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UT Experimental Economics Laboratory

Located in Stokely Management Center (SMC) room 703, the UT Experimental Economics Laboratory is a facility for collecting data on human behavior for research in economics and related business disciplines. The experimental lab consists of 24 networked computers for participants, and two servers.

Recruiting for research experiments is facilitated through an online management system. Most experiments utilize undergraduate students, although on occasion our efforts expand to the UT community (e.g., faculty, staff, graduate students, other employees) and more broadly to the Knoxville, TN area. If you would like the chance to earn money participating in economics experiments, we encourage you to register. No specialized knowledge or skills are needed. Participants must be able to effectively communicate in English, and be able to use a computer mouse and keyboard.

The research conducted in the lab spans many topics. Recent projects have investigated income inequality, labor contracts, group contests, the valuation of public goods, income tax compliance, food product labelling, procurement contracts, environmental regulation, managerial fraud, and preferences related to self-image.

Laboratory research relies heavily on internal and external funding. We graciously acknowledge that our research has been supported by the Internal Revenue Service, the Environmental Protection Agency, the US Air Force, the US Forest Service, and the Russell Sage Foundation. The UT Experimental Economics Endowment, which was established by our generous donor and alumnus Dr. Russell Lamb, is used to fund graduate student research.


About experimental economics:

Laboratory market and field experiments have become an increasingly used methodology for business and economic research. Experiments in economics are largely used to systematically evaluate economic theories, to establish empirical facts, and to develop and refine proposed policies or institutional arrangements. Applications span nearly all fields of economics. Experimental research in economics has received considerable recognition, most prominently by the awarding of the Nobel Prize in Economics to Vernon Smith in 2002. Some additional information can be found on Wikipedia.


Directions to the lab:

The lab is on the 7th floor of Stokely Management Center, room 703. The physical address of the building is 916 Volunteer Blvd., Knoxville, TN 37996. Stokely Management Center is next to the Haslam Business Building and across the street from Hodges Library. If you do not have a student or staff parking permit, the best option for public parking is the Volunteer Hall Parking Garage, located on the corner of Volunteer Blvd and White Avenue (enter/exit off White Avenue only). Please refer to the UT parking map.

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