irrationalexuberance.com

What It Is

irrationalexuberance.com is a resource site built around Robert J. Shiller’s Irrational Exuberance. It is not a conventional course platform; rather, it brings together book updates, research data, related indexes, columns, academic events, and course entry points. The main text explicitly notes that visitors can access the Excel datasets used and described in the book, including updated data on home prices, building costs, population, interest rates, and more going back to 1890.

Core Courses and Resource Scope

In terms of subject coverage, the site spans financial markets, behavioral finance, institutional economics, real estate markets, and asset price research. As for teaching formats, the page mentions that Shiller regularly teaches “Behavioral and Institutional Economics” and “Financial Markets” at Yale University, and that Coursera periodically offers a free online version of Financial Markets. However, it does not specify whether the course is live or recorded, or whether assignments and interaction are included. Certification, language of instruction, and a detailed syllabus are not disclosed in the main text.

Pricing and Instructor Background

On pricing, the site itself does not display any fees; the book can be purchased through Princeton University Press or local booksellers. The Coursera course is described as a free online version, but it is not stated whether a paid certificate option is available. The strongest point of this resource is its academic pedigree: Robert J. Shiller is the instructor for the Yale courses referenced, the page links to the Stock Market Confidence Indexes from Yale School of Management, and it also mentions a behavioral finance academic workshop co-organized with Richard Thaler. Overall, the academic sourcing is strong.

Pros and Cons

The main advantages are the authority of the resources and their clear research orientation. The site is especially useful for reading alongside Irrational Exuberance, obtaining long-term housing and financial market data, and tracking Case-Shiller indexes and market sentiment materials. The drawbacks are also clear: this is not an all-in-one learning product. It lacks a structured learning path, progress tracking, community Q&A, certificates, and payment information. Much of the content depends on external organizations such as Coursera, Princeton University Press, S&P, and CoreLogic.

Who It’s For and Access from China

The site is suitable for researchers in finance, economics, behavioral finance, and real estate markets, as well as readers who want to develop a systematic understanding of bubbles, crises, and market psychology. Access from China cannot be determined from the main text and should be marked as unknown. External links such as Coursera, Project Syndicate, and NYTimes may be subject to network or account restrictions. Alternatives include Coursera’s Financial Markets, Yale Open Courses, financial markets courses from Chinese universities, and the Chinese edition of Irrational Exuberance.