Course Summary
Learn how to use models to solve problems in economics, political science, and other fields with this course. You'll gain a better understanding of how models can be used to make predictions and decisions in complex systems.Key Learning Points
- Understand the power and limitations of models in decision-making
- Learn how to use models to make predictions about complex systems
- Develop critical thinking skills and apply them to real-world problems
Related Topics for further study
Learning Outcomes
- Understand the role of models in decision-making
- Develop skills in using models to make predictions
- Apply critical thinking skills to real-world problems
Prerequisites or good to have knowledge before taking this course
- Basic understanding of mathematics
- Familiarity with Excel or other spreadsheet software
Course Difficulty Level
IntermediateCourse Format
- Online
- Self-paced
Similar Courses
- Introduction to Computational Thinking and Data Science
- Data Science Essentials
Related Education Paths
Notable People in This Field
- Nate Silver
- Cathy O'Neil
Related Books
Description
We live in a complex world with diverse people, firms, and governments whose behaviors aggregate to produce novel, unexpected phenomena. We see political uprisings, market crashes, and a never ending array of social trends. How do we make sense of it? Models. Evidence shows that people who think with models consistently outperform those who don't. And, moreover people who think with lots of models outperform people who use only one. Why do models make us better thinkers? Models help us to better organize information - to make sense of that fire hose or hairball of data (choose your metaphor) available on the Internet. Models improve our abilities to make accurate forecasts. They help us make better decisions and adopt more effective strategies. They even can improve our ability to design institutions and procedures. In this class, I present a starter kit of models: I start with models of tipping points. I move on to cover models explain the wisdom of crowds, models that show why some countries are rich and some are poor, and models that help unpack the strategic decisions of firm and politicians.
Outline
- Why Model & Segregation/Peer Effects
- Thanks and Welcome
- Why Model?
- Intelligent Citizens of the World
- Thinking More Clearly
- Using and Understanding Data
- Using Models to Decide, Strategize, and Design
- Sorting and Peer Effects Introduction
- Schelling's Segregation Model
- Measuring Segregation
- Peer Effects
- The Standing Ovation Model
- The Identification Problem
- Welcome
- Grading Policy
- Course FAQ
- Syllabus
- Help us learn more about you!
- Segregation and Peer Effects
- Why Model? & Segregation and Peer Effects
- Aggregation & Decision Models
- Aggregation
- Central Limit Theorem
- Six Sigma
- Game of Life
- Cellular Automata
- Preference Aggregation
- Introduction to Decision Making
- Multi-Criterion Decision Making
- Spatial Choice Models
- Probability: The Basics
- Decision Trees
- Value of Information
- Decision Models
- Aggregation & Decision Models
- Thinking Electrons: Modeling People & Categorical and Linear Models
- Thinking Electrons: Modeling People
- Rational Actor Models
- Behavioral Models
- Rule Based Models
- When Does Behavior Matter?
- Introduction to Linear Models
- Categorical Models
- Linear Models
- Fitting Lines to Data
- Reading Regression Output
- From Linear to Nonlinear
- The Big Coefficient vs The New Reality
- Categorical and Linear Models
- Modules Thinking Electrons: Modeling People & Categorical and Linear Models
- Tipping Points & Economic Growth
- Tipping Points
- Percolation Models
- Contagion Models 1: Diffusion
- Contagion Models 2: SIS Model
- Classifying Tipping Points
- Measuring Tips
- Introduction To Growth
- Exponential Growth
- Basic Growth Model
- Solow Growth Model
- Will China Continue to Grow?
- Why Do Some Countries Not Grow?
- Piketty's Capital: The Power of Simple Model
- Economic Growth
- Modules Tipping Points & Economic Growth
- Diversity and Innovation & Markov Processes
- Problem Solving and Innovation
- Perspectives and Innovation
- Heuristics
- Teams and Problem Solving
- Recombination
- Markov Models
- A Simple Markov Model
- Markov Model of Democratization
- Markov Convergence Theorem
- Exapting the Markov Model
- Markov Processes
- Diversity and Innovation & Markov Processes
- Midterm Exam
- Modules 1-10
- Lyapunov Functions & Coordination and Culture
- Lyapunov Functions
- The Organization of Cities
- Exchange Economies and Externalities
- Time to Convergence and Optimality
- Lyapunov: Fun and Deep
- Lyapunov or Markov
- Coordination and Culture
- What Is Culture And Why Do We Care?
- Pure Coordination Game
- Emergence of Culture
- Coordination and Consistency
- Coordination and Culture
- Lyapunov Functions & Coordination and Culture
- Path Dependence & Networks
- Path Dependence
- Urn Models
- Mathematics on Urn Models
- Path Dependence and Chaos
- Path Dependence and Increasing Returns
- Path Dependent or Tipping Point
- Networks
- The Structure of Networks
- The Logic of Network Formation
- Network Function
- Networks
- Path Dependence & Networks
- Randomness and Random Walks & Colonel Blotto
- Randomness and Random Walk Models
- Sources of Randomness
- Skill and Luck
- Random Walks
- Random Walks and Wall Street
- Finite Memory Random Walks
- Colonel Blotto Game
- Blotto: No Best Strategy
- Applications of Colonel Blotto
- Blotto: Troop Advantages
- Blotto and Competition
- Colonel Blotto
- Randomness and Random Walks & Colonel Blotto
- Prisoners' Dilemma and Collective Action & Mechanism Design
- Intro: The Prisoners' Dilemma and Collective Action
- The Prisoners' Dilemma Game
- Seven Ways To Cooperation
- Collective Action and Common Pool Resource Problems
- No Panacea
- Mechanism Design
- Hidden Action and Hidden Information
- Auctions
- Public Projects
- Mechanism Design
- Prisoners' Dilemma and Collective Action & Mechanism Design
- Learning Models: Replicator Dynamics & Prediction and the Many Model Thinker
- Replicator Dynamics
- The Replicator Equation
- Fisher's Theorem
- Variation or Six Sigma
- Prediction
- Linear Models
- Diversity Prediction Theorem
- The Many Model Thinker
- Prediction and The Many Model Thinker
- Learning Models: Replicator Dynamics & Prediction and the Many Model Thinker
- Final Exam
- Post-course Survey
- Keep Learning with Michigan Online
- Modules 12-21
Summary of User Reviews
Learn model thinking and improve your analytical skills with this highly rated course on Coursera. Users praise the course for its engaging content and practical applications.Key Aspect Users Liked About This Course
Practical applications of model thinkingPros from User Reviews
- Engaging content that keeps users interested
- Instructors with extensive knowledge and experience
- Practical exercises that help users apply the concepts learned
- Flexible schedule that allows users to learn at their own pace
Cons from User Reviews
- Some users found the course to be too theoretical
- The course may not be suitable for beginners with no prior knowledge of model thinking
- The peer-reviewed assignments can be time-consuming
- Some users had technical issues with the online platform
Scott E. Page
4.8 Raiting
Growth hacks for entrepreneurs
- 4.3
-
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
Learn from the successes and the failures of other entrepreneurs What is the aim of this course? I will show how specific company has used this hack in practice....
iOS 12 Swift 4.2 - The Complete iOS App Development Bootcamp
- 4.7
-
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
From Beginner to iOS App Developer with Just One Course! PLEASE NOTE: This is the 2018 version of the course. Welcome to the Complete iOS App Development Bootcamp....
NLP Practitioner & NLP Life Coach Certification (Accredited)
- 4.5
-
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
NLP Certification & Ultimate Guide. Become a Certified NLP (Neuro Linguistic Programming) Practitioner & NLP Life Coach +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Combined, the instructors have over 300,000+ happy students from 195 countries....
Wharton Entrepreneurship Capstone
- 4.8
-
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
In this Capstone project, you will be assembling a pitch deck for a new venture, including the key deliverables (e. g....
