This document provides an introduction to experimental economics. It discusses how experiments allow economists to isolate variables and test theories under controlled conditions, unlike observational data from the field. The main types of experiments studied are individual decision making, game theory, and market experiments. Experiments help gather new facts, test theories, and influence policymakers. They provide simpler analysis than field data and allow replication. The key advantages of lab experiments are enhanced control over variables and conditions, which facilitates causal inference. Experimental economics incorporates insights from psychology but uses different methodological practices focused on monetary incentives and non-deception.

1. 1
Economics 430/530
EXPERIMENTAL ECONOMICS
Spring 2012
Seda Ertac
Koc University

2. Introduction
This Class:
• What is an experiment?
• Brief history of experimental economics
• Behavioral vs. experimental economics
• Main types of topics studied through
experiments
Next Few Classes: The methodology of
experiments.
2

3. 3
Experiments and Econ
• One possible way of figuring out economic
laws ... is by controlled experiments. ...
Economists (unfortunately )... cannot
perform the controlled experiments of
chemists or biologists because they
cannot easily control other important
factors. Like astronomers or
meteorologists, they generally must be
content largely to observe.” (Samuelson
and Nordhaus, Principles of Economics,
1985, p. 8)

4. 4
Experiments and Econ
• Experimental economics is an “exciting
new development”.
-Samuelson and Nordhaus, Principles of
Economics, 14th Edition, 1992, p.5

5. 5
.

6. What is an experiment?
An experiment is a replicable observation of
a phenomenon under controlled
conditions.
“Control”=>The essence of experimental
methodology (Smith, 1972).
We want to: isolate the effect of variables of
interest, keeping other things constant.
6

7. What is an economics experiment?
We collect our own data on individuals’
behavior to answer an economic question.
Why?
Sometimes, we don’t have “good” data in
the field.
Sometimes we want to test some theory:
e.g. Does “competitive equilibrium” work?
How do people behave in a prisoners’
dilemma? What is the observed
equilibrium? 7

8. Economics
• Theory (Models of how individuals behave
in economic situations, predictions of what
outcomes are observed)
• Naturally-occurring (field) data (e.g. GDP,
prices, school enrollments, wages etc.)
• Experimental data
– A) Laboratory experiments
– B) Field experiments
8

9. Types of Experiments
• Laboratory Experiments
-On student subjects
• Field Experiments
-Different subject pool, natural context etc.
9

10. Behavioral Economics
Incorporates psychological insights into
economic models.
For example, in economics we traditionally
assume that people are rational, selfish,
maximize expected utility.
10

11. • What if people are overconfident?
• What if people are time-inconsistent?
• What if people’s utility depends on others’
payoffs?
• How do we know=>Experiments
Behavioral economicsExperimental
Economics
11

12. 12
Nobel Prize in Economics, 2002
Daniel Kahneman (for behavioral),
Vernon Smith (for experimental)

13. 13
The Bank of Sweden Prize in Economic
Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel 2002
• Vernon Smith: “for the use of laboratory experiments as
a tool in empirical economic analysis, in particular, for
the study of different market mechanisms”. Founder of
experimental economics.
• Daniel Kahneman: “for the introduction of insights from
psychological research into economics, in particular with
regard to judgements and decisions under uncertainty”.
Kahneman’s research is based on psychological
experiments and questionnaires. Founder of behavioral
economics.

14. 14
Psychology
Economics
Neuroscience
Behavioral Economics,
Experimental Economics
Neuroeconomics
=
+

15. 15
Scanner
 a very powerful electro-magnet
 field strength of 3 teslas (T),
~60,000 times greater than the
Earth’s field
During the experiment:
 subject lies in the scanner and is
exposed to the stimuli
 scanner tracks the signal throughout
the brain
Example of MRI scanner

16. 16
Ultimatum games: This is your brain on unfairness
(Sanfey, Rilling et al, Sci 13 March ’03)
Insula: negative emotional states, ACC detection of conflicts;
DLPFC: cognitive process: goal maintenance, executive control

17. Topics & History
Chamberlin (1948)—market experiments
Vernon Smith…
Game theoretic experiments (e.g. see if
people cooperate in a prisoners’ dilemma)
Main Topics Studied Through Experiments
• Individual decision-making experiments
• Game theoretic experiments
• Market experiments
17

18. Why Experiments?
• Field data can be hard to interpret (e.g.
selection bias, many factors change
simultaneously, have to use complicated
econometrics)
e.g. supply/demand data
• Field data may not even exist (e.g. beliefs,
reservation wages/outside options of
workers, valuations that people place on
goods).
18

19. With experiments, we can:
• Help economic theorists
• Gather new facts
• Help/influence policy-makers
(Examples)
• Simpler statistical analysis
• Replicability and control

23. 23
Advantages of (Lab) Experiments –
Enhanced Control
• Subjects are randomly assigned to the treatment
conditions – rules out selection bias.
• It is known which variables are exogenous and which are
endogenous – allows to make causal inferences.
• Experimenter can make ceteris paribus changes in the
exogenous variables – allows for the isolation of true
causes.
• Many variables that cannot be directly observed in the
field can be observed in the lab.

24. 24
Advantages of (Lab) Experiments –
Enhanced Control
• Information conditions and exogenous
stochastic processes and factors can be
controlled.
– Important for the testing of models with
asymmetric information.
• Better direct controls reduces the need for
complicated econometric methods.
• Replicability – provides the basis for statistical
tests. Critics can run their own experiments.

25. 25
Advantages of (Lab) Experiments –
Enhanced Control
• Enhanced control opportunities often imply that
the experimenter knows the predicted
equilibrium exactly.
– Equilibrium and disequilibrium actions can be
explicitly observed.
– Quick or sticky adjustment can be explicitly
observed
– Example: What are the supply and demand
schedules that underlie observable price &
quantity data? Is the observed price-quantity
combination a competitive equilibrium?

26. Economics vs. Psychology
Many common areas of interest (e.g.
judgment and decision-making), but very
different methodological practices.
Economics:
1.Salient monetary rewards (vs. participation
fee only).
2.Context-free to the extent possible.(*)
3.No deception!!!