MSc in Economics - Specialisation in Economics, Behaviour and Policy

Radboud University

How to make smarter, more effective economic policy? Looking at psychology and sociology in economic theory and policy design will bridge the gap between theory and practice.

Master's specialisation Economics, Behaviour and Policy: something for you?

Learn to make smarter, more effective policy, based on behavioural economics, sociology, public choice and psychology.
Work on current economic policy issues.
Instead of focusing on a single domain, you study a broad spectrum of policy issues.
interact with your professors in small seminar groups.

What will you learn?

We face complex tasks when designing a policy that is effective, and also when assessing its impact. How do we define and measure welfare? And how do we design more effective policies? This specialisation starts with mainstream economic theory, and incorporates a variety of perspectives from psychology, sociology, public choice, political economy, culture, and philosophy. By introducing behavioural insights into complex policy questions, we prepare you to understand and design successful policies in your future career as a policy maker, manager, analyst or consultant, in public or private organisations.

Career prospects

Master's specialisation in Economics, Behaviour and Policy

In this programme you will learn to make smarter, more effective policy, based on behavioural economics and psychology. The recent rise of Behavioural Insights Teams across Europe and the world has resulted in a demand for the skills offered in our programme. We will provide you with a toolbox filled with the skills and knowledge needed to tackle a whole array of economic problems, ranging from the role of consumers in a complex economy, through policy impacting on the decisions of firms, to analysis of the government’s role in economic policy.

Our graduates devise behaviour-informed policies and learn to analyse critically which solutions are most likely to work in a specific economic and social context. They regularly find employment in government as well as business. Your career prospects are broad. Our graduates are active as policy makers for government and semi-government organisations, in ministries, national banks, NGOs, think tanks, the UN and the EU, as well as national and international labour organisations, or work as consultants in industry.