Behavioral Economics in University Choice: Hermeneutical Turn
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.21664/2238-8869.2024v13i3.p237-255Keywords:
behavioral economics, university choice, socio-cultural influences, institutional nudges, perception of educational qualityAbstract
The dominant economic model, of the Neoclassical Synthesis, presupposes that students choose the university as rational people (homo economicus) and with all the market information, so that the best choice is made. However, the cognitive biases, perceptions and influences revealed by behavioral economics reflect another scenario and other results.The objective of this research is to analyze how the concepts and principles of behavioral economics can serve to modulate the decision in the selection of a university center. For this purpose, a systematic literature review has been carried out, in addition to applying the PRISMA 2020 methodology for data processing. It was found that information barriers, the perception of educational quality and the reputation of universities are quite present in the selection of the educational institution, but so are sociocultural influences and the interventions (nudges) of the centers. This study highlights the hermeneutical turn that behavioral economics represents in fields such as the economics of education.
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