Articles tagged with Behavioral Economics
The Stanford model describes a complex interplay between individual incentives and government policies in response to epidemics. It predicts waves of infection surges, reactionary social change, and perpetual cycling if short-term thinking is not considered in epidemic response.
Researchers studied gift-giving dynamics in multi-giver settings and found recipients prioritize thoughtfulness over relative gift value. Gift givers incorrectly assume the recipient's focus is on comparative gift value, leading to unnecessary spending or skipping gift-giving occasions.
Researchers found that people with higher incomes were more likely to adopt self-protective behaviors such as social distancing and mask wearing. In contrast, lower-income individuals faced increased challenges in adopting these behaviors due to job losses, limited access to remote work, and living in homes without outdoor spaces.
Recent surveys indicate a fluctuating willingness to be vaccinated, with 60% willing and 51% unwilling; experts propose 12 strategies, including analogy and explanation, to boost vaccine uptake and achieve 100% follow-through.
A study by the University of Konstanz found that voluntary motivation to comply with anti-COVID-19 policies is relatively high in Germany, but can be crowded out by enforcement. Measures like limiting contacts and vaccinations showed higher agreement when implemented voluntarily, while wearing masks and travel restrictions had the same...
Researchers found that messages focusing on reducing poverty and lower-class disadvantages lead to increased engagement and support. Framing economic inequality as an issue of unjust disadvantage for the lower class can heighten perceptions of injustice and enhance action to reduce inequality.
Researchers find that platform protection insurance increases product orders and variety-seeking behavior among buyers, while boosting customer retention and acquisition for sellers. The study also reveals that PPI acts as a reputable quality signal to reduce transaction uncertainty and purchase risks on the sharing platform.
A new model suggests that biased evaluations can be useful for motivating employees, particularly those with high career concerns. The ideal evaluator should be stricter on capable employees but more lenient on less capable ones. This approach can be applied to various scenarios, such as organizing internships.
Christina Felfe has won a prestigious ERC consolidator grant to investigate the role of parents, classmates, and socialization processes on the formation of group preferences. Her five-year project aims to measure children's group belonging and behavior towards their own and other groups.
A new USC study finds that the COVID-19 pandemic could result in net losses of $3.2 trillion and up to $4.8 trillion in U.S. Real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) over two years. The study's findings depend on factors such as business closures, gradual reopening processes, infection rates, and fatalities.
A new study challenges traditional assumptions about the link between poverty and dishonesty, finding that individuals cheat equally in periods of relative wealth and poverty. Researchers also found that brief social interventions can improve behavior when wealth increases, but have no effect during times of scarcity.
The study found that bitcoin and ethereum exhibited strong correlations with traditional financial instruments during the pandemic, indicating their integration into the market. Cryptocurrencies behaved like reliable financial instruments, losing their safe-haven status but remaining stable.
A Washington State University study found that workers experiencing job and financial insecurity are less likely to follow CDC guidelines for COVID-19 prevention. Economic concerns, particularly low unemployment benefits, were associated with a decline in compliance with these guidelines.
A three-nation research project will examine the relationship between social factors and epigenetics, with a focus on how adversity and trauma affect gene expression and health. The study will use data from large longitudinal studies in the US, Republic of Ireland, and Northern Ireland to investigate the impact of life circumstances on...
A study found that EVE Online players' in-game social and economic behavior correlates with their home countries' aggressiveness and macro-economic environment. Players from more aggressive countries were less aggressive towards fellow players, while those from countries with higher unemployment rates traded more cautiously.
Small-scale farmers in Ghana are reluctant to adopt modern technologies that reduce traditional risks, such as poor weather conditions and aquatic predators. The study found that aversion to these risks accelerates the adoption of innovative technologies like floating cages and disease-resistant fish breeds.
A $100M program will utilize a large consortium of wildlife and human disease experts to reduce the risk of zoonotic viral spillover and spread. The program aims to enhance capacity in Africa and Asia to identify and respond to spillover events.
Researchers identified six domains of nonbiological factors that contribute to mortality risk, including health behaviors, psychological characteristics, and socioeconomic conditions. The study highlights the importance of behavioral, psychological, and social factors in mortality risk assessments.
The research team successfully simulated the non-equilibrium phase transition of Rydberg atoms, revealing previously unobserved optical response and time-domain spectral properties. The findings are predicted by the forest fire model, offering a new approach to study the basic physics of many-body dynamics.
A new study by Case Western Reserve University economist Mark Votruba found that involuntary job loss leads to a dramatic increase in criminal behavior. Displaced workers experienced a 20% increase in criminal charges the year after being laid off, as well as decreased earnings and full-time opportunities.
A study by the University of Arizona found that individuals with high romantic attachment anxiety and avoidance report low life satisfaction, relationship satisfaction, and financial satisfaction. They also engage in more irresponsible financial behaviors and perceive their partners' financial behaviors as irresponsible.
Researchers have re-engineered a plant-derived compound to reduce morphine-seeking behaviors in mice, preventing relapse to opioid addiction. The new molecule inhibits a protein receptor involved in heroin dependence and prevents stress-induced relapse.
A recent study by the American Psychological Association found that caregivers are more likely to neglect their own health due to cost concerns. The study revealed a significant gap in healthcare access and utilization among caregivers, with 26% having no insurance coverage compared to non-caregivers.
Researchers call for standardized protocols to enhance reproducibility in behavioral science research. Economists advocate incorporating measurement uncertainty into studies, just like in natural sciences, to identify sources of errors and improve accuracy.
A new paper demonstrates that digital extension practices are adopted at rates comparable to traditional in-person extension, with significantly lower costs. The study highlights the research utility of digital extension and its potential for improvement through iteration and testing.
A new UBC study finds that many Canadians live with multiple chronic health conditions, including cardiometabolic diseases like stroke, heart disease, and diabetes. Lifestyle behaviors such as physical inactivity, poor diet, and high stress levels are associated with a higher risk of developing these conditions.
Research by Olga Miroshnichenko found that household income and spirituality are linked, with mortgagers who prioritize morality tend to repay loans before maturity. The study analyzed data from the Russian bank sector between 2008-2018, concluding that economic growth and moral values influence mortgage behavior.
Researchers found that strong relationships between regulators and firms improve monitoring quality initially, but eventually lead to negligence and collusion. The study suggests an optimal duration for relationships may exist, with mandatory auditor rotation programs potentially reducing failures in some cases.
A Cornell University study reveals that discrimination may occur faster than the blink of an eye, especially when money is scarce. Under conditions of economic scarcity, participants took significantly longer to process black faces than white faces, allocating less money to black recipients.
The study found that individuals are more likely to cheat due to their personal propensity rather than external factors. In the experiment, participants showed no significant change in cheating behavior during periods of scarcity or abundance.
Research participants who felt inadequate socioeconomic resources ate more calories and showed increased hunger hormone levels. In contrast, a daily gratitude journal reduced desired portions of food among male participants.
A global study found that people return lost wallets more often when they contain greater amounts of money, challenging classic economic logic. In 38 countries, the rate of return increased to 72% when wallets held larger sums, driven by concerns for self-image and altruism.
Researchers found that the more money in a lost wallet, the more likely it is to be returned, as dishonest finders face psychological costs that outweigh material value. In contrast, altruistic considerations play a subordinate role in returning wallets.
Researchers found that children who were inattentive in kindergarten had lower earnings in their 30s. Boys who exhibited aggressive or oppositional behavior also faced lower earnings, while prosocial boys had higher later earnings.
A study by FAU economists reveals that an individual's impulsiveness plays a significant role in determining the most effective way to allocate time between creative and routine tasks. The researchers found that impulsive individuals perform better when given the freedom to choose their own working model, while less impulsive individua...
A new study reveals that Nobel Prize winners in economics exhibit two distinct life cycles of creativity. Conceptual innovators tend to peak in their mid-20s, while experimental innovators reach their creative peak in their mid-50s. This research suggests that the type of approach taken by an individual plays a significant role in dete...
A new study from the University of Colorado Denver estimates that education has an economic value twice as large as lifetime earnings for better health and longevity. Adults with a high school degree live longer and with less disability, worth $693,000 among men and $757,000 among women.
A study published in the National Tax Journal found that allowing donors to claim charitable donations earlier, such as before tax season, increases donations by nine percent. Researchers from UBC Okanagan and other institutions used a policy experiment in Quebec to test this idea.
A new theory suggests that our relationship with the environment is like a social exchange, leading to the belief that eco-friendly behavior can cancel out harmful ones. Researchers argue that this mindset can lead to misguided quick fixes and that stricter legislation and immediate feedback on environmental impact are needed.
Researchers investigate whether equilibrium is a good assumption in economics, finding that it breaks down in complicated games. They suggest new approaches are needed to simulate human behavior in complex situations.
A new study published in The Leadership Quarterly challenges the 'glass cliff' phenomenon, which suggests women are more likely to be appointed to precarious management positions. However, the research found no evidence of a 'glass cliff', but rather a persistent 'glass ceiling' that prevents women from advancing to leadership position...
A new QUT study reveals that men with a range of personality traits, particularly extraversion and emotional stability, tend to engage in sex more frequently. These individuals are also more likely to produce offspring. For women, being agreeable is linked to having more children.
Researchers from the University of Copenhagen found that income mobility reduces life expectancy gap between rich and poor. Accounting for social mobility, the difference in life expectancy is around 2-3 years, not 5-6 years as previously thought.
A new study by Bocconi University finds that institutional investors have a positive and causal effect on firms' environmental and social (E&S) performance. These mainstream investors promote E&S issues through engagement with existing firms, rather than buying and selling shares of good or bad companies.
Numerical simulations show that providing fixed bonuses can encourage people to collaborate for the common good. Incentives like rewards for majority strategies in a group promote cooperation, making the income gap between cooperators and defectors more noticeable.
Research shows that modern couples are delaying marriage to focus on paying off student loans and saving. The study highlights how attitudes towards marriage, living together, and debt have changed over two generations, suggesting that debt is becoming a barrier to marriage.
A UC Davis researcher found that people behave similarly to others in simple reasoning games, driven by 'flocking' dynamics rather than rational thinking. The study used different games with varying levels of complexity, but all showed the same flocking behavior.
A UNIGE team discovered which brain zones are activated in anger and how the brain suppresses the act of revenge. The prefrontal dorsolateral cortex (DLPFC) plays a key role in regulating emotions, with higher activity during provocation phases leading to less punishment against unfair players.
A new study by Bocconi University scholars found that broadband internet access causes sleep deprivation, particularly among individuals with DSL lines. These individuals sleep 25 minutes less than those without DSL Internet and are less likely to reach the recommended amount of sleep, leading to significant economic losses in Germany.
A new study from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business reveals that individuals with high 'guilt-proneness' tend to be more trustworthy. This personality trait is stronger than other characteristics in predicting trustworthy behavior, according to the researchers.
A University of Kansas researcher found that helping others and building mutually beneficial relationships can boost an organization's reputation and build resources. The study analyzed studies from evolutionary biology and economics, concluding that indirect reciprocity is a key to effective cooperation.
Researchers found African Americans and Latinos had higher levels of chronic stress and unhealthy behaviors, increasing their risk for depression. However, engaging in unhealthy behaviors did not increase depression risk in African Americans but rather reduced it due to chronic stress.
A comprehensive review of scientific findings on vaccination behavior reveals that shaping patients' and parents' behavior is more effective than trying to change their minds. The report highlights the importance of leveraging favorable intentions and correcting misinformation through clear and intuitive communication.
A study found that altruist motivations and environmental knowledge significantly influence pro-environmental behavior in university students. The research suggests that educational programs adapted to the motivations of each gender are crucial for increasing effectiveness.
A new study suggests that individuals in modern democracies, including the US and Germany, show little interest in erasing wealth disparities. Only 12% of available funds are allocated to reduce inequality, with most people preferring a considerable degree of economic inequality.
A world-first study reveals that regions with psychological hardship responded to populist campaigns based on fear, contributing to the UK's Brexit vote and Donald Trump's election. The research found that neurotic personality traits, including anxiety and depression, played a significant role in shaping voting behaviour.
Researchers found that social-circle questions led to more accurate predictions for election outcomes than traditional polling methods. Social-circle questions provide information about people who aren't explicitly included in the sample and can help anticipate the processes of social influence.
A study by Dr. Patric Diriwaechter and Dr. Elena Shvartsman found that wage increases temporarily boost job satisfaction due to expectations and social comparisons, but this effect fades out within four years as individuals adapt to their new salary levels.
A longitudinal study by BYU School of Family Life professor Laura Padilla-Walker found that adolescents who exhibited prosocial behavior towards strangers had higher self-esteem a year later. This suggests that helping others can have a significant impact on a teenager's moral identity and perceptions of self.
The UMass Lowell team is developing a new electronic monitoring system, BEACON, that uses smartphones and sensor technology to promote and reward constructive behaviors among parolees. The system aims to provide positive support to help them avoid violations and recidivism.