychological consequences of inequality. In particular, one of the main aims of the course will be to understand the mechanisms through which people demand more or less redistribution. In doing so we will pay close attention to distinguish between actual inequality and people’s perceptions of it. Using both classic and recent scholarly literature from these three fields, we will analyze what shapes perceptions of inequality and how these, in turn, shape policy preferences.

PPE 481 Political SciencE: Trust and Uncertainties (Berger)

SEM: T 1:30-4:30 PM

Why do we trust some people and not others? What signals give us reason to trust some brands or products more than others? How can technology be used to build a more trusting world? Trust is a foundational feature of the decisions we regularly undertake and turns largely on the kinds of uncertainty that we encounter. This course will provide background on the different types of trust we elicit and the motivational conditions that bring these expectations about.

PPE 482 Psychology: Modelling Choice Behavior (Bhatia)

SEM: R 1:30-4:30 PM

Advanced Interdisciplinary Courses, Fall 2020

PPE 402-301: Research in PPE: Social Mobility and Inequality (Berger)

SEM: TR 4:30 - 6 PM

PPE 402-302: Research in PPE: Norm Building in Exceptional Environments (Tasch)

SEM: F 2 - 5 PM

PPE 402-303: Research in PPE: The Gift (Danese)

SEM: W 2 - 5 PM

The exchanging of gifts constitutes an ideal ground for testing different theories of human motivation -- the rational, social, cultural and political "ideal types" discussed by sociologists and anthropologists. We will start reading two key books on gift exchange, Malinowski's Argonauts and Mauss's The Gift. We will then proceed to the copious secondary literature on Mauss and Malinowski, and to some modern application of the gift paradigm. Questions we will ask include: Are gifts as free and disinterested as we think? Can gifts build and structure economies? How do gifts differ from ordinary commodities we acquire in the marketplace? Why do we believe that intimacy, organs, blood, children should be given as a gift but not purchased as an ordinary commodity? Why do we rarely give cash gifts?

In the Fall semester, classes will be seminar-style discussions on the readings. Attendance is mandatory at all meetings unless other arrangements have been made with the instructor. The objective of the Fall semester is to formulate an interesting research question and gather the supporting literature. In the Spring semester, students will concentrate on writing and gathering data for their final paper.

PPE 470 Social Policy - Philosophy and Public Policy (Patel)

SEM: W 2-5 PM

PPE 471 Political Economy - Organizations (Danese)

SEM: W 5-8 PM

Attendance is mandatory at all meetings unless other arrangements have been made with the instructor; students are expected to submit a weekly written reflection on the assigned reading and to present their weekly reflection to the class.

PPE 473 Modeling - Quantitative Methods Across PPE (Berger)

SEM: M 2 - 5 PM

The social and behavioral sciences cover a vast array of phenomena, the dynamics of which might be understood in any number of ways. Statistical models are the work-horse of the field, offering linear, additive representations of the causal relationship between system inputs and outputs. While powerful, there are many other ways we might conceptualize the dynamics of social systems. This course will provide an overview of foundational mathematical models that come to explore and explain social dynamics. Beyond the methodological exposure, the course seeks to teach "model thinking" where students learn the practice of modeling, growing their ability to think rigorously and critically about the world around them. From questions ranging from forest fires, to racial segregation, to why your friends are better looking than you (on average), the course builds students' mental repertoires, allowing them to formalize real-world problems they encounter.

PPE 474: Judgment and Decision - Demand for Information (Tasch)

SEM: R 3-6 PM

Empirically, we know people avoid information that may reveal undesired outcomes when making medical and financial decisions. Similarly we know people who want to maintain a prosocial self-image avoid information when it allows them to justify selfish behaviors. In this class, we will discuss ways in which individuals depart from the standard economic assumptions that information avoidance occurs only when there is a strategic rationale for it. Further, we will investigate whether and how individuals may justify their avoidance of inequity-revealing information, in order to justify their own selfish or cooperative decisions, and how they can encourage others to do the same in social dilemmas. This course will help you to understand and criticize recent scholarly articles as well as make and evaluate arguments on different sides of issues. Moreover, it will prepare you to develop and design a project to address your research questions around demanding and avoiding information.

PPE 477 Social Psychology: Obedience (Royzman)

SEM: R 1:30-4:30PM

Though almost half a century old, Milgram’s 1961-1962 studies of “destructive obedience” continue to puzzle, fascinate, and alarm. The main reason for their continued grip on the field’s attention (other than the boldness of the idea and elegance of execution) may be simply that they leave us with a portrait of human character that is radically different from the one that we personally wish to endorse or that the wider culture teaches us to accept.
In this seminar, we will take an in-depth look at these famous studies (along with the more recent replications) and explore their various psychological, political and philosophical ramifications.

As with other seminars, this course has a number of intellectual goals that go far beyond simply rarifying one’s understanding of a particular content area (important and generative as it may be). One such a goal is to enable you to think critically (though not disparagingly) about other people’s research and theoretical claims that ensue from it, all with the hope that you can then apply the self-same critical acumen to your own future work. Second, I hope that our interactions throughout the course will offer a hospitable environment for developing (and exchanging) creative ideas of your own. Your work on your individual reaction papers and on the term paper in particular will be a key element in achieving this goal. Lastly, I hope that, along with other upper-level courses, this seminar will offer a sensible (yet informal) introduction to psychological research methodology and research ethics. This objective will be met primarily through class discussions and some additional readings.

PPE 483 Economics: Fairness and Altruism (Dillenberger)

SEM: R 3 - 6 PM

The course is designed to be an integrative experience, drawing on knowledge from economics and psychology to understand the role of fairness in behavior. PPE 311/ECON 013 is a strict pre-requisite for this course.

Advanced Interdisciplinary Courses, Spring 2020

PPE 402-301: Research in PPE: Social Mobility and Inequality (Berger)

SEM: TR 4:30 - 6 PM

PPE 402-302: Research in PPE: The Gift (Danese)

SEM: W 2 - 5 PM

The exchanging of gifts constitutes an ideal ground for testing different theories of human motivation -- the rational, social, cultural and political "ideal types" discussed by sociologists and anthropologists. We will start reading two key books on gift exchange, Malinowski's Argonauts and Mauss's The Gift. We will then proceed to the enormous secondary literature on Mauss and Malinowski, and to some modern application of the gift paradigm. Questions we will ask include: Are gifts as free and disinterested as we think? Can gifts build and structure economies? How do gifts differ from ordinary commodities we acquire in the marketplace? Why do we believe that intimacy, organs, blood, children should be given as a gift but not purchased as an ordinary commodity? Why do we rarely give cash gifts? Classes will be seminar-style discussions on the readings. Attendance is mandatory at all meetings unless arrangements have been made with the instructor.

PPE 402-303: Research in PPE: Norm Building in Exceptional Environments (Tasch)

SEM: F 2 - 5 PM

Why and how do human beings organize their lives to overcome the basic economic problem: the allocation of scarce resources? In this course, we will explore the opportunities, risks, and tensions associated with facilitating a healthy Arctic, as global climate change alters its environment and consequent political-economic processes respond. Facilitating the Arctic’s healthy future is not limited to understanding the competitive and cooperative interactions among the five coastal nations located within the Arctic Circle. The Arctic’s natural resources, for example, could be conceptualized as public goods by nations located beyond the Arctic Circle, including China, India, Japan, Italy, and South Korea. Strategies involving prosocial signaling by contribution (counting on others’ information seeking behavior), and inducing reciprocity (exchanging aid for access to resources) can all be used to “normalize” the Arctic’s future in favor of a particular stakeholder. In laboratory experiments we will investigate key questions that inform how the “exceptional Arctic” is being “tamed” to fit into an overarching and already existing legal, economic, and environmental system.

PPE 470 Social Policy – The Economics of Crime: An Interdisciplinary Perspective (Dimant)

SEM: T 1:30-4:30 PM

This is an undergraduate research seminar tackling the topic of crime from an interdisciplinary perspective. Our focus will lie on understanding the mechanism and motivation to engage in criminal behavior from the viewpoint of, among others, economics, psychology, and criminology. We will discuss cutting-edge research and students will develop and apply their theoretical knowledge by analyzing a criminal case in form of group projects. We will also feature external talks from practitioners. Past semesters’ talks were given by representatives of the FBI, SEC, World Bank, DoJ, DEA, and KPMG.

PPE 471 Political Economy - Informal Institutions (Danese)

SEM: W 5-8 PM

Institutions are all around us: they are the laws, informal rules and conventions that render interactions with other people less uncertain and more durable (Bowles). We will focus our attention on the informal rules that close-knit communities have developed to (i) manage common-pool resources (Ostrom), (ii) solve conflicts arising in simple workaday affairs (Ellickson). We will also discuss the relationship between social norms, Pigovian taxes, and Coasean bargaining, in societies in which regulation of behavior through all these three mechanisms is conceivable. Attendance is mandatory at all meetings unless other arrangements have been made with the instructor; students are expected to submit a weekly written reflection on the assigned reading and will present their reflection to the class.

PPE 474: Judgment and Decision - Social Preferences and Social Norms (Tasch)

SEM: R 1:30-4:30 PM

PPE 478 Inequality: An interdisciplinary perspective (Aldama Navarrete)

SEM: TR 10:30 AM -12:00 PM

PPE 481 Political Science - Trust and Uncertainties (Berger)

SEM: T 1:30-4:30 PM

Why do we trust some people and not others? What signals give us reason to trust some brands orproducts more than others? How can technology be used to build a more trusting world? Trust is a foundational feature of the decisions we regularly undertake and
turns largely on the kinds of uncertainty that we encounter. This course will provide background on thedifferent types of trust we elicit and the motivational conditions that bring these expectations about.

Advanced Interdisciplinary Courses, Fall 2019

PPE 402: Research in PPE (Berger)

SEM: TR 4:30 - 6 PM

PPE 402: Research in PPE (Tasch)

SEM: F 2 - 5 PM

When do choices made in the pursuit of self-interest also promote social interest? In this course, we will investigate the choices that individuals make as they cope with scarcity and allocate limited resources into an account that provides payoffs with equity among individuals. A focus of this course is to learn about learning, using scientific methods. Specifically, students will work through conceptional approaches to real world dilemmas, focusing on an exceptional region—the Arctic. Then the class will turn to research that addresses three key questions that inform how the “exceptional Arctic” is being “tamed” to fit into an overarching and already existing legal, economic, and environmental system.

PPE 402: Research in PPE (Danese)

SEM: W 2 - 5 PM

The exchanging of gifts constitutes an ideal ground for testing different theories of human motivation -- the rational, social, cultural and political "ideal types." We will start reading two key books on gift exchange by B. Malinowski and M. Mauss. We will then proceed to the enormous secondary literature on Mauss and Malinowski, and to some modern application of the gift paradigm. Questions we will ask include: Are gifts as free and disinterested as we think? Can gifts build and structure economies? How do gifts differ from ordinary commodities we acquire on the marketplace? Why do we believe that intimacy, organs, blood, children should be given as a gift but not purchased as an ordinary commodity? Why do we rarely give cash gifts?

In the Fall semester, classes will be seminar-style discussions on the readings. Attendance is mandatory at all meetings unless arrangements have been made with the instructor. The objective of the Fall semester is to formulate an interesting research question and gather the supporting literature. In the Spring semester, students will concentrate on writing and gathering data for their final paper.

PPE 471 Political Economy - Organizations (Danese)

SEM: T 3 - 6 PM

PPE 473 Modeling: Quantitative Methods Across PPE (Berger)

SEM: W 2 - 5 PM

PPE 474: Demand for Information (Tasch)

SEM: MW 2 - 3:30 PM

PPE 477 Social Psychology: Obedience (Royzman)

SEM: R 1:30-4:30PM

Though almost half a century old, Milgram’s 1961-1962 studies of “destructive obedience” continue to puzzle, fascinate, and alarm. The main reason for their continued grip on the field’s attention (other than the boldness of the idea and elegance of execution) may be simply that they leave us with a portrait of human character that is radically different from the one that we personally wish to endorse or that the wider culture teaches us to accept.
In this seminar, we will take an in-depth look at these famous studies (along with the more recent replications) and explore their various psychological, political and philosophical ramifications.

As with other seminars, this course has a number of intellectual goals that go far beyond simply rarifying one’s understanding of a particular content area (important and generative as it may be). One such a goal is to enable you to think critically (though not disparagingly) about other people’s research and theoretical claims that ensue from it, all with the hope that you can then apply the self-same critical acumen to your own future work. Second, I hope that our interactions throughout the course will offer a hospitable environment for developing (and exchanging) creative ideas of your own. Your work on your individual reaction papers and on the term paper in particular will be a key element in achieving this goal. Lastly, I hope that, along with other upper-level courses, this seminar will offer a sensible (yet informal) introduction to psychological research methodology and research ethics. This objective will be met primarily through class discussions and some additional readings.

PPE 483 Economics: Fairness and Altruism (Dillenberger)

SEM: R 3 - 6 PM

Advanced Interdisciplinary Courses, Spring 2019

PPE 402-301: Alessandro Sontuoso

This course will expose students to current research in behavioral game theory and philosophy of science. As part of the course, students will write a research proposal on a topic of their choice. The proposal should summarize the current state of knowledge on the topic, identify an open question, and suggest a relevant mode of inquiry, with an emphasis on mathematical modeling.

PPE 471:301 Political Economy - Organizations (Danese)

In this course we are going to discuss questions such as: In a market economy, why do we observe entities such as business companies, non-profits, cooperatives, etc? What is the purpose of authority and hierarchy in organizations? Is there a hybrid choice of organization between market exchanges and hierarchical organizations? To answer those questions, we will mainly draw from the literature on New Institutional Economics (Coase, Williamson, Hart, Alchian, Arrow, among others). We will also draw from Anthropology and Politics to have a broader understanding of authority; from Law to better appreciate the legal structures we observe; and from Business Ethics to analyze the ethical implications of organizational decision-making. By the end of this course you will be able to discuss how transaction costs, uncertainty, authority, social and environmental responsibility shape (or should shape) the choice of organizational form and the boundaries of organizations.

PPE 471:302 Political Economy - Economy and Society (Danese)

We are going to discuss the relationship between economic relations on one side, and social obligations and positionings on the other. We will study the two extreme positions in this debate, one positing the full “embeddedness” of the economy in society, the other positing a complete separation between the two realms, and the territory in between these two extreme positions. Questions we are going to discuss include: Is rational economizing behavior applicable across cultures? How do gift and market exchanges interact? What is the nature of money? Is scarcity a psychological state or a socially-determined condition? We will draw from economic anthropology (Malinowski, Sahlins, Karl Polanyi, Schneider), sociology (Durkheim, Mauss, Pareto) and social ontology (Lawson, Searle).

PPE 472 Networks - Network Analysis (Sontuoso)

This course addresses elements of network science as relevant for analyzing the connectedness of economic or, more generally, social phenomena. Building on ideas from computer science, sociology and microeconomics, the course will examine the properties of networked structures and the behavior of agents within those networks. The models presented will aim to illuminate the relationship between one’s behavior and one’s social ties, thereby explaining phenomena such as the spread of ideas, social norms, market practices, and financial crises. Note: the course heavily relies on (introductory) material drawn from mathematical disciplines, such as graph theory, game theory, and microeconomics.

PPE 473 Modeling - Thinking with Models (Funcke)

The primary focus of the course is on understanding, designing, and analyzing simulation models. Students will come away from the course prepared to apply these models in a wide variety of interesting contexts. This course focuses on agent-based simulation models in the social sciences, especially in economic, in commercial and in strategic (game-theoretic) contexts. Agent-based models are a relatively recent form of computer simulation that seeks to explain and predict complex social phenomena “from the bottom up”, through interactions of comparatively simple agents. The course reviews experimental and theoretical results and exposes the students to modern development environments for, as well as successful applications of, this form of simulation. A modest amount of programming will be expected of students. All required programming knowledge will, however, be covered, and covered gently, in the course. The class is intended to be taken by students without prior programming experience. Our programming environments will be NetLogo.

PPE 474 Judgment and Decision Making - Trust and Deception (Hart)

This seminar will describe theories and research findings regarding trustworthiness and its counterpart, deception. We will discuss signals that may convey cooperative and deceptive intentions, and people's ability to detect them in different situations and paradigms. Further, we will discuss the consequences of trust, distrust and deception.

PPE 481 Political Science - Inequality in Political Life: Theoretical and Empirical Approaches (Berger)

Inequality is a foundational concern for the liberal political project. Liberal politics begins with the premise of basic human equality, and as such the existence of vast inequalities come to undermine the political order. Of course not all inequalities are problematic. Inequalities pertaining to cognitive, experiential, and identity diversity can be thought to enliven public life. However, other inequalities, like economic inequality, while not directly political, clearly threaten the cohesiveness and equity of the state by activating resentment by the "have nots" or by empowering the "haves" to engage in endogenous law making. Drawing from literature in empirical social science as well as political philosophy this course will assess the kinds, magnitudes, and relevance of various inequalities.

PPE 482 Psychology – Modelling Choice Behavior (Bhatia)

Advanced Interdisciplinary Courses, Fall 2018

470 Social Policy - Economics of Crime and Corruption: An Interdisciplinary Perspective (Dimant)

SEM: M 2-5PM

This is an undergraduate research seminar tackling the topic of crime and corruption from an interdisciplinary perspective. Our focus will lie on understanding the mechanism and motivation to engage in criminal and corrupt behavior from the viewpoint of, among others, economics, psychology, and criminology. Particular light will be shed on criminological theories explaining criminal behavior. Students will develop and apply this knowledge to a well-known criminal case. We will also feature external talks from practitioners. Past semesters’ talks were given by representatives of the FBI, SEC, World Bank, and KPMG, among others.

PPE 471 Political Economy: Informal Institutions (Danese)

SEM: TR 12-1:30PM

Institutions are all around us: they are the laws, informal rules and conventions that render interactions with other people less uncertain and more durable. We will start with a game-theory analysis of conventions. We will then study informal rules that societies around the world have used to: (i) manage common pool resources, (ii) solve daily issues that small communities typically face. Finally, we will take an in depth look at one institution that has proven very influential in the Western tradition: democracy in classical Athens.

By the end of this course students will be able to:

define institutions and list different examples of institutions;
discuss the role of institutions in alleviating a broad range of economic problems (prisoners’ dilemma, commons, coordination problems, collective action problems);
explain how the structure of knowledge affects the design of institutions;
predict conditions under which institutions are like to arise and to endure.

Core Readings:

Lewis - Convention
Ostrom - Governing the Commons
Ellickson - Order without Law
Ober - Democracy and Knowledge

PPE 472 Network Analysis (Sontuoso)

SEM: M 2-5PM

PPE 473 Modeling: Quantitative Methods Across PPE (Berger)

SEM: W 2-5PM

The social and behavioral sciences cover a vast array of phenomena, the dynamics of which might be understood in any number of ways. Statistical models are the work-horse of the field, offering linear, additive representations of the causal relationship between system inputs and outputs. While powerful, there are many other ways we might conceptualize the dynamics of social systems. This course will provide an overview of foundational mathematical models that come to explore and explain social dynamics. Beyond the methodological exposure, the course seeks to teach "model thinking" where students learn the practice of modeling, growing their ability to think rigorously and critically about the world around them. From questions ranging from forest fires, to racial segregation, to why your friends are better looking than you on average, the course builds students' mental repertoires, allowing them to formalize real-world problems they encounter.

PPE 477 Social Psychology: Obedience (Royzman)

SEM: R 1:30-4:30PM

Though almost half a century old, Milgram’s 1961-1962 studies of “destructive obedience” continue to puzzle, fascinate, and alarm. The main reason for their continued grip on the field’s attention (other than the boldness of the idea and elegance of execution) may be simply that they leave us with a portrait of human character that is radically different from the one that we personally wish to endorse or that the wider culture teaches us to accept.
In this seminar, we will take an in-depth look at these famous studies (along with the more recent replications) and explore their various psychological, political and philosophical ramifications.

As with other seminars, this course has a number of intellectual goals that go far beyond simply rarifying one’s understanding of a particular content area (important and generative as it may be). One such a goal is to enable you to think critically (though not disparagingly) about other people’s research and theoretical claims that ensue from it, all with the hope that you can then apply the self-same critical acumen to your own future work. Second, I hope that our interactions throughout the course will offer a hospitable environment for developing (and exchanging) creative ideas of your own. Your work on your individual reaction papers and on the term paper in particular will be a key element in achieving this goal. Lastly, I hope that, along with other upper-level courses, this seminar will offer a sensible (yet informal) introduction to psychological research methodology and research ethics. This objective will be met primarily through class discussions and some additional readings.

PPE 483 Economics: Fairness and Altruism (Dillenberger)

SEM: R 3-6PM

The course is designed to be an integrative experience, drawing on knowledge from economics and psychology to understand the role of fairness in behavior. PPE 201/ECON 013 is a strict pre-requisite for this course.

Advanced Interdisciplinary Courses, Spring 2018

470 SOCIAL POLICY - Economics of Crime and Corruption: An Interdisciplinary Perspective (Dimant)

SEM: M 2-5 PM

471 POLITICAL ECONOMY - Global Prosperity: Determinants, Threats, Policies (Bavetta)

SEM: W 2-5 PM

This course pursues three ambitious aims. First, it exploits findings from history, economics, political science, and philosophy to explore the unique phenomenon known to social scientists as the Great Divergence. The Great Divergence is the separation in income and prosperity between countries that the world experienced since the second half of the XVIII century. The exploration focuses on the causes that made the Great Divergence possible. In particular, the course identifies three determinants of prosperity — institutions, civic virtues and social norms, and culture — and illustrates the findings in the social sciences literature that support the role of each cause.

The second aim moves from the acknowledgement that prosperity is multidimensional and is connected with the understanding of self-realization. In particular, the course presents two views of self-realization — achievement and dynamism — and links them to Amartya Sen’s view of opportunity and to Edmund Phelps’s concept of dynamism, respectively. In addition, the course illustrates that these views carry different policy and political implications that bear profoundly different consequences for the kind of society that one wishes to promote.

The third aim is more general. The discussion about the causes and meanings of prosperity suggests that a particular ethos of freedom that combines the Smithian and the Schumpeterian man lies at the basis of prosperity. The course reconstructs this man, argues for his importance in the creation of prosperity, and suggests that the ethos of freedom that he or she embodies is fundamental to tackle the contemporary challenges that threatens the continuation of material and immaterial prosperity. In so doing, it delineates a form of humane liberalism.

PPE 472 NETWORKS - Network Analysis (Sontuoso)

SEM: W 3:30-6:30

This course addresses elements of Network Science as relevant for analyzing the connectedness of economic or, more generally, social phenomena. Building on ideas from computer science, sociology and economics, the course will examine the properties of networked structures and the behavior of agents within these networks. The models presented in this course will aim to explain how such networked structures may determine phenomena including the spread of ideas, social norms, market practices and financial crises. (The course is designed for an interdisciplinary audience and requires no theoretical prerequisites, but it will often present material drawn from formal disciplines.)

PPE 473 MODELING - Thinking with Models (Funcke)

SEM: T 1:30-4:30

PPE 474 JUDGMENT AND DECISION MAKING - Competition and Negotiation (Hart)

SEM: T 3-6 PM

Many of our social interactions involve conflict, in personal relationships and in the workplace. We may find conflict energizing and positive in situations such as athletic and creative competitions. Yet, in situations such as legal battles and warfare, conflict may be demoralizing and harmful. In the course, we will discuss psychological and physiological mechanisms underlying negotiation and competition, and the personal and societal implications of conflict. We will explore the following topics, among others: How our brains and society norms affect the prevalence and intensity of conflict; how the social context affects our willingness to compete; rivalry and conflict over time. Students will read experimental and empirical research, and lead the class discussions. There are no formal requirements, but students should have some familiarity with experimental methodology and statistics.

PPE 482 PSYCHOLOGY – Modelling Choice Behavior (Bhatia)

SEM: R 1:30-4:30

PPE 484 PHILOSOPHY – The Empowerment of Women and Girls (Noah)

SEM: R 1:30-4:30

This is an interdisciplinary course on the empowerment of women and girls. We will read widely from philosophy to social science to public policy, law, and intervention strategies. We aim to know how best to understand, measure, and successfully intervene on our phenomena of interest. And we will integrate relevant ethical, social, political, economic, and technological considerations into our investigations.

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