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Rational Expectations in the Classroom: A Learning Activity

Author

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  • Calvin Blackwell

Abstract

The author describes a technique whereby students truthfully reveal their perceptions regarding the difficulty of an assignment. After completing the assignment, each student guesses his/her class' average score on the assignment. The student is informed that if his/her guess is within one percentage point of the actual class average, then he/she will earn two extra points on the assignment. This mechanism gives each student the incentive to truly express his/her opinion regarding the difficulty of the assignment. The author provides evidence that students, as a group, are quite adept at guessing the class average. In addition to its usefulness in explaining the rational expectations hypothesis, this activity is helpful for assessing the students' perceptions of the difficulty of particular assignments.

Suggested Citation

  • Calvin Blackwell, 2010. "Rational Expectations in the Classroom: A Learning Activity," Journal for Economic Educators, Middle Tennessee State University, Business and Economic Research Center, vol. 10(2), pages 1-6, Fall.
    • Handle: RePEc:mts:jrnlee:v:10:y:2010:i:2:p:1-6
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    File URL: http://frank.mtsu.edu/~jee/2010/fall/1pp1to6_MS109.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Sheryl B. Ball & Charles A. Holt, 1998. "Classroom Games: Speculation and Bubbles in an Asset Market," Journal of Economic Perspectives, American Economic Association, vol. 12(1), pages 207-218, Winter.
    2. Dwyer, Gerald P, Jr, et al, 1993. "Tests of Rational Expectations in a Stark Setting," Economic Journal, Royal Economic Society, vol. 103(418), pages 586-601, May.
    3. Ernst Fehr & Jean-Robert Tyran, 2005. "Individual Irrationality and Aggregate Outcomes," Journal of Economic Perspectives, American Economic Association, vol. 19(4), pages 43-66, Fall.
    4. Paul W. Grimes, 2002. "The Overconfident Principles of Economics Student: An Examination of a Metacognitive Skill," The Journal of Economic Education, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 33(1), pages 15-30, January.
    5. Holger Strulik, 2004. "Solving Rational Expectations Models Using Excel," The Journal of Economic Education, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 35(3), pages 269-283, July.
    6. Berg, Joyce E. & Nelson, Forrest D. & Rietz, Thomas A., 2008. "Prediction market accuracy in the long run," International Journal of Forecasting, Elsevier, vol. 24(2), pages 285-300.
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    Cited by:

    1. Jan R. Magnus & Anatoly A. Peresetsky, 2021. "A statistical explanation of the Dunning-Kruger effect," Working Papers w0286, New Economic School (NES).
    2. Calvin Blackwell & Robert Pickford, 2011. "The wisdom of the few or the wisdom of the many? An indirect test of the marginal trader hypothesis," Journal of Economics and Finance, Springer;Academy of Economics and Finance, vol. 35(2), pages 164-180, April.
    3. Jan R. Magnus & Anatoly A. Peresetsky, 2017. "Grade Expectations: Rationality and Overconfidence," Tinbergen Institute Discussion Papers 17-054/III, Tinbergen Institute.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    teaching practices; rational expectations;

    JEL classification:

    • A2 - General Economics and Teaching - - Economic Education and Teaching of Economics

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