Fundamentos en Economía del Comportamiento y Economía Experimental

Abstract

Until recently, economics was viewed as a non-experimental science that had to be based on observation of real-world economies rather than on controlled laboratory experiments. The very common assumption of homo oveconomicus, motivated by individual interest and capable of rational decision-making, was found by many scholars to be quite restrictive. But economic research has taken new directions. An extensive and growing body of scientific work is dedicated to conducting empirical tests and modifications of the traditional postulates of the Economy, in particular, those related to unlimited rationality, pure individual interest and complete self-control. Current research is increasingly relying on new data from laboratory experiments, rather than using traditional data sources. that is, data obtained from observation of the real economy. This recent form of research is rooted in two distinct but converging traditions: theoretical and empirical studies of the decision-making process from cognitive psychology, and prediction tests of economic theory through laboratory experiments.