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Positive reinforcement contingencies are common in response acquisition and behavior reduction programs for individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs). Given the ubiquity of this process, it is critical to identify stimuli that will function as effective reinforcers, especially under conditions in which access to those stimuli might be delayed. Based on the nature of a socially mediated positive reinforcement contingency, positive reinforcement-based programs may be viewed as an economic system in which responding is considered an interaction between several variables, such as the price of the reinforcer, demand for a particular reinforcer, and the magnitude of reinforcement. This basic conceptualization of positive reinforcement contingencies permits practitioners to apply principles of microeconomics to the development and refinement of positive reinforcement-based interventions. This workshop will provide an introduction to basic principles of behavioral economics. After introducing these topics, the focus of the workshop will shift to translational research in behavioral economics whereby laboratory findings have been extended to treatments for behavioral correlates of ASD. Examples will focus on the use of economic principles to identify differentially effective position reinforcements, to conduct schedule thinning, and to modify behavior in token economies. Throughout the presentation, clinical examples of these concepts will be provided to demonstrate application for the treatment of behaviors associated with ASD.