Topic: Behavioral Economics
When Ebola Strikes, Where Should Help Go?
Improving epidemic forecasting helps response teams target aid more effectively
An Aerial, as Opposed to Ground-Level, View of Time
A novel framework proposes to reduce angst over schedules and lives
To Wall Street, There’s No Crisis Like a Banking Crisis
Tyler Muir finds that neither war nor deep recession darkens investor sentiment like sudden turmoil in the financial system
How Local Governance Came to England’s Economy
Nico Voigtländer found that to combat arbitrary taxes and corruption, merchants persuaded the king to cede control
Using Ancestral Characteristics to Study Modern Economics
A database of pre-industrial sampling supports historical and ethnographic research
When It Pays Not to Help Your Customers Comparison Shop
Rakesh Sarin creates a model that shows consumer “ambiguity” about product quality should drive marketing and brand management strategy
Could Costly Housing Bring Down Superstar Cities?
Stuart Gabriel’s research shows how a vibrant economic hub loses essential residents
Ignorance — About One’s Investments, Anyway — Isn’t Always Bliss
Valentin Haddad’s research looks at the phenomenon of “information aversion,” when individual investors stop tracking their portfolios for fear of bad news
Why Kickstarter Funders Quickly Kick in the Last 5 Percent
Research shows that people have a sincere desire to see projects take flight
The Healthy Upside of Thinking about an Older You
Consciously imagining our older self can spur us to take better care of ourselves now
Not All Second Chances Are Good Ones
Hengchen Dai finds that hitting the reset button can help those who have recently struggled, but erodes the motivation and execution of top performers
Motivating Households in India to Reduce Energy Consumption
The same message that works with U.S. households is effective in the developing world
It’s OK if the Boss Earns More, but a Problem When Co-Workers Do
Study of a large corporation explores how salary comparisons affect employee behavior
Exploring the Relationship between Off-Label Prescriptions and Clinical Trials
A study looks at how changes in FDA labeling affect pediatric utilization of drugs
You’ll Be Interrupted — Why Not Plan for It?
A team of researchers weighs contingent planning against traditional time management
How to Spot a Nudge Gone Rogue
Researchers find common warning signs in persuasion projects that went wrong