On June 4 in Moscow, the Bank of Russia held a roundtable dedicated to the implementation of a pilot master’s program in Behavioral Economics and Economic Psychology.
The discussion platform was opened by Mikhail Mamuta, Head of the Consumer Rights Protection and Financial Services Accessibility Department of the Bank of Russia. Participants were welcomed by Ivan Chebeskov, Deputy Minister of Finance of the Russian Federation; Aslan Kanukoev, Director of the Department of Economic Policy at the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation; and Irina Shilina, Deputy Director General – Head of the Department for Coordination of Scientific and Educational Projects at ITMCFM. The event was attended by representatives of the academic, expert, and business communities.
In her address, Ms. Shilina noted that the International Network AML/CFT Institute (INI), coordinated by ITMCFM, plans to incorporate elements of behavioral economics into its specialized academic programs:
“INI partner universities implement educational programs on AML/CFT, including master’s programs in Economics, Law, Information Security, and International Relations.
We are confident that equipping financial monitoring specialists with competencies such as analyzing client behavior through the lens of behavioral economics, evaluating decision-making processes, monitoring specific behavioral effects, and assessing their implications for organizational policies, will enhance their employability and value in the labor market.
This objective can be achieved by incorporating modules or courses on Behavioral Economics and Economic Psychology into our specialized curricula. INI universities have already embarked on this effort.”
Ms. Shilina also presented a number of educational and public outreach initiatives on financial security implemented by ITMCFM in cooperation with INI partner universities. Among these is the International Olympiad on Financial Security, conducted pursuant to an order of Vladimir Putin, the President of Russia, and under the patronage of the Government of Russia.
During the roundtable, leading Russian universities introduced proposed curricula for master’s programs and both online and in-person courses in Behavioral Economics and Economic Psychology.
The presentations were followed by an open discussion involving representatives from academia and the business sector. Participants examined employer demand for specific competencies in this field, how universities can adjust their programs to meet labor market needs, and potential models for collaboration between academia and industry to prepare highly qualified specialists.
