Articles tagged with Behavioral Economics
The International Council for Science (ICSU) and the International Social Science Council (ISSC) have voted to merge into a single organization representing social and natural sciences. The merger is expected to be completed by October 2018, with a unified global voice and institutional structure.
A new study identifies rapid changes in social norms that can lead to significant behavioral shifts, such as a shift from smoking indoors to outdoors. The researchers suggest that understanding these tipping points can inform policies aimed at reducing pollution and promoting sustainability.
A recent study published in The Lancet Public Health found a strong association between economic opportunity and measures of physical and mental health in young adults. Individuals living in areas with higher economic opportunity reported fewer days of poor health and adopted healthier behaviors.
A new study finds that Republican and Democratic presidential candidates rarely respond to swing voters' views on key issues. Despite the importance of moderate middle ground in election campaigns, candidates typically take stances closer to those of their core supporters or extreme subsets of 'intense policy demanders'.
Researchers used behavioral science techniques to increase online license plate renewals in Ontario, resulting in a 42% increase and a 5-point gain in on-time renewals. The study's findings suggest that simple changes to messaging can lead to significant savings.
A study of over 12,000 Australians found that each extra daily portion of fruit and vegetables up to 8 portions per day increased life satisfaction. The researchers concluded that people who changed their diet experienced an increase in life satisfaction equivalent to moving from unemployment to employment.
Researchers found that customers with insurance are less critical of costs, leading to overcharging and higher prices. The study showed a significant difference in repair prices, with customers with insurance paying up to €128.68 compared to €70.17 without insurance.
A new study by UC Santa Barbara psychologists found that men prioritize traits associated with productivity and material benefit in nonfamily members, rather than solely generosity and trustworthiness. In contrast, women place more emphasis on reciprocity and demand more from attractive partners.
A recent study found that living through major economic recessions increases a mother's chance of suffering from domestic violence. The researchers discovered that even when the male partner didn't directly experience unemployment or material hardship, rapid economic downturns led to increased controlling behavior and fear of hard times.
A small price provides a comparative evaluation, making the upgrade more attractive to consumers. In studies, participants chose minimally more expensive upgrades over free ones, highlighting the value of token pricing in product sales.
A new study challenges common industry claims that introducing a national living wage would result in excessive costs and job losses. Instead, it finds that including incentives can have a positive impact on productivity, particularly in service sectors.
A study by the University of Toronto's Rotman School of Management found that having a first-class cabin increases air rage incidents nearly four times more than a nine-hour flight delay. Economy passengers who pass through first class are also more likely to exhibit bad behavior.
A new report by academics at the University of Stirling found that adolescents with emotional problems are 32% more likely to be unemployed and 26% more likely to be out of the workforce. The study suggests that investing in childhood and adolescent mental health services could have economic benefits, including reducing population-leve...
A new study found that prolonged daily sitting is responsible for 3.8% of all-cause mortality deaths, with reducing sitting time estimated to increase life expectancy by 0.2 years. The study analyzed data from 54 countries and found that sitting had a higher impact on mortality rates in certain regions.
A new study by Caltech researchers finds that experimental economics studies have a high replication rate of 61%, indicating that published results are reliable. The success of replication is linked to sample size and p-values, suggesting good methodological practices in the field.
Experts estimate that illegal cartels harm consumers by billions of dollars annually. Cartel screens, statistical tools to spot bad behavior, promise to enhance deterrence when used in combination with other measures.
A new study by Dartmouth researchers reveals that the type of fishing gear used has a significant impact on the amount of fish caught, as well as the social dynamics between fishermen. The study found that fishermen who use compressor divers tend to catch more fish and have less cohesion within their communities.
A Massachusetts General Hospital-led study found that economic opportunity is significantly associated with community health outcomes. Regions with lower economic opportunity had higher mortality rates, prevalence of smoking and obesity, and greater risk factors like hypertension and diabetes.
A study from Simon Fraser University suggests that plus-sized models in advertising campaigns may contribute to growing obesity rates. The researchers found that non-traditional models with larger body types can have a detrimental effect on the public's lifestyle and eating behavior.
Researchers Dr. Harold Clarke and Dr. Karl Ho are studying voter behavior in Hong Kong elections, examining attitudes toward electoral democracy and factors that influence voting decisions. The study aims to understand the impact of class, generation, immigration status, and political affinity on voters' choices.
Researchers found that warning people about defaults or informing them after the fact had little effect on their influence. Defaults for specific treatments influenced final choices, regardless of disclosure. The study suggests behavioral interventions can be effective without being deceptive.
A study by University of East Anglia researchers found that people's honesty varies significantly between countries, with estimated dishonesty ranging from 3.4% in the UK to 70% in China. The study also suggests that honesty is less important to a country's current economic growth than during earlier periods in history.
A QUT study found that men with these traits were more likely to be chosen as sperm donors. The research also showed that women kept in touch with their donor children through various means.
A recent study found that cities fared better during the 2008-09 recession in regions with stronger emotional stability and entrepreneurial personality profiles. Cities like San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, Calif., and Jackson, Tenn., exhibited higher scores for entrepreneurial personality and emotional stability, while others struggled.
A recent study by Raymond Fisman et al. reveals that the wealthy and educated elite tend to be less fair-minded and more inclined towards efficiency when distributing resources. The research found that those who prefer efficiency are more likely to work in the corporate sector, which may contribute to the muted policy response to incre...
A multidisciplinary team at Lehigh University will develop a comprehensive framework to assess interdependent infrastructure system resilience for extreme events under uncertainty. The goal is to mitigate the consequences of disasters and rapidly restore normal life in communities.
The study found that approximately half of the US adult population has either diabetes or pre-diabetes, with a higher prevalence among non-Hispanic black and Hispanic participants. The prevalence of total diabetes increased significantly over the past few decades, but rates have plateaued in recent years.
A study published in the Journal of Public Economics found that Prize Linked Savings (PLS) products, which combine savings with the possibility of winning large cash prizes, are more effective at inducing savings than standard interest-bearing accounts. This is particularly true for lower-income and less-educated individuals who are al...
A recent study published in PNAS journal suggests that collaborative settings can provide fertile ground for corrupt behavior, including lying and dishonesty. The researchers found that levels of corruption were highest when profits were shared equally among group members.
A new study found that firms in countries with strong shareholder protection laws raised more money through stock sales, performed better in terms of profits and investment efficiency, and terminated fewer employees than similar firms in countries with weaker shareholder protection laws. Stronger shareholder protection laws allow the s...
Men outperform women in goal-orientated tasks, with goal-setting inducing higher effort and better focus. The study found that having a goal leads to increased speed and accuracy, regardless of the specific goal value.
Researchers found that commodity price bubbles were short-lived and not as frequent as thought. Bubbles in the grain markets occurred more often during periods of production problems rather than speculative activity. The study's findings suggest that the commodity market is doing a good job of accessing prices, with only minor hiccups.
Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University found that conflicting histories can lead to mistrust and conflict in negotiations. The study used two experiments with 392 participants, finding that those with asymmetric histories were more likely to reach an impasse during negotiations.
Researchers found that pre-election polls can influence voter behavior, leading to biased electoral results. A study on French elections showed that exit polls influenced voters in territories, resulting in higher turnout and a 'bandwagon effect'. This insight suggests that polling errors can sway election outcomes, even in the UK.
A University of Oregon economist's study found that reducing punishments for drivers above the legal blood alcohol content (BAC) threshold results in lower recidivism rates. The study showed a 17% reduction in repeat offenses for BAC levels above .08 and an additional 9% reduction for levels above .15.
A recent study by University of Zurich researchers found that power poses, commonly believed to boost confidence and influence hormones, have no impact on actual behavior. However, the study did show that power poses can affect one's perception of power, leading to increased self-confidence.
A UT Dallas study found that solitary confinement does not deter inmates from committing further violent acts, and its use may even exacerbate mental health problems. The research suggests reducing solitary confinement could save taxpayer funds and improve prisoner outcomes upon release.
A study by Johns Hopkins researchers found that competition among healthcare providers, including physicians and retail clinics, leads to higher antibiotic prescribing rates in affluent areas. The analysis revealed a strong correlation between the number of clinics and increased antibiotic prescriptions in wealthy regions.
Cricket batsmen tend to bat more conservatively as they approach a half-century or century to maximize their chances of reaching it. This study found that adopting a conservative style at this stage reduces their chances of dismissal.
A new study by Yao Zhang and colleagues finds that customers with 'clumpiness' - bursts of heavy buying interspersed with little or no buying - provide higher long-term returns to businesses. This pattern of consumption extends the 'hot hand' literature in statistics journals.
Employees who take personal initiative but lack social acumen may be seen as troublemakers. A study found that proactive behavior is only beneficial if combined with social skills and sensitivity to favorable opportunities. Employers are looking for employees with both personal initiative and political skill.
A new study by Alain Cohn, Ernst Fehr, and Michel Maréchal found that bank employees are not inherently more dishonest than those in other industries. The study suggests that the banking sector's business culture, which implicitly favors dishonest behavior, is a significant contributor to the industry's reputational loss.
A University of Tennessee study reveals little evidence of conservation organizations adapting to economic changes, limiting their effectiveness. The research analyzed tax filings and interviews with nonprofit leaders, finding inconsistent strategies across the sector.
UC Riverside professors Eamonn Keogh and Sang-Hee Lee, along with Mindy Marks, are developing a cell phone-based game to encourage healthy behaviors. The team aims to use financial incentives to motivate participants in both the US and sub-Saharan Africa.
A new study led by MIT economist Sara Ellison suggests that workplace diversity can lead to increased revenue and improved employee satisfaction. However, the research also found that employees may prefer less diverse settings, which can compromise office performance.
The UT Dallas Cybersecurity program has received a $3.9 million award from the National Science Foundation to provide scholarships and support education in computer science related to cybersecurity. The program aims to fulfill the US government's needs for cybersecurity employees, with nearly 30 students expected to be supported.
Researchers will explore interactions between natural gas and electricity systems, power and communication networks, healthcare and cyber infrastructure. The goal is to develop computational models that predict complex behavior in the face of disruptions or disasters.
A new study found that parents' separation significantly increases children's behavior problems in higher-income families, particularly if the separation occurs before age 6. In contrast, moving into a stepparent family improves children's behavior only when it happens after age 6 in high-income families.
Elsevier has launched a new review journal focused on behavioral sciences, providing updates on the field through educational forums. The journal will co-edited by Professors Trevor Robbins and Cindy Lustig, showcasing novel breakthroughs and significant trends.
Research by University of Delaware professor Katalin Takacs Haynes finds that extreme greed among top managers leads to lower performance and loss of shareholder value. However, a powerful board or long CEO tenure can mitigate this effect.
A behavioral economic approach offering financial incentives significantly increased smoking abstinence rates among pregnant women, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds. Fetal growth also improved, with a substantial increase in healthy outcomes.
New research from University of Illinois economics professors Stefan Krasa and Mattias Polborn shows that economic issues have a greater impact on swing voters. Candidates compete for moderate voters in the middle who are virtually indifferent between rival candidates, leading to incentives to cater to their interests.
After four years of decline, the rate of teenagers coming into Ontario emergency departments with suicide-related behaviors stopped dropping between 2006 and 2010. The rates did not continue to drop and about one-third more of these events resulted in a hospital admission, suggesting an increase in severity.
A new study at the University of Southern California found that a signed commitment letter in exam rooms lowered inappropriate antibiotic prescriptions for cold symptoms by nearly 20%. This simple intervention, displayed in both English and Spanish, saved $70 million/year in drug costs alone.
A new study from the University of Toronto's Rotman School of Management found that businesses with head offices in highly religious communities were less likely to experience stock price crashes due to not disclosing bad financial news. Strong social norms, regardless of whether individuals are religious or not, can help minimize bad ...
A study of over 1,000 New Zealanders found that those who attempted suicide before age 24 had higher rates of metabolic syndrome, depression, and unemployment later in life. These individuals were also more likely to be hospitalized for psychiatric problems and reported feeling lonely and dissatisfied with life.
A University of Pittsburgh professor's research shows that competition can increase the saving behavior of the working homeless. The study found that residents who participated in a competition offered a prize of $100 for saving the largest percentage of their pay increased their savings rate by 33%.
A study of over 2,300 students found that those using debit cards at school cafeterias consumed more calories, especially non-healthy food items like candy and fries. Debit-only systems may lead to greater spending on lunch, as parents often have limited control over individual transactions.
A study by Cornell researchers found that schools using debit card payment systems serve lower nutrition and higher calorie meals, as students tend to overspend. This can lead to a greater intake of unhealthy food items like candy, cheeseburgers, and fries.
A recent study by University of Missouri researcher Rui Yao found that over 90% of future retirees are contributing only a minimal amount to their retirement funds. This is concerning given the uncertain future of social security benefits and the need for individuals to save more for their own financial security and the country's sake.