Chevron Left
Back to Narrative Economics

Learner Reviews & Feedback for Narrative Economics by Yale University

4.8
stars
880 ratings

About the Course

Dear Potential Learner, Please take some time to read through this note before deciding to enroll. This course, Narrative Economics, is relatively short and proposes a simple concept: we need to incorporate the contagion of narratives into our economic theory. You can think of narratives as stories that shape public beliefs, which in turn influence our decision making. Understanding how people arrived at certain decisions in the past can aid our understanding of the economy today and improve our forecasts of the future. Popular thinking heavily influences our answers to questions such as how much to invest, how much to spend or save, whether to go to college or take a certain job, and many more. Narrative economics is the study of the viral spread of popular narratives that affect economic behavior. I believe incorporating these ideas into our research must be done both to improve our ability to anticipate and prepare for economic events and help us structure economic institutions and policy. Until we better incorporate it into our methods of analysis and forecasting, we remain blind to a very real, very palpable, very important mechanism for economic change. Even in the dawning age of the Internet and artificial intelligence, so long as people remain ultimately in control, human narratives will matter. Maybe they will especially matter as the new technology exploits human weaknesses and creates new venues for narrative contagion. If we do not understand the epidemics of popular narratives, we cannot fully understand changes in the economy and in economic behavior. The course is broken into 4 modules: Part I introduces basic concepts and demonstrates how popular stories change over time to affect economic outcomes, including recessions, depressions and inequality as well as effective inspiration and growth.. These stories can be observed from diverse sources such as politics, the media, or even popular songs. Part II seeks to answer why some stories go viral, while others are quickly forgotten, by defining our narrative theory more firmly. This module enumerates and explores a list of seven propositions to help discipline any analysis of economic narratives. Part III examines nine perennial narratives that have proved their ability to influence important economic decisions. They include narratives regarding artificial intelligence, stock market bubbles, and job insecurity. Part IV looks to the future and highlights the opportunities for consilience in Narrative Economics. We share some thoughts about where narratives are taking us at this point in history and what kind of future research could improve our understanding of them. This course offers only the beginnings of a new idea and a few suggestions for how it could be used by economists and financial professionals. The tone is not prescriptive or authoritative, as perhaps my Coursera course, Financial Markets, is in places. It represents the beginning of the journey (epidemic). This course is my way of floating the “germ” of this idea out into the broader community of not only professionals but of anyone who is interested in discovering how and why things become “important” to us as a society. I hope some of you will become infected by this idea, mutate it, spread it, and advance it. The beginning of the journey is the easy part. The challenge will come in taking these concepts to the next level. We have the tools to incorporate narratives into our research and the moral obligation to act; only the work remains. - Robert J. Shiller...

Top reviews

JF

Apr 26, 2025

Another fantastic course by Prof. Shiller. It not only helps increase knowledge of what drives economics but instils a greater knowledge of society through good stories and engaging topics.

AM

Mar 31, 2023

A short and inspiring course to pay more attention what goes on in the world, to stop and think if the narrative is a repetition and what impact it might have on today & tomorrow.

Filter by:

126 - 150 of 243 Reviews for Narrative Economics

By Mariana F

•

Jun 27, 2024

Very valuable and insightful content. Would highly reccommend

By Luca D B

•

Apr 29, 2023

Really enjoyed the topic and how professor Shiller present it

By Nour S

•

Mar 4, 2025

Such an engaging course with very interesting examples used.

By Gabrielle A

•

Jul 21, 2023

Unique perspective on economics from an excellent professor.

By peter j

•

Feb 1, 2024

really interesting. one of the cutting edges of economics.

By László S

•

Dec 4, 2025

As always it is inspiring to watch/ listend Prof. Shiller.

By Philipp L

•

Jul 22, 2025

a great idea to trigger “narratives for economic analysis”

By Dawood A

•

May 23, 2025

A refreshing voice in the mathematical field of economics.

By SantiagoTrujillo

•

Sep 29, 2023

Very interesting and important subjects, thanks a lot !!!

By Olalekan O

•

Apr 30, 2023

Today's ideas and narratives may take off in the future.

By Aarya N

•

Nov 4, 2023

Brilliant Work And Excellent Insight From The Professer

By Rami

•

Jun 27, 2023

This course is essential for a broader economic vision.

By Tjandra I

•

Apr 29, 2023

The explanation is very clear. Simple but very usefull.

By Araylım S

•

Jan 7, 2025

can I receive a certificate from this course free pls?

By Mtra. O R R

•

Oct 9, 2023

It is a geat course. I learned interesting information

By Rory B

•

Aug 28, 2024

I'm still reading the books recommended in the course

By Gustavo P

•

May 5, 2023

Great course, complete content and with many details.

By Mark J B d L

•

Jul 14, 2023

Lots of new, great, exciting ideas from this course!

By Naziullah N

•

Aug 2, 2025

Great to know some vital insights from Mr. Shiller.

By Jovan

•

Jun 19, 2024

wonderful course with fresh & hard to find insights

By Dana D

•

Apr 23, 2023

Interesting class with great references.

Thank you!

By Nishant T

•

Jun 18, 2023

Awesome learning experience...best teacher by far

By Fok S

•

Sep 29, 2023

It's a cool course which improves my knowledge.

By Surender K

•

Apr 18, 2023

Very well Explained and Connected all the time.

By Thomas F

•

Oct 25, 2023

Very interesting course, professor is awesome!