For democracy to function and economies prosper, people need to believe that their fellow citizens are trustworthy: that they are well intentioned, will honor commitments and will not take advantage of them. When people have little to no information about others, it is difficult to believe that. The fact that Latin America and the Caribbean has the lowest rates of trust in … [Read more...] about Employing Information to Boost Citizen Trust and Welfare
Carlos Scartascini
Carlos Scartascini is Leader of the IDB Behavioral Economics Group and Principal Technical Leader at the Research Department of the Inter-American Development Bank. He is currently focused on expanding the use of behavioral economics in Latin America and the Caribbean. In addition to Behavioral Economics, his areas of expertise include Political Economy, and Public Finance. He has published eight books and more than 45 articles in edited volumes and specialized journals. He is Associate Editor of the academic journal Economía, and Head and founding member of LACEA's BRAIN (Behavioral Insights Network). A native of Argentina, Dr. Scartascini holds a Ph.D. and a M.A. in Economics from George Mason University.
The Free Online Behavioral Economics Course Is Going Strong. Have You Taken It?
How do people make decisions? How does behavior affect public policies? And can policymakers nudge people into doing things that will benefit them and society at large? Many issues related to the success of public policies come down to a, sometimes understudied, factor: human behavior. In our Behavioral Economics for Better Public Policies course, we focus on that fundamental … [Read more...] about The Free Online Behavioral Economics Course Is Going Strong. Have You Taken It?
When the Lack of Trust Cripples Productivity and Growth
The government says it is progressing in its fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, but firms distrust the news, delaying investments and hiring and slowing economic recovery. A firm manager distrusts her own employees and refuses to delegate responsibilities, complicating efforts to invest, innovate and move into new markets. Citizens distrust firms and demand excessive … [Read more...] about When the Lack of Trust Cripples Productivity and Growth
Building Trust for Social Cohesion and Growth in Latin America and the Caribbean
It would always get a laugh from readers of Peanuts. Lucy would hold the football for Charlie Brown to kick. Then she would pull it back at the last minute and send him flying onto his back. The gag, repeated over and over throughout the years, was funny because of Charlie's absurdly trusting behavior. Having been tricked so many times by Lucy, didn't he realize she would trick … [Read more...] about Building Trust for Social Cohesion and Growth in Latin America and the Caribbean
Trust: A Critical Component of the Fight Against Air Pollution
While the COVID-19 pandemic has killed almost five million, more people die every year because of air pollution, which accounts for about one in five deaths worldwide. The problem, moreover, is especially acute in low- and middle-income countries, where exposure to high levels of air pollution affects 90 percent of the population. Given the substantial human and economic costs, … [Read more...] about Trust: A Critical Component of the Fight Against Air Pollution