Behavioural Finance

This subject introduces students to psychological methods and frameworks, and how these mechanisms can explain and predict financial decision-making.

OVERVIEW

NEW IN SEMESTER 1, 2021

Almost all financial phenomena are a consequence of human decision-making. Elucidating the psychological nature of decision-making is therefore critical for understanding many issues in finance. This subject provides cutting-edge knowledge about an interdisciplinary research field which combines elements of both psychology and finance. The subject introduces methods of examining psychological mechanisms underlying human decision-making, and how these mechanisms can explain anomalies in financial behaviour that cannot readily be explained by existing methods in the finance discipline.

INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES

  • Acquire knowledge of major trends in a research field spanning the disciplines of finance and psychology
  • Understand psychological processes behind human financial decision-making
  • Explain why psychology is useful for understanding financial problems
  • Critically evaluate psychological mechanisms underlying anomalies in finance markets

FURTHER INFORMATION

More information about the subject and how to enrol is available in the University of Melbourne Handbook entry.