Our Newest Self-Paced Course on Behavioral Economics

Our new self-paced course explores how understanding human behavior can improve traditional economic theory and approaches to strengthen how we design and implement environmental programs.

With content adapted from our flagship Economics and Finance for Environmental Leadership course, this course combines short video lectures with short experiments, quizzes, additional resources, and a small case study exercise to bridge the gap between knowledge and practice. CSF instructor and Economics Department Head at Universidad de La Sabana, guides you through each chapter. 


  • Flexible Timing

    This self-paced course takes roughly 7-9 hours to complete, with each chapter consisting of about 1-2 hours of content. Stop and start at any time within your one year of access.

  • World-Class Teaching

    Our course combines lectures with readings, case studies, knowledge checks, and more to build capacity in behavioral economic theory and explore how it can increase the effectiveness of real-world environmental programs and policies.

  • Inclusive & Diverse

    Conservation and sustainable development practitioners from every country and background are invited to enroll. Participants must be comfortable reading and speaking in English.

Meet Your Course Instructor

Laura Fuerte

Laura is the Head of the Economics department at Universidad de La Sabana. She is an economist with emphasis on international finance and holds a master's degree in Behavioural and Economic Science from the University of Warwick. With more than seven years of experience in the financial sector and more than seven years of experience as a professor, she is passionate about advancing the field of economics and contributing to the academic community and society by extending the use of behavioural science for solving pressing economic issues at any scale.

Course Content

    1. Welcome to Introduction to Behavioral Economics

    2. About Us

    3. (Video) Meet your instructor!

    4. About this Course

    5. Course Structure and Navigation

    6. Pre-Course Survey

    1. Chapter 1 Overview

    2. Step 1: Learning

    3. What is Behavioral Economics?

    4. (Lecture) What is Behavioral Economics?

    5. Neoclassical Economic Assumptions

    6. (Lecture) Overview of Assumptions

    7. (Lecture) Rationality

    8. (Experiment) Dictator Game

    9. (Lecture) Perfect Cognition

    10. (Lecture) Self-Interest

    11. Contrasting Behavioral and Neoclassical Economics

    12. (Lecture) Key Contrasts

    13. Step 2: Dive Deeper

    14. Step 3: Knowledge Check

    15. Step 4: Reflection

    1. Chapter 2 Overview

    2. Step 1: Learning

    3. Biases

    4. (Lecture) Introduction to Biases

    5. (Lecture) Cognitive Bias

    6. (Experiment) Bat and Ball Problem

    7. Heuristics

    8. (Lecture) Introduction to Recognition Heuristic

    9. (Experiment) Recognition Heuristics

    10. (Lecture) Defining Heuristics

    11. (Experiment) Linda's Problem

    12. (Lecture) System 1 and System 2 Thinking

    13. Common Assumptions

    14. (Lecture) Clarifying the Distinction Between Biases and Heuristics

    15. Environmental Applications

    16. (Lecture) Environmental Applications

    17. Step 2: Dive Deeper

    18. Step 3: Knowledge Check

    19. Step 4: Reflection

    1. Chapter 3 Overview

    2. Step 1: Learning

    3. Decisions Under Risk: Behavioral Approach

    4. (Lecture) Overview and Scenario 1 Introduction

    5. (Experiment) Gains Scenario

    6. (Lecture) Scenario 2 Introduction

    7. (Experiment) Losses Scenario

    8. (Lecture) Neoclassical Perspectives on Risk Aversion

    9. Rare Disease Problem

    10. (Lecture) Experiment and Scenario 1 Overview

    11. (Experiment) Rare Disease Scenario 1

    12. (Lecture) Scenario 2 Introduction

    13. (Experiment) Rare Disease Scenario 2

    14. (Lecture) Rare Disease Problem Explained

    15. Understanding Prospect Theory

    16. (Lecture) Model Features

    17. (Lecture) The Weighting Function

    18. Environmental Applications

    19. (Video) Environmental Applications

    20. Step 2: Dive Deeper

    21. Step 3: Knowledge Check

    22. Step 4: Reflection

    1. Chapter 4 Overview

    2. Step 1: Learning

    3. Deviations from Standard Models

    4. (Lecture) Overview of Non-Standard Behavior

    5. Non-Standard Beliefs

    6. (Lecture) Projection Bias

    7. (Lecture) Probability Misinference

    8. Non-Standard Preferences

    9. (Lecture) Overview of Non-Standard Preferences

    10. (Lecture) Social Comparison

    11. (Lecture) Hyperbolic Discounting Scenario 1 Introduction

    12. (Experiment) Hyperbolic Discounting Scenario 1

    13. (Lecture) Hyperbolic Discounting Scenario 2 Introduction

    14. (Experiment) Hyperbolic Discounting Scenario 2

    15. (Lecture) Hyperbolic Discounting and Present Bias

    16. Environmental Applications

    17. (Video) Environmental Application

    18. Step 2: Dive Deeper

    19. Step 3: Knowledge Check

    20. Step 4: Reflection

    1. Chapter 5 Overview

    2. Step 1: Learning

    3. Nudging

    4. (Lecture) Nudging

    5. Designing Behavioral Interventions

    6. (Lecture) The Steps of Behavioral Intervention

    7. EAST Model

    8. (Lecture) Model Overview

    9. (Lecture) Easy, Attractive, Social, Timely

    10. (Lecture) Model Limitations

    11. Step 2: Dive Deeper

    12. Step 3: Knowledge Check

    13. Step 4: Case Study Exercise

    14. (Key) Real-World Solution

About this course

  • $40.00
  • 2.5 hours of video content
  • Around 6 hours to complete
  • Earn a certificate after finishing the course

Registration

This self-paced course is offered at a fraction of the cost. Register for one year of accessible learning at your own pace.

Want a sneak peek?

Hear from your instructor about the course to see if it could be the right fit for you.

Testimonials

Hear from our past course participants about their experience with this curriculum

  • "Interesting & enlightening. Useful from a communications campaign perspective."

    2024 Course Graduate

  • "[I] loved Laura's energy and all the interactive games...they really helped to materialize the concepts from the lectures. One of my favorite modules”

    2024 Course Graduate

  • "Laura's module was very inspiring for me!"

    2025 Course Graduate

Customize your training experience!

Contact us about designing a bespoke conservation finance course for your organization.

Do you have more staff in your organization or institution that could benefit from this course? We can adapt this curriculum into a custom self-paced, virtual, or in-person course specifically tailored to your needs. Contact our team at [email protected] to inquire about bespoke course design options.