If you are a high school student interested in behavioral economics, consider joining a summer program in the field. These programs introduce you to concepts from psychology and economics and show how they apply to fields like business, policy-making, finance, and marketing.
Through these programs, you can develop data analysis, research design, and problem-solving skills. You’ll also learn how to interpret human behavior, run experiments, and apply insights to real-world challenges. Whether you want to study economics, work in public policy, or understand consumer behavior, these programs offer practical experience in the field.
Here are 10 behavioral economics programs for high school students!
10 Behavioral Economics Programs for High School Students
1. Economics for Leaders (EFL) by the Foundation for Teaching Economics (FTE)
Location: Multiple
Eligibility: High school sophomores and juniors
Application Deadline: February 5
Program Dates: June-August (several week-long programs available)
Cost: $2,300 (residential); $800 (virtual). Scholarships are available.
The Economics for Leaders program is a selective summer course that helps you apply economics to decision-making. You’ll develop skills in economic analysis, policy evaluation, and leadership. The program covers key concepts like assessing incentives and using game theory to understand strategic interactions. You’ll also explore behavioral economics and its applications to real-world issues such as social inequality and global cooperation.
In addition to economic theory, the program builds practical skills. You’ll receive training in data interpretation, negotiation, and public speaking, helping you communicate economic ideas effectively. Through discussions and interactive exercises, you’ll learn to present arguments clearly, evaluate policies critically, and collaborate with peers on problem-solving.
2. Economics, Finance, and Public Policy at Harvard Summer School
Location: Harvard University, Cambridge, MA
Eligibility: High school students
Application Deadline: February 12
Program Dates: TBD
Cost: $4,050–$14,950 + $75 application fee
Harvard’s Economics, Finance & Public Policy program is a seven-week exploration of micro and macroeconomics, public finance, and neuroinvesting. If you’re interested in behavioral economics, you’ll examine how psychology shapes financial decisions and market trends.
The program helps you develop skills in policy analysis, economic forecasting, and strategic decision-making, where data meets human behavior. You’ll also engage in case studies, simulations, and discussions that sharpen your ability to interpret financial data and assess economic policies. By the end, you’ll have a practical toolkit for careers in finance, policy, or behavioral research.
3. Horizon Academic Research Program (HARP)-Behavioral Economics Track
Location: Virtual
Application Date: Multiple deadlines throughout the year for the Spring, Summer, and Fall cohorts.
Program Dates: The spring and fall cohorts run 15 weeks, while the summer cohort runs 10 weeks (June-September).
Eligibility: High school students with good academic standing (>3.67/4.0 GPA) can apply. Most accepted students are 10th/11th graders! Only a couple of tracks require formal prerequisites, more details of which can be found here.
Cost: Financial Aid available
Horizon offers trimester-long research programs for high school students across subject areas such as economics, international relations, data science, machine learning, political theory, and more! Horizon is one of the few research programs for high school students that offers you the choice to engage in either quantitative or qualitative research.
Once you select a particular subject track, Horizon pairs you with a professor/PhD scholar who acts as a mentor throughout your research journey. As a participant, you will be expected to develop a 20-page research paper that you can send to prestigious journals for publication as a high school student.
The program also provides a letter of recommendation for each student and detailed project feedback that you can use to work on future projects.
4. UCLA’s Economics Summer Institute
Location: UCLA, Los Angeles, CA / Virtual
Eligibility: High school students (grades 9-12)
Application Deadline: June 13
Program Dates: July 14-August 1
Cost: $3,015
UCLA’s Economics Summer Institute helps you build practical skills for analyzing real-world economic issues. You’ll study topics like international trade, taxation, and data analysis, applying economic theory to real problems. Hands-on projects and case studies will show you how policies influence markets and societies, helping you develop a deeper understanding of economic systems.
If you’re interested in behavioral economics, you’ll explore how data reveals patterns in human decision-making. The program, available both in-person and online, equips you with the tools to assess trends and develop solutions. Whether you’re considering a career in policy, finance, or research, you’ll gain valuable skills for understanding and shaping economic outcomes.
5. Yale Young Global Scholars: Politics, Law, & Economics (PLE)
Location: Yale University, New Haven, CT
Eligibility: High school sophomores or juniors (16-18 years old)
Application Deadline: October 20
Program Dates: Rolling
Cost: $6,500. Financial aid available
The Politics, Law, & Economics (PLE) session at YYGS is a selective two-week summer program for high school students aged 16–18. You’ll explore how economic theories, legal systems, and governance shape global policies and influence decision-making.
Through case studies, debates, and simulations, you’ll analyze economic models, examine how constitutional and international laws impact policy, and discuss challenges like inequality, political polarization, and AI’s growing role in governance.
6. Lumiere Research Scholar Program
Location: Remote — you can participate in this program from anywhere in the world!
Eligibility: You must be currently enrolled in high school and demonstrate a high level of academic achievement.
Application Deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort.
Program Dates: Varies by cohort: summer, fall, winter, or spring.
Cost: Full financial aid is available!
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program is a rigorous research program tailored for high school students. The program offers extensive 1-on-1 research opportunities for high school students across a broad range of subject areas that you can explore as a high schooler. The program pairs high school students with Ph.D. mentors to work 1-on-1 on an independent research project. At the end of the 12-week program, you’ll have developed an independent research paper! You can choose research topics from subjects such as psychology, physics, economics, data science, computer science, engineering, chemistry, international relations, and more. You can find more details about the application here.
7. Financial Markets @Yale University
Location: Online
Eligibility: Open to all
Application Deadline: N/A
Program Dates: Self-paced
Cost: Free
Financial Markets at Yale University explores risk management and behavioral finance, showing how societies handle financial risks and encourage enterprise. You’ll study industries like securities, insurance, and banking, learning how financial systems operate and adapt to changing markets. The course also covers decision-making biases, market behavior, and the future of financial industries. Along the way, you’ll develop analytical and leadership skills essential for navigating finance and using economic principles to address societal challenges.
8. Behavioral Finance @Duke University
Location: Online
Eligibility: Open to all
Application Deadline: Rolling
Program Dates: Self-paced
Cost: Free
Behavioral Finance at Duke University explores how psychological biases shape financial decisions. You’ll examine common mistakes like holding onto losing investments or misjudging risks in insurance and learn strategies to avoid these errors. The course covers cognitive shortcuts that affect spending, saving, and investing, helping you make more rational financial choices. It’s a solid opportunity to develop critical thinking and decision-making skills, especially if you’re interested in personal finance, investing, or economic behavior.
9. Narrative Economics @Yale University
Location: Online
Eligibility: Open to all
Application Deadline: Rolling
Dates: Self-paced
Cost: Free
Narrative Economics at Yale University explores how stories and collective beliefs shape economic decisions and behaviors. You’ll learn how narratives influence everything from market trends to consumer confidence and policy choices. By studying historical and modern examples, like the rise of cryptocurrencies or the impact of viral stories during financial crises, you’ll see how storytelling drives economic patterns.
You’ll also examine how cognitive biases and emotional responses are tied to the stories people hear and share. For instance, you might analyze how fear or optimism spreads during economic booms or busts, or how policymakers use narratives to shape public behavior.
10. The Game Theory
Location: Online
Eligibility: Open to all
Application Deadline: Rolling
Program Dates: Self-paced
Cost: Free
Game theory helps you understand strategic decision-making, where you and others make choices that impact each other’s outcomes. While it’s often linked to games like poker and chess, it also shapes economic markets, political campaigns, and business competition.
In this course, you’ll explore fundamental concepts like game representation, strategy, Bayesian games, and repeated interactions. If you’re interested in behavioral economics, game theory gives you key insights into how psychological biases and incentives drive real-world decisions in markets, negotiations, and policy-making.
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