Professional Certificate in Behavioral Economics and Decision Making
Published on June 23, 2025
About this Podcast
HOST: Welcome to our podcast, today I'm thrilled to have Dr. Jane Smith, an expert in Behavioral Economics and Decision Making. She's here to talk about a new course she's teaching, the Professional Certificate in Behavioral Economics and Decision Making. Welcome, Jane! GUEST: Thanks for having me! I'm excited to be here. HOST: So, Jane, can you tell us about Behavioral Economics and why it's essential for professionals in marketing, finance, and public policy? GUEST: Absolutely! Behavioral Economics is all about understanding how people make decisions. It's crucial for professionals in various fields because it helps them predict and influence consumer behavior, make better financial decisions, and create effective public policies. HOST: That's fascinating. And I understand that the course covers cognitive biases and heuristics. Can you give us an example of how these impact decision-making? GUEST: Sure! One common cognitive bias is confirmation bias, where people tend to favor information that confirms their existing beliefs. Heuristics, on the other hand, are mental shortcuts that help us make quick decisions. For example, the availability heuristic refers to our tendency to judge the likelihood of an event based on how easily we can recall similar instances. HOST: Interesting. Now, how does the course help learners apply behavioral principles to solve real-world problems? GUEST: We use case studies and practical exercises to help learners understand how to apply these concepts in their professional lives. They'll learn skills like predictive modeling and gain insights into human behavior, which they can use to make better decisions and solve complex problems. HOST: That sounds incredibly valuable. Now, what challenges have you faced when teaching this subject, and how have you addressed them? GUEST: One challenge is helping learners unlearn some of their assumptions about how people make decisions. We often think of decision-making as a purely rational process, but Behavioral Economics shows us that it's much more complex. To address this, we provide lots of examples and real-world applications to help learners see the value in this new way of thinking. HOST: Well, Jane, it's been a pleasure talking with you today. Before we go, what do you think the future holds for Behavioral Economics and Decision Making? GUEST: I believe Behavioral Economics will continue to grow in importance as we seek to understand and influence human behavior in an increasingly complex world. This course is just the beginning—there's so much more to explore and learn in this exciting field! HOST: Thank you, Jane, for sharing your insights and experiences with us today. I'm sure our listeners have gained a lot from this conversation, and I'm excited to see the impact this course will have on its learners. GUEST: Thank you! It's been a pleasure.
