OAGE 2120 - How Identity Shapes Economic Outcomes

This course examines how social norms, group identities, and cultural legacies shape economic behavior and development outcomes, and how they can be influenced through public policy. Drawing from development, behavioral, and political economy, the course explores both the constraints and possibilities created by norms and identities. Through empirical case studies, the course analyzes issues such as discrimination, ethnic diversity, and gender norms. It also evaluates interventions, like affirmative action, quotas, and media exposure, that attempt to shift norms, broaden opportunity, or reshape social behavior.

Learning Outcomes

• Understand and distinguish key concepts: identity, social norms, culture and social groups
• Analyze how informal institutions affect economic behavior and development outcomes
• Evaluate empirical research on discrimination, norm enforcement and policy design
• Apply conceptual frameworks to real-world development challenges
• Communicate insights through oral presentation, case analysis and structured reflection.

Professional Skills

• Policy analysis and diagnostic reasoning
• Public speaking and presentation
• Analytical thinking and empirical reasoning
• Cross-cultural sensitivity and context-awere policy framing

Verbal feedback will be provided during presentations. Written comments on midterms and projects will be shared within two weeks of submission. Peer feedback will be used during class discussions.

• In-class midterm exam 40%
• Oral presentation on real-world cases 15%
• Group project on identity based on a self-designed survey 35%
• Participation in discussions 10%

• Attendance: 2 hours a week / 24 hours a semester
• Reading and Preparation for Class: 3 hours a week / 36 hours a semester
• Research and Preparation for Presentation: 18 hours a semester
• Midterm exam preparation : 12 hours a semester
• Research and Preparation for Group Project: 60 hours a semester