Topic: Behavioral Economics
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
Kids Who Moved from Public Housing More Likely to Vote as Adults
Demolition of Chicago projects dispersed thousands to other areas
Lack of Urgency Can Undermine a Popular Behavioral Nudge
Encouraging pre-commitment to a future behavior helps people do hard things — but it can backfire
Lifelong Decisions Based on a Momentary Mood
Fatigue during a morning class dissuades some from rewarding majors
Maximizing Retirement Savings: More Nudging Required
Tweaking 401(k) website design and language can significantly boost worker contributions, yet HR doesn’t always see these opportunities
Momentum Investing: It Works, But Why?
After a quarter century of sprawling study, it’s time to narrow the focus and settle on an explanation
Most Job Seekers Skip Negotiation — and Pay a High Price
Even in lucrative fields, candidates leave money on the table by taking the first offer
Motivating Households in India to Reduce Energy Consumption
The same message that works with U.S. households is effective in the developing world
Motivation to Begin or an Excuse to Slack Off?
Fresh-start dates can serve as either — it’s a two-way nudge
New Appreciation for a Classic Stock Market Gauge
The relationship between short- and longer-term moving averages has strong predictive power for share price returns
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
Offering Free Upgrades Early to Manage Inventory and Boost Profit
Waiting until one product model runs out can be a costly mistake
Online Reviews Sway Experiential Purchases Less Than Those of Material Products
Reviews that explicitly talk about objective quality assessments are well received
Oversight of Borrowed Money Creates Animosity
Friends lending to friends, taxpayers bailing out businesses feel it’s still their money and have opinions on how it’s spent
Pay Transparency: Will It Help or Hurt Workers?
Many assume salary transparency will benefit employees, but research suggests downsides, too
People Don’t Mind Government Nudges, but Prefer Them Free of Politics
When an unloved cause or political adversary is attached to a nudge, the method itself becomes suspect