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Date: November 22, 2024 Fri

Time: 11:44 am

Results for behavioral economics

2 results found

Author: Ouss, Aurelie

Title: When Punishment Doesn't Pay: "Cold Glow" and Decisions to Punish

Summary: Economic theories of punishment focus on determining the levels of punishment that will provide maximal social material payoffs. In calculating these levels, several parameters are important: total social costs, total social benefits and the probability that defectors are apprehended. However, often times social levels of punishment are determined by aggregates of individual decisions. Research in behavioral economics, psychology and neuroscience shows that individuals appear to treat punishment as a private good ("cold glow") and so individual decisions may be inappropriately responsive to the above parameters. This means that, depending on environment, aggregate punishment levels can be predictably above or below optimally deterring benchmarks and final social outcomes (e.g.. levels of cooperation and total social costs incurred) can be highly inefficient. We confirm these predictions in a series of experiments. Our research highlights the importance of understanding the psychology of punishment for understanding economically important outcomes and for designing social mechanisms.

Details: Cambridge, MA: Harvard University - Program for Evolutionary Dynamics and Department of Economics, 2013. 63p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 1, 2013 at: http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2247446

Year: 2013

Country: United States

URL: http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2247446

Shelf Number: 128508

Keywords:
Behavioral Economics
Costs of Criminal Justice
Economics of Crime
Punishment (U.S.)

Author: Hassan, Sabrina

Title: Behavioral Economics in Criminal Justice Messaging

Summary: Oftentimes despite the availability of certain information, we rely on our split-second intuition to make decisions. We are humans. We are biased. Sometimes we are lazy or inattentive. Instead of computing all of the stimuli available to us, we often act on impulse instead of considering all of our options. Behavioral economics (BE) allows us to predict what people actually do in decision-making contexts instead of depending on people to behave like rational, controlled, forward-thinking computers. By understanding what influences real choices, we can design choice settings that guide people to choose in a certain way. We can fix the inside of an outward-swinging door with a flat metal plate instead of asking, "Can't they read?" Behavioral economists have developed ways to "nudge people into better choices, which is to encourage selection of certain options without eliminating or taxing alternatives. For example, putting healthy food at eye level in a school cafeteria encourages students to eat more nutritious meals; choosing junk requires reaching for a different shelf. A state can increase its number of organ donors by instituting a default rule of presumed consent to donate; opting out of donation requires unchecking a box. This paper introduces behavioral economics as a way to improve criminal justice messaging. Specifically, Part I of the paper introduces a few key concepts of behavioral economics to consider when designing messages. Part II suggests specific ways to apply those concepts in messages dealing with each registry regarding sex-related offenses, drug policy, and racial profiling.

Details: New York: The Opportunity Agenda, 2015. 24p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 24, 2016 at: http://opportunityagenda.org/files/field_file/2015%2011%2030%20-%20Behavioral%20Economics%20Paper%20-%20FINAL.pdf

Year: 2015

Country: United States

URL: http://opportunityagenda.org/files/field_file/2015%2011%2030%20-%20Behavioral%20Economics%20Paper%20-%20FINAL.pdf

Shelf Number: 137951

Keywords:
Behavioral Economics
Communications
Decision-Making
Human Behavior
Media